Sunday, January 26, 2020
Power of Images to Influence and Inform
Power of Images to Influence and Inform Images of Perfection in an Imperfect World. Abstract The power of images to influence and inform cannot be underestimated. This is especially true in contemporary society, where we are continually bombarded with images and with the messages implicit in them. The messages they emit are far-reaching, pervasive, and overwhelming in sheer magnitude. Most importantly: they are perfect. Photographs of beauty queens and movie stars the nearly perfect people who are the icons of society are manipulated so that the images are of true perfection. Blemishes dissolve, complexions glow, pounds melt away, and teeth sparkle as technology works its magic. When these images appear in the format of magazines targeted at young people, all of society should be concerned. What messages are informing the thoughts of youth today? How are they reacting? What can we do if we see that damage is being done? This paper will address that question, with a particular emphasis on the print publications aimed at girls and young women, who are statistically more apt to be bombarded with unattainable goals in the form of endless images of perfection. The people apparently in control of these publications particularly editors should have the authority to control that content, to redirect and or redistribute it to present more realistic views to their readers. This is particularly when faced, as they are, with evidence that the messages they are disseminating are harmful to large numbers of young people. In the case of young women who suffer from eating disorders, that evidence is in fact overwhelming. This paper intends to demonstrate the harm that is being done to young people globally, and most especially to young women, and the responsibility of the media to be accountable for content or at the very least, to stop airbrushing all the blemishes and imperfections they may see on original images, and present a more realistic and attainable vision of reality to those who seek it in their pages. Liz Jones When Liz Jones, who was then editor of the womenââ¬â¢s magazine Marie Claire, resigned from the magazine, it was not a sudden decision. It was, rather, the culmination of a lifetime of experiences as a female member of society, followed by years working in a business that had a great influence on females in society. Quite simply: she had had enough. She explained publicly the reasons she decided to step down from her position as editor at Marie Claire, and she did so with heartfelt emotion and compelling clarity. First, she described her feelings earlier that year as she sat through another season of high fashion: modeling spectacles in which all eyes are upon myriads of unnaturally thin young women the ââ¬Ësupermodelsââ¬â¢: For those used to the fashion industry there was nothing unusual about the shows at all. But for me it was the end, it was then that I decided to resign as editor of Marie Claire magazine. I had reached the point where I had simply had enough of working in an industry that pretends to support women while it bombards them with impossible images of perfection day after day, undermining their self-confidence, their health and hard-earned cash (Jones, 2001). Jones goes on to explain the sequence of events that, together, resulted in her resignation. One of the most important factors was the considerable effort she had put into a campaign to effect profound change on the mediaââ¬â¢s approach to and impact on young women. The campaign was met with such vehement hostility that she found it extremely difficult to continue to be involved with this part of the industry. Just one year earlier, she notes, she had optimistic beliefs unrealistic, perhaps about the prospects for change: ââ¬ËI believed wholeheartedly that we could stop magazines and advertisers using underweight girls as fashion iconsââ¬â¢ she wrote (2001). She had already proscribed articles about diets and weight-loss, which was an action that was far ahead of its time. This was clearly a step in the right direction but she knew that it was not enough. As part of an experiment, she decided to publish the same edition with two covers one of size-six Pamela Anderson, and one with the fleshier size twelve Sophie Dahl. Marie Claire then asked readers to choose ââ¬Ëbetween the skinny, cosmetically enhanced ââ¬Å"perfectionâ⬠, or a more attainable, but still very beautiful curvy womanââ¬â¢ (2001). There was literally no contest; Sophie Dahl clearly won the support of the readers. The reaction that followed the contest was ââ¬Ëstaggeringââ¬â¢, Jones noted. A media frenzy ensued; universities wanted to include it in their course curricula; filmmakers made documentaries about it; and, perhaps most tellingly, an unprecedented number of readers reacted and responded with enthusiastic and overwhelming support. However, the one group whose cooperation was most expected and most needed other members of the industry refused to rally. Jones found no support from her colleagues; instead, they reacted with a vehemence and aggression that both stunned and saddened her. ââ¬ËThe very people from whom I had expected the most support my fellow female editors were unanimous in their disapprovalââ¬â¢, Jones wrote. ââ¬ËThey were my peers, friends, and colleagues I sat next to in the front row of the fashion shows. They were also the most important, influential group of women in the business, the only people who could change the fashion and beauty industryââ¬â¢ (2001). Some labeled her a ââ¬Ëtraitorââ¬â¢; others suggested that she was using this campaign as some sort of clever ploy to boost circulation numbers. She was even accused of discrimination against thin models. Model agencies began to blacklist the magazine. Despite this, Jones redoubled her efforts. She even spoke publicly about her own struggles with eating disorders. From the age of eleven, she admitted, she was plagued with the eating disorder anorexia a disorder that lasted well into her twenties. Because of this, she explained, she was very able to understand how deleterious it was for young women to subsist on ââ¬Ëa daily diet of unrealistically tiny role models gracing the pages of the magazinesââ¬â¢ that they are addicted to, as she was (Jones, 2001). Furthermore, she does not lay blame on the publications exclusively; rather, she points out that they definitely did more harm than good. If they were not the impetus that set off the disorder, the graphics she was so bo mbarded with seemed to encourage it: ââ¬Ëthe images definitely perpetuated the hatred I had for my own bodyââ¬â¢ (2001). To test her theory, the research team at Marie Claire formed a focus group of young, bright, accomplished women. The women were asked a series of questions about their bodies, after which they were free to peruse a selected group of magazines for approximately an hour. When the hour was up, the same questions were asked this time, the answers were very different. ââ¬ËTheir self-esteem had plummetedââ¬â¢ Jones writes (2001). As the literature and research to be presented in this paper shows, the results of Ms. Jones informal sociological study was very close to the truth: her instincts were right on the mark. However, in hostile surroundings with little support, she was unable to follow them. It soon became clear that the tide of advertisers was far too strong a force to fight from within the industry, and she reached a point of no return: ââ¬ËI refuse to conform with an industry that could, literally, killââ¬â¢ wrote Jones, a survivor. Chapter I. Background.A. Predecessors and Successors Liz Jones was not the first woman to struggle in the name of editorial change. Along with Jones, there were her American predecessors, Grace Mirabella of Vogue, and Gloria Steinem of Ms. In her autobiography, In and Out of Vogue, Mirabella writes about receiving a virtual threat from her publishers, ordering her not to include any articles that criticised cigarette smoking. She was told there should not be even a hint that there might be medical risks associated with nicotine use despite the fact that evidence had already been made known to the public that such risks existed. The reason for this was advertising, the lifeblood of the magazine. Millions and millions of dollars were poured into magazine advertisements by tobacco giants. This gave tobacco manufacturers a sense of power, a right to have input, or even to dictate, what made up the content of the publications they advertised in. They made it clear that any disparagement of their product however valid would result in thei r immediately pulling their advertisements and discontinuing their sponsorship (Mirabella, 1995). Unable or unwilling to risk this, the publishers of Vogue passed on the restrictions to Mirabella. The fact that the health of female readers who also supported the magazine by purchasing it might have been compromised was virtually a non-issue. Another of Jonesââ¬â¢ predecessors was American feminist Gloria Steinem, whose magazine Ms. was groundbreaking in a number of ways, and especially in its handling of advertisements. The editors of Ms. Magazine battled constantly with advertisers who contributed to the magazineââ¬â¢s coffers. Noted writer Marilyn French discusses the battles Ms. had with both Clairol and Revlon, two of its major sponsors. Both cases share similarities with the Vogue situation and are worth mentioning. Both companies withdrew their advertisements and cut off funding, each for different but equally significant reasons. Clairol did this after Ms. ran text that included information about medical studies that suggested the possibility of there being carcinogens in hair-dye products. Clairol, well known for its hair-care products, had regularly placed advertisements in the magazine until a disturbing article appeared alongside them, addressing the possibility of carcinogenic content in hair dyes. The topic had already been made public, and was, in fact, the topic of congressional proceedings at the time. In addition, the possibility of cancer-causing agents was widely reported in newspapers and other publications. Still, Clairol was not pleased to have that information appear in the same publication in which it placed advertisements for that very product. The advertisements were removed. Revlonââ¬â¢s reason for cutting off Ms. was slightly different, and certainly less compelling. Revlon executives were disgruntled with the appearance of a cover photograph which showed faces of women from the Soviet Union it was the cover story, and one which they had initially supported. The subject area was something rarely written about at that time, about a populist movement in Afghanistan, and was considered quite an achievement by many, both from within and outside the industry. However, the women in the photos were not wearing Revlon products they were not wearing makeup at all. The company found this objectionable because if the women were not wearing makeup, the cover story was not selling Revlon products(French, 1992: 171). That was enough for Revlon. The advertisements were removed. Later on came an editor from Australia: Cyndi Tebbel, who headed New Woman Australia in 1996. For a year and a half, Tebbel focused on self-help that could not be equated with self-flagellation: she said ââ¬Å"noâ⬠to diets, ââ¬Å"yesâ⬠to relationship and career advice. In 1997, near the end of her leadership, she published a groundbreaking issue embracing the concept of and featuring large-size models. Although the original strap was ââ¬ËFat Is Backââ¬â¢, the issue finally ran as ââ¬ËThe Big Issueââ¬â¢. Sales did not plummet, but neither did they soar. Still ââ¬ËThe Big Issueââ¬â¢ was perceived as ââ¬Ëunglamorousââ¬â¢, and did little to win support for Tebbelââ¬â¢s cause. Shortly after its publication, Tebbel resigned. There are more and more editors like this as well as writers, designers, photographers, even fashion models themselves who are ââ¬Ëcoming outââ¬â¢ as true supporters of women ââ¬Ëas they areââ¬â¢. This is, no doubt, due in good part to the work of those that came before. However, they are still a minority, albeit a strong one. B. Fashion Victims What is it that women want? In her book Fashion Victim, editor and writer Michelle Lee raises a number of valid points as she attempts to answer this question.She speculates on what would happen if mainstream magazines began to feature plus-size, or even slightly plump models on their front covers: ââ¬ËEven if magazines showed heavier body types on a regular basis, would consumers really respond positively?ââ¬â¢ She answers the question by explaining that in theory, we like the idea of showing realistic portrayals of ââ¬Ërealââ¬â¢ women but the truth is that we donââ¬â¢t like to see them. ââ¬ËWe appreciate the idea of magazines that use larger modelsââ¬â¢ Lee asserts. ââ¬ËWeââ¬â¢re glad they exist. We like the idea of magazines that show more ââ¬Å"realisticâ⬠sizes. The only problem is that we donââ¬â¢t buy them, and then they go out of businessââ¬â¢ (Lee, 2003: 144). She follows this statement with statistics to underscore her point. The poin t that truly needs to be addressed here, however, is not the fact that we donââ¬â¢t buy magazines that feature the truest images of our selves: but rather, the reason we donââ¬â¢t we buy them. Why donââ¬â¢t we buy them? What is wrong with these magazines that show us who we really are? Or rather: what is wrong with these images of our less-than-perfect ââ¬Ëselvesââ¬â¢? ââ¬ËWith all of these studies pointing to the publicââ¬â¢s apparent need and desire for more ââ¬Å"realisticâ⬠body shapes, it would seem likely that magazine publishers would bow to public pressureââ¬â¢, asserts Lee. Apparently, the magazine publishers are one step ahead. They know that what people say is often very different from the ways in which they act. The proof, for them as well as for Lee, is in the numbers. ââ¬ËMagazine publishers know that survey respondents are more virtuous on paper than they are at the newsstandââ¬â¢, notes Lee. ââ¬ËTop editors and publishers know that thinner cover girls sell more issuesââ¬â¢ (Lee, 2003: 139). The noted researcher Angela McRobbie echoes this, asserting that in Britain, ââ¬Ëwinning the hearts and minds of young women has become a social and political priority. There is now a hegemonic effort extended across the social field to win the consent of young womenââ¬â¢ (2001: 201). Catering to the desires of th ese young women, then, means displaying covers that they want to see. The point for them is, after all, to sell and they sell by doing what works. What works is staying in business but to stay in business, magazines rely on their advertisers. Because the advertisers are the ones who foot the bill, they have considerable power when it comes to dictating the content of the articles that appear alongside their ads. As French explains it, ââ¬Ëmakers of products for women require womenââ¬â¢s magazines (â⬠¦) to print recipes and articles on beauty and fashion to highlight their ads, and further, to promote a certain kind of beauty, food, and fashion the accoutrements of woman-as-commodityââ¬â¢ (1992: 171). Advertisers are also concerned that when their products appear in womenââ¬â¢s magazines, they will decrease in value. The association of the product with women is thought to somehow debase it: ââ¬ËMany advertisers avoid womenââ¬â¢s magazines entirely, fearing that a product that becomes associated with women will be devalued for men. . . .To be assured of advertising revenue, womenââ¬â¢s magazines must be vapid, contentlessââ¬â¢ (French, 1992: 172). C. Playing Both Sides In addition, advertisers seem to want it both ways they want to sell products to women, and they want to be perceived as supportive of women. Often, these two desires art at odds with each other. On a superficial level, most magazines do a good job of including titles and headlines that, on a cursory reading, appear to do both at the same time. And, as we have seen, ââ¬Ërealââ¬â¢ women on the cover donââ¬â¢t sell consistently high numbers of magazines for the major publications. As sophisticated as young women may be today, they are still imprisoned in societal expectations. McRobbie asserts that ââ¬Ëthe now normative irony (as knowingness) which pervades the contemporary popular culture and mass media in which young women find themselves accommodated to as post-feminist high achievers, actively disallows such inclinationsââ¬â¢ [to be themselves] (2004: 508ââ¬â509). She also explains that because of their success, these young women are removed from having to face some of the more unpleasant issues that are faced daily by less fortunate female counterparts. What feels like a luxury to them the avoidance of unpleasant realities actually strips them of power, unbeknownst to them. ââ¬ËDaily discouraged from the requirement to think or act with courage (as a privilege of the good fortune of living in the affluent liberal west)ââ¬â¢ she writes ââ¬Ëis of course an effective means of disempowermentââ¬â¢ (2004: 509). ââ¬ËThe last thing magazines want to do is shoot themselves in the foot by admitting that they play a role in creating negative body imageââ¬â¢ notes Lee (2003: 140). In order to be profitable and keep their public persona intact, they work from different angles: ââ¬Ëthey do their best to help women break out of that mind-set. But at the same time, they canââ¬â¢t ignore that readers do want to lose weight (or, as most magazines now call it, ââ¬Å"get fitâ⬠), so theyââ¬â¢re forced to play both sidesââ¬â¢ (Lee, 2003: 140). Hence, a single edition of a magazine or, as the later analysis of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire will demonstrate, may contain contradictory messages on the cover, in the Table of Contents, in the advertising, and in the articles themselves. à ââ¬ËAll magazines are to some degree controlled by advertisers; even supposedly independent news magazines use ââ¬Å"softâ⬠cover stories to sell adsââ¬â¢, asserts French (1992: 171). Thi s control is unavoidable, since advertising is what funds the publications in the first place. Additionally, notes French, all magazines ââ¬Ëcensor articles that might disturb big advertisers or the government (1992: 171). Private backing is an unrealistic solution to this problem because generally, the backers are men: ââ¬ËWomenââ¬â¢s magazines generally cannot attract such private backing because few women have moneyââ¬â¢ (French, 1992: 171). As a result, magazines are heavily pressured to include content that advertisers want. There is little choice in this, because to go against the wishers of those who provide the funds is to risk losing the funds and perhaps losing the magazine as well. McRobbie underscores this point, explaining that media ââ¬Ëhave long been seen to be embedded in the fabric of societyââ¬â¢ What is new about this, she asserts, is that the power exerted by the media has become stronger than ever. ââ¬ËWhat may be constitutively new is the degree to which media have become something with which the social is continuously being definedââ¬â¢ (McRobbie, 2000: 193). The situation is exacerbated because fashion media cannot lash out against this. ââ¬ËMuch of the fashion mediaââ¬â¢s lack of criticism seems to stem from its financial dependence on the industry it coversââ¬â¢ asserts Lee (2003: 100). She notes that ââ¬Ëfashion magazines have long been among the targets of eating-disorders studies. And many of the results have been damningââ¬â¢ (Lee, 2003: 139). Few would argue the validity of this notion. In fact, most women and most men as well would not need to see evidence. The idea that media dictate the mindsets of young people is not new. In Reviving Ophelia, Feminist Mary Pipher points out that ââ¬Ëthe omnipresent media consistently portrays desirable women as thinââ¬â¢, while ââ¬Ëmodels and beautiful women are portrayed as thinnerââ¬â¢ even as real women grow heavier. (1994: 216). ââ¬ËUnderlying advertisersââ¬â¢ constraints is the fear shared by the male establishment generally, that women with a stronger self-image might no longer be willing to remain a servant class, might even unite against exploitationââ¬â¢ notes French (1992: 172ââ¬â173). She explains that in order to keep a particular segment of the population subordinate, one must first convince the members of that segment that they deserve to be treated this way, usually because of some flaw or inferiority inherent in the group. ââ¬ËA person of an inferior group cannot be the author of her or his own life but must center on the superior groupââ¬â¢ (French, 1992: 173). Chapter IIFeminism and the Growth of Womenââ¬â¢s MagazinesA. Women: A Userââ¬â¢s Guide In her volume Feminism, Femininity, and Popular Culture, British scholar Joann Hollows points out that ââ¬Ëfor feminist critics, girlsââ¬â¢ magazines have been seen as significant because of their power to define and shape teenage femininities (2000: 167). She goes notes that the ways in which magazines have shaped girlsââ¬â¢ development has shifted over the years; the impact is just as strong if not stronger but the means of wielding that power has been transformed. Until the 1980s and 1990s, girls became ââ¬Ëhookedââ¬â¢ on the idea of physical seduction. Then the ââ¬Ëhookââ¬â¢ became another form of seduction what Hollows, McRobbie and others call ââ¬Ëthe seduction of buyingââ¬â¢ (Hollows, 2000: 171). Of course, McRobbieââ¬â¢s extensive studies and analyses of girlsââ¬â¢ magazines provide a wealth of material on this subject. But both the development of the magazine format and the topic of femininity are inextricably intertwined. Hollows also exp lains that ââ¬Ëfeminisms differed in their form and character in different geographical contexts. However, if we take the cases of the UK and US, we can see some similarities in feminist concerns, despite the crucial differences between the forms of feminism which were createdââ¬â¢ (2000: 3). It might be worthwhile, then to look into the history of the magazine itself, and to explore how, though developing in places that were geographically distant from each other, the genre ended up being very similar. American researcher Terry Poulton discusses the early days of womenââ¬â¢s magazines as ââ¬Ëthe advent of a means of communication by which women could be taught what was expected of them, beauty-wiseââ¬â¢, (1997: 30). It was, in essence, a sort of ââ¬Ëuserââ¬â¢s manualââ¬â¢ for women, teaching them what they wanted (assuming they all wanted the same things), and how to act in socially appropriate ways in order to get these things. There was no choice involved, because expectations at that time were rigidly set. Going against what was socially acceptable simply was not an option, and any leanings in the ââ¬Ëwrongââ¬â¢ direction would most certainly be met with censure and/or ostracism. What Poulton refers to as an operatorââ¬â¢s manual was, of cou rse, the beginning of the womanââ¬â¢s magazine. Of course, women had been learning these lessons for years, but never before from a standardized source that would keep them updated of changes on a timely and regular basis. The introduction of womenââ¬â¢s magazines bestowed upon those who produced them incredible amounts of power the power to influence women, and in myriad ways. The ways women thought, the way they acted, and of course the way they looked were largely molded by the words and images that arrived in their monthly ââ¬Ëusersââ¬â¢ guidesââ¬â¢. As Poulton puts it, ââ¬Ëwhat had been missing for centuries a way to deliver visual images to masses of potential consumers had finally arrivedââ¬â¢ (1997: 30). B. From Godeyââ¬â¢s Ladyââ¬â¢s Book to ââ¬ËScientifically Preciseââ¬â¢ Fashion Among the first womenââ¬â¢s magazines were the U.S. publications Ladies Magazine in 1828, followed a short time later by Godeyââ¬â¢s Ladyââ¬â¢s Book, in the same year. According to Poulton, ââ¬Ëthin was in for the first timeââ¬â¢ with the advent of these publications. In fact, they are commonly thought to be at least partly responsible for precipitating a diet craze in the United States the first of many (1997: 29). Poulton explains that a foreshadowing of eating disorders also appeared during this time, when an article that appeared in Godeyââ¬â¢s Ladyââ¬â¢s Book discussed the tragic story of a woman named Louise. Apparently distraught after being ridiculed for her size, she decided to take action. She embarked on a grueling and unhealthy reducing regimen that consisted of a single glass of vinegar each day. Apparently, it worked on one level: she did reduce her size. However, we may ask, at what price? In a matter of months, according to the story, Louise wa s dead (Poulton, 1997: 29ââ¬â30). In Great Britain, a comparable publication came along in 1872. Entitled The Ladies: A Journal of the Court, Fashion and Society, this publication presented fashion tips from a ââ¬Ëscientifically preciseââ¬â¢ perspective. Historian Virginia Cope explains that it also had clear political messages, with overt pieces in which the need for more political rights for women were discussed. The publication catered to upper-class London women, but appealed to middle-class women as well. The way the American publications served as ââ¬Ëoperatorââ¬â¢s manualsââ¬â¢ for women in the U.S., so too did The Ladies for British society women. In this case, however, the guide was originally targeted at the higher classes; however, it soon became a primer for those middle-class women who wanted to rise socially. Implicit in the articles about housekeeping and fashion were lessons to the under classes in how to behave like their more elite counterparts. The ultimate hope that perhaps they wou ld one day be accepted by them was, of course, implicit, and dangled like a carrot to keep them purchasing the magazine each month. However, it seems that The Ladies wasnââ¬â¢t offering quite enough to ladies of either class: the publication did not last long, crumbling after a mere nine months. Even so, it serves as a reflection of British society at the time, which was becoming one of instability and constant flux. Whereas during the days of Queen Victoriaââ¬â¢s reign, womenââ¬â¢s place was thought to be at home, this gradually began to change and a type of feminism took root. As Britain became more and more industrialised, roles of men and women shifted. Similar changes took place in the United States. Publications of the time from both sides of the ocean like The Ladies and Godeyââ¬â¢s Ladyââ¬â¢s Book bear witness to this. The power these early publications held over some women is even more significant when one considers that the artistic renderings included in them the ââ¬Ëgraphicsââ¬â¢ were just drawings. Photography would not become a part of the process for many years: the age of photographic reproduction was still far off, so images included in the magazines were sketches of varying quality and proportion; these drawings were highly exaggerated and understood to be idealized and unrealistic. Even so, the women who read these early publications still felt their impact, and the pressure to conform was felt by many. This influence would greatly increase when actual photographs replaced the drawings as part of the deceptively seductive advertising package. C. ââ¬ËThe Camera Doesnââ¬â¢t Lieââ¬â¢ The inclusion of actual photographs in magazines heralded change a dramatic and significant change. No longer were articles accompanied by fanciful renderings of what women should look like now there were actual, live models against which readers could measure themselves. ââ¬ËWith the mistaken conviction that cameras cannot lie, it was clear sailing for what came to be called ââ¬Å"the tyranny of fashionâ⬠ââ¬â¢, explains Poulton. ââ¬ËFrom now on, women would feel obliged to remodel their body shape in favor of the prevailing silhouetteââ¬â¢ (Poulton, 1997: 30). There was a scientific precision that photography offered, and it wielded much more power than the often whimsical and sometimes anatomically impossible renderings of a human hand. Yet photography was merely the precursor to what would come next, as magazines became inextricably bound to the world of marketing: ââ¬ËPoised on the threshold was another kind of tyranny that would be inimical to womenââ¬â¢ s ability to feel at peace with their bodies: advertisingââ¬â¢ (Poulton, 1997: 30). The setup was ingenious: magazines, through both text and photography, would introduce new ideas to women, particularly about ways in which they failed to meet prevailing standards. At the same time perhaps even on the same page would be an advertisement for a product that would help them ââ¬Ëimproveââ¬â¢ what they now knew to be flawed parts of themselves. Cinematic portrayals soon became a part of this complex process. As French points out, ââ¬Ëthe debasement of women in art and advertising is echoed in cinematic imagesââ¬â¢ (1992: 164). This was true then, and remains true now. Perhaps no one puts this more succinctly than the American feminist Gloria Steinem, founding editor of Ms., who breaks the process into three parts: ââ¬Å"to create a desire for products, instruct in the use of products, and make products a crucial part of gaining social approvalââ¬â¢ (Steinem, quoted in Poulton, 1997: 30). D. Twiggy: Thin Becomes ââ¬ËInââ¬â¢ Weight-loss issues did not gain true prominence until the years following World War I. At that point, corpulence became another problem that women had to deal with. Women began to get more and more messages that indicated that extra weight was taboo. These messages were often tied in complex ways to issues of ability, intelligence, and even morality For help, Poulton explains, the typical woman would turn to magazines for help: ââ¬ËWhat was a woman to do if she was guilty of the new ââ¬Å"crimeâ⬠of corpulence? Why, just flip the pages of her favourite magazine until she found an article or an ad promoting the very latest in reducing schemes, potion, gimmicks, gadgets, and gizmosââ¬â¢ (Poulton, 1997: 33). This continual reinforcement of the message that being overweight was unacceptable left a comfortable niche for marketers of weight-reducing schemes to claim. The introduction of Lesley Hornby signified a major change for women on both continents. The British-born Hornby better known as ââ¬ËTwiggyââ¬â¢ became an overnight international sensation. She is considered by many to be the ââ¬Ëworldââ¬â¢s first supermodelââ¬â¢. Twiggyââ¬â¢s debut onto the New York scene was another turning point. ââ¬ËWithin a year after Twiggyââ¬â¢s debut, the editorial and advertising cheering sections at womenââ¬â¢s magazines had shifted into high gear and added exercising to their lists of must-doââ¬â¢sââ¬â¢ explains Poulton. Thinness as personified by Twiggy was an absolute must, and this dictum was treated with stringent rigidity. Poulton uses an excerpt from a Mademoiselle article of the period: ââ¬Ëââ¬Å"Creampuffs, thereââ¬â¢s no escape. Whip yourself into super shape and stay that wayâ⬠ââ¬â¢ (1997: 45). The attitudes taken were both imperative and encouraging not to mention confusing and set a tone tha t in coming years would grow much more severe. McRobbie refers to the ââ¬Ëboyish femininity of the girlsââ¬â¢ of this period as ââ¬Ëbest exemplified in the early fashion shots of Twiggyââ¬â¢ (2000: 20). The ââ¬ËTwiggyââ¬â¢ standard has not really changed much since storming the scene in the 70s. ââ¬ËThe standard of beauty crystallized into a single dominant body image mandated by those who, knowingly or unwittingly, were doing the bidding of marketersââ¬â¢ notes Poulton (1997: 54). Styles changed radically hot pants, hip huggers, mini-skirts, maxi-skirts the list is endless. Throughout all this, the paradigm of thinness has remained the standard towards which women should strive. If thin was in, ââ¬Ëtoo thinââ¬â¢ was even more acceptable and encouraged: ââ¬ËIn the magazines and on the fashion runways, the twirling girls grew thinner and younger by the year. . . . Meanwhile, real women were getting plumper with every technological advance that made physical labor obsolete, and with every new fat-laden food that came on the marketââ¬â¢ (Poulton, 1997: 59ââ¬â60). Yet not all women were able to achieve this unrealistic standard, thus beginning a wave
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Deforestation: Effects and Consequences Essay
The main causes of deforestation are summarized below: (i) Population explosion (ii) Agriculture: shifting cultivation, overgrazing, cash crop economy etc. iii) Commercial logging: cutting trees for sale as timber or pulp (iv) Poverty (v) Mining (vi) Dams (vii) Infrastructure creation for logging (viii) Forest-fires (ix) Acid rain (x) Development projects and housing projects. Effects of Deforestation: The ill-effects of deforestation are summarized below: (i) Soil erosion: Soil is exposed to wind, sunlight, and evaporation due to deforestation. Soil fertility goes down due to soil erosion and rapid leaching of essential mineral nutrients. ii) Harm to fisheries: As the soil is eroded, it accelerates siltation in dams, rivers, and the coastal zone. The increased sedimentation harms downstream fisheries. (iii) More floods and droughts: Because of deforestation, there is no regulation of the flow into rivers. As result, floods and droughts alternate in the affected areas. (iv) Habitat loss of wildlife: Butterflies, migratory birds, wild animals suffer due to the loss of their habitat. (v) Extinction of some species: Many species are affected and some get extincted. (vi) Local and global climate changes: The rainfall pattern is affected as the forest is cut down. Local and global climate changes may result from deforestation. (vii) Global warming: If the trees are burned, the carbon is released immediately as carbon dioxide which leads to global warming. (viii) Danger for the survival of local communities: Communities lose their source of food, fuel, construction materials and areas for livestock grazing by deforestation.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Berry College Essay Topics for Application - Overview
Berry College Essay Topics for Application - Overview Beware of attempting to impress us with what you think we would like to hear. A good deal of students make the error of attempting to second-guess what the admissions folks wish to hear in an essay, and write about somethingn't actually central to their interests and passions. Quit trying to be this funny. You could open with an anecdote or an intriguing story that will demonstrate some of the greatest areas of your nature and character, offering an insight which will help the admission officers get to understand who you are. If you believe you're stressed, you're create stressful situations for yourself. Most people won't ever spend the opportunity to locate and realize that insight. Students should begin with making a plot, and then the remainder of the write up should be based on such a plot. But What About Berry College Essay Topics for Application? The admissions officers will merely devote a brief period of time r eviewing your essay, which means you want to begin with a vivid paragraph that will keep them engaged. You want to produce an outstanding college program, and that means you will likely read it over and over again in order to make certain there aren't any typos and spelling and grammar errors. The revisions are unquestionably free! Hence, if you believe banking essays are boring just like your organization studies are, then you're probably wrong here. Banking essays can be real fun to play with if you've got a comprehensive understanding about the discipline and have keen interest in writing, so should you believe that you cannot write decent banking essays than again you're incorrect. Introduction to internet banking 4. History of internet banking 6. Utilizing a writing service is the perfect method to have a well-written essay to use as a guideline to make sure the essays you write are hitting all the crucial points and are at the appropriate depth necessary for your acad emic grade. Citations and extracts from assorted sources have to be formatted properly. Enlist the aid of others to make sure your essay is immaculate. The essay is just one of the important approaches you may distinguish yourself. As in the event that you don't have enough to be concerned about, now you need to craft the ideal essay. In the same way as any other essay, the narrative essay should begin with choosing a suitable topic. Berry College Essay Topics for Application Ideas It is very important to realize that the admission counselor reading your essay may not know about your sport and will most likely have no emotional attachment to the results of the District 5 semi-final game. At exactly the same time, you are going to impress the college admissions folks greatly if you may present your capacity to learn from your failures and mistakes. Application essays about challenges reveal how you respond to difficulty to folks who are really interested in how you'll deal with the subsequent four years all on your own. Taking a circumstance and explaining what yo u got out of it'll present your university what you may offer to them. Life After Berry College Essay Topics for Application Explain your commitments, and you are going to be the sort of student colleges find immensely attractive. Fine, but you must be ready to write whatever you truly feel like writing from a college that might not be your first selection. Without a suitable topic, it is not going to be possible for students to get started planning for the rest. Nevertheless, there are tons of students who like to write about their volunteer work in their essays, and thus if you decide to accomplish this, you won't stand out. Volunteer Experience naturally, volunteer experience is certainly something you should take pride in. Don't forget there are thousands of others students applying to your preferred university, and you want to distinguish yourself. Therefore, many students and employees decide to purchase inexpensive essay rather than writing it themselves. Amongst the best strategies to improved appreciate each sort of essay may be to evaluation suggestions. So you don't actually wish to obtain a topic! You must look for a topic you may write about most passionately and effectively. Following are a few of the advised sociology essay topic for those students that are unable to pick a great topic for their assignment. Berry College Essay Topics for Application Fundamentals Explained Topics like death and divorce are cautionary since they can be exceedingly tough to write about. Listed here's a reality check. What Does Berry College Essay Topics for Application Mean? Keep in mind, the last pa ragraph will be what the reader will remember the most. When it is argumentative or informative essays, you must develop a topic that may grab the interest of the reader right away and this isn't such an easy job. You won't offend the reader. By writing the essay in the very first individual, students will be able to receive readers more connected with the experience. As the admission may be the very first impression you will give to your admission officers, you should be in a position to consider thoroughly before you commence writing on your paper. You must look at the expense of attendance, the major you would like to pursue, in addition to the future making prospective each college affords for you. While writing the draft students should make certain that they've discussed important high points. In order to write a plot, they need to start with writing a draft. Berry College Essay Topics for Application - the Story Write about something you've got passion for because it is going to appear through the paper. My second card is a great simple one that would get the job done for many unique occasions. My very last project for today is a small treat holder. The remainder of your application is composed of plenty of computer generated averages.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
John Douglass s Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick...
Mina Kirchhoff Mrs. Kent English 3H 2 December 2016 Moral Vacuity Slavery was an extremely common practice in American society throughout the Nineteenth century (I wanna put a quote here but idk). Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist and former slave, writes of the dehumanization and cruelty toward slaves in his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. He utilizes simile, anaphora, irony, and antithesis to present his hardships and experiences as a slave to clarify how the system of slavery has corrupted slaves, slaveholders, and Christianity.* By definition, slaves are people owned as property, implying that they are still human. At a young age, Douglass worked on a farm in which the children were fed a mixture of foods called mush. After this concoction of coarse corn meal boiled and put on wooden trays was placed on the ground ââ¬Å"the children were then called, like so many pigs, and like so many pigs they would come and devour the mushâ⬠(Douglass 24). Douglass utilizes the simile of the pigs and children to convey the corruption of slaves. Their minds have been manipulated to the extent that they truly believe that animal treatment is of the norm. The pig-like treatment of the slaves results in their dehumanization and further isolated them from society. Apart from this animalistic treatment, slaves endure physical and mental fatigue by the overseers. Douglassââ¬â¢ grandmother must tolerate the cruel treatment pushed on to her by her master,Show MoreRelatedAnnotated Bibliography Of The Life Of Frederick Doug lass Essay858 Words à |à 4 PagesAnnotated Bibliography Boxill, Bernard. Frederick Douglassââ¬â¢s Patriotism. Journal of Ethics 13.4 (2009): 301-317. EBSCO. Web. 19 Oct 2015. Bernard argues that Frederick Douglass always was a patriot even throughout slavery. He states that most Americans are patriots even if they do not agree with the politics, but rather just a love for their country. It talks about Americans who give selfless amounts of time toward the improvement of America. Buccola, Nicholas. Each for All and All for Each:Read MoreEssay about Narrative of Life of Frederick Douglass893 Words à |à 4 PagesPublished in 1845, ââ¬ËNarrative of life of Frederick Douglass an American slave written by himselfââ¬â¢ is still the most highly acclaimed American autobiography ever written. It was published seven years after Douglass escaped from his life as a slave in Maryland. It describes his experience of being slave and his psychological insights into the slave-master relationship. The main focus is on ââ¬ËHow he learn to read and write ââ¬Ëand ââ¬Ëthe pain of slavery.ââ¬â¢ The goal of this paper is to bring more insight analysisRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave1552 Words à |à 7 Pages04/23/2015 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself Theme: False versus True Christianity In this theme, Fredrick Douglass contrasts the both forms of Christianity to show the underlying hypocrisy in slavery. The results show that slavery is not religious as it exposes the evils in human bondage. These ideals however can be distorted so as to fit in the society. Two forms of Christianity are presented in ââ¬Å"The Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass and eachRead MoreNarrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass926 Words à |à 4 PagesNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, written by himself, was published in 1845. Frederick Douglass is one of the most celebrated writers in the African American literary history, and his first autobiography is one of the most widely read slave narratives. Douglass tells his life from young to old and what he endured growing up. He shares major events that happened that involved history. It took many hardships for Douglass toRead More Racism and the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave1130 Words à |à 5 PagesExamining Prevalent Attitudes on Racism and the Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave When we look at the issue of racism from a politically correct, nineties perspective, evidence of the oppression of black people may be obscured by the ways in which our society deals with the inequalities that still exist. There are no apparent laws that prohibit or limit opportunities for blacks in our society today, yet there is a sense that all things are not fair and equal. HowRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Essay1293 Words à |à 6 Pages Bishnu Mahat Term paper Frederick Douglass In the 1800 s, subjection was a significant issue in the United States. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass reveals much about American history in the midst of the period of servitude and outlines conflicts for the cancelation of subjection. As a chronicled report, it goes on data about the slave family, work, the master slave relationship, and the treatment and living states of slaves. As an abolitionist tract, it fights against recognizableRead MoreThe Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave1093 Words à |à 5 Pagespossible difference.â⬠-Frederick Douglass. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, by Frederick Douglass, shares the story of the struggles of an American slave during the eighteenth-century. Fredrick Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland in approximately 1818. While being raised by his grandmother, Betsey Bailey, he snuck around at night to meet his mother nearby, assuming that his slaveholder, Cap tain Anthony, was his father. From adolescence, Douglass knew he was differentRead MoreThe Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave1078 Words à |à 5 PagesLife of Slaves Up until the late 1800s, people were legally able to own slaves. Slaves are people that are the property of another and are forced to follow their owner s commands. Slaves were treated like dogs, had no freedom and were abused. Frederick Douglass played a huge role in the human rights in the 19th century trying to end slavery. Also, he wrote a narrative called, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, which goes into detail of his day to day life as a slaveRead MoreThe Life of A Slave Girl by Harriet A. Jacobs Essay1272 Words à |à 6 PagesA slave narrative is to tell a slaves story and what they have been through. Six thousand former slaves from North America told about their lives during the 18th and 19th centuries. About 150 narratives were published as separate books or articles most slaves were born in the last years of the slave regime or during the Civil War. Some Slaves told about their experiences on plantations, in cities, and on small farms. Sla ve narratives are one of the only ways that people today know about the wayRead MoreThe Cruelty Of Masters Toward Slaves1235 Words à |à 5 Pagesof Masters toward Slaves During the nineteenth century, masters would mistreat their slaves. Some examples of this misconduct would be whippings, a lack of food, a lack of clothing, and malicious language directed at the slave. The injuries that the slaves would receive could never heal because before the wounds could heal, they would be beaten again. Frederick Douglass, a slave during the 1800s, in his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, he strives to persuade
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