Krista

This is the rough beginning of my paper: Krista Mortensen 5/8/09     LAS Media and Body Image “Do these jeans make me look fat?” “Does this skirt make my butt look big?” These are the questions that can often be heard in dressing rooms around the world. But why? Why does the way we look matter to the point that people are willing to risk their lives to be “perfect”? TV commercials, magazine ads, billboards and bus benches, just to name a few. The media has an extremely negative impact on the view of the human body and the perception of the “perfect body” by most of western civilization. Cosmetics companies such as Maybelline, Cover Girl, Mac and L’Oreal often project the idea that woman can make themselves more attractive by using their products. This is sometimes true but more often than not, it is completely false. For example, thick foundations advertised to smooth and even skin tone can clog pores and cause break outs. This fact of course brings good business for those same companies’ products advertised to clear the skin of all blemishes and cleanse the pores of the dirt and oil left behind by the make-up created by those very companies’ previously mentioned products. It’s a vicious cycle that is only ended when consumers realizes they’ve been tricked into believing they’re not good enough and need thick creams and paints to hide their “imperfection”. Recently, Dove-a powerful cosmetic and hygiene company- began a world wide campaign to end this cycle. The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty encourages girls and women to embrace their natural beauty and accept themselves for who they are and not who they think they should be. This campaign promotes positive body image and high self-esteem through videos and work shops. The main purpose is to change the world’s current definition of beauty and perfect to a broader, healthier and more democratic view. The Dove Film “Evolution” shows how a

UTOPIA RESEARCH PROJECT STUFF!!!! Websites: Article on how the media affects body image in women: [] facts: [] Facts: [] Myths and Facts: [] Article on the effect of the media on girl's body image: [] Facts and Findings: [] 10 Facts: [] Facts from //Marie Claire// Magazine: [] This is a really cool video with a lot of facts and such, many of them are repeats of what i already found but i think it'd be pretty convincing if I were trying to make a point: [] Twiggy: []

this link disproves all the Marilyn Monroe facts! [] "...for most of the early part of her career, she was a size 8 and even in her plumper stages, was no more than a 10..."

Survey questions: -How would you classify your body? -Do you think models accurately represent the people they're trying to sell clothes to? -How much of an imapct does the media have on you? -Are you happy with the way you look? -What is the "perfect" body in your opinion?

the results are pending.... slowly trickling in...

PLEASE TAKE MY SURVEY! I NEED THE RESULTS OR IT WON'T WORK RIGHT! THANKS :)

Important questions to answer- -does the media target specific age groups? -what points do they try to make with certain adds?

beauty: noun-the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

Dove REal Beauty Campaign: [] [/]] EVOLUTION: http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspx[cp-documentid=7049579]/

September 15, 2007 · [|No Comments]
LONDON - A report by the British Fashion Council, organizers of London Fashion Week, has stopped short of recommending a ban on ultra-thin models. But the report, published Friday, says fashion models should be 16 years of age or older and should be screened for eating disorders. Catwalk shows featuring designer clothes hanging off the shoulders of lanky girls face increasing pressure to act after models died from suspected eating disorders. Ultra-thin models were banned from fashion week runways in Madrid, Spain, and Milan, Italy, last year. Organizers in Paris, London and elsewhere have come under pressure to do the same. The British report, written by a panel composed of fashion designers, models and an eating disorder specialist, asked agencies to certify that their models had been examined for eating disorders by an accredited list of medical experts. Up to 40 percent of models may have eating disorders, compared with an estimated 3 percent of the overall population, the report said. The report said most of those interviewed by the panel said “weigh-ins” before catwalk appearances would be impossible to enforce. Eating disorder charity BEAT welcomed the recommendation but warned that certification could be difficult. “Identifying whether someone has an eating disorder can be quite a lengthy process,” BEAT Chief Executive Susan Ringwood said. “It can take a number of investigations and interviews. It’s a psychiatric condition.” Blood tests and physical examinations can identify symptoms of malnutrition, but diagnosing an eating disorder requires interviewing a patient, she said. The British Fashion Council hopes to combat eating disorders through medical tests, mentoring programs and workshops. Other recommendations backed by the report include criminal background checks on agents and photographers working with young models, random drug testing backstage, more funding for research into eating disorders and the creation of a model health watchdog. source: []