Adverse Effect: Severe Gingivitis
Adverse Effect: Stillborn Baby
When I saw these images I thought they deserved attention because
they are attempting to address the negative health effects of smoking, however,
they ignore the negative health effects that models present. I thought
this was an interesting artifact because while they are raising awareness about
the negative implications of smoking, the show is taking a stance that claims
modeling is a healthy behavior, with no adverse implications. I also
thought this was an interesting piece to look at because it is not a normal
advertisement. These photos are a result of an episode from the reality
television show, America's Next Top Model, which is a modeling
competition. This is a different situation than a normal advertisement
because the contestants on the show have a lot of influence over the audience,
as they are seen as celebrities by many of the viewers. This campaign
presented in the show has societal impacts because it creates the idea of
beauty as being a non-smoker, but it does not address the adverse effects from
the show.
In my analysis of this photo-shoot I looked at the positioning of
the images and the images as a product of the show. The photographs were spatially constructed to
produce a message of anti-smoking; the foreground consist of the models appearing
glamorous smoking a cigarette while the background consists of a mirror showing
the model with adverse health effects.
These images are an example of a logical syllogism as they rely on the
audience to use deductive reasoning to come to the conclusion that if they
smoke these negative health effects will happen to them. While the images never say “don’t smoke” they
still expect you to come to that conclusion.
When it comes to the images in the realm of the show, the images main
purpose is to make money. As these
images are the result of a modeling competition their primary concern is
beauty, not health. Even when the models
are portraying negative consequences of smoking, they still look competitive
and try to look good for the camera to stay in the competition.
The implications of this are that the images fail to properly
address health concerns. Additionally
they are denying the health concerns within beauty, for example eating
disorders and a decrease in self-esteem for the viewers. They also reinforce the stereotype of the “thin
body ideal”, which is that thin bodies are healthy. The bottom line here is that these images had
a chance to impact the audience, but failed to do so, as they were more
concerned with publicity and beauty.
Discussion Questions
1. Should reality TV shows, such as America's Next Top Model address health concerns that surround modeling. For example, should they address the fact that these underweight models are not the normal and healthy body type?
2. Does this rhetorical situation call the audience into being? After the audience is exposed to this rhetoric, do you think that the audience will act differently? Why or why not?
3. What kind of effects do these images have being presented on a reality show?
I think it is important for reality TV shows to address health concerns when the show is considered credible. For example, shows like MTV's Real World would be considered less credible when trying to address issues in society. In a show like America's Next Top Model, I believe that address the weight of the models could be influential to the audience. It would make a large impact if the standard for models weight was different than what is considered normal now. If America's Next Top Model addressed this issue, I think it would help to make a difference in the model industry.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do believe that this particular shoot brings awareness to the audience about health issues regarding smoking, I also believe that there are many campaigns and advertisements that depict similar effects from smoking. I think that people who are in the habit of smoking choose to ignore all of the known effects smoking has on health. I would hope that this causes the audience to change, but with smoking being such a common issue, I feel that people become numb to these particular ads or they believe they are an exaggeration.
I think in this particular instance, it was very important for America's Next Top Model to do something to show the negative effects of smoking. I remember in seasons prior to this one, many of the scenes would show all the girls smoking. As a show that appeals to young girls, it gave the impression that smoking was "cool." Also, because most of the women on the show are very thin, it reinstated the idea that smoking will help you stay skinny. I thought it was great when the show became smoke-free ( at least on camera) and they did this photo shoot to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking.
ReplyDeleteAfter taking this class, however, I see how this shoot really played into gender stereotypes and the idea that the most valuable trait a woman has is her beauty and her youth. All of the consequences of smoking that were demonstrated in the photo shoot were things like your teeth rotting, premature aging and hair loss, all things that we associate with unattractiveness. There are many angles the show could have taken to show the consequences of smoking, but because of stereotypical gender roles, becoming ugly was the angle chosen to convince young girls not to smoke.
I think that it is a smart idea for this reality show to take such a stance on smoking and the side effects that it has. It shows that even to gorgeous models, this could happen. It definitely hits on the fact that females tend to be insecure and concerned about their looks and beauty. It allows the audience to draw their own conclusion that the person in the mirror is what you will turn out to be like if you continue to smoke, and that smoking may seem glamorous on the outside, just like these models, but can be extremely harmful on the inside. Again, I think it was smart for a show that carries such a large audience to do a campaign like this, but I do think it would be smart for them to touch on eating disorders and image. So many of the models in this show have had some sort of eating issue in the past and it would be smart to express to their audience (which consists of younger girls) that in order to be a model, you do not have to be stick skinny.
ReplyDeleteI do think that this angle for the campaign is smart, because usually the ads just tell you to stop smoking and tell you the side effects. Instead this ad gives you an image of what can happen if you continue to smoke. It has definitely caught my attention and has made me think about the campaign itself.
I think that addressing that the body types shown not only on this television show, but also in all media is necessary. Our society believes too much of what they see on television and the longer more they see these types of bodies in “reality” television shows, the more they will believe it is the norm. We has a very false sense of what it means to have a healthy body type and shows like these are not helping the cause. In my other communications class we learned about a concept called mainstreaming that I think applies to this: the more television you watch, the more you believe that society is like what is shown on the television screen. I think shows like America’s Next Top Model can be used as a tool to shape our society’s view on health.
ReplyDeleteWith that being said, I think that the rhetorical situation calls the audience to being, but maybe not in the way that we think it should. The images are definitely shocking and cause viewers to think twice, but I think in the end it won’t change their actions. While in the mirror, the models look like they are falling apart; they are picture as just fine when actually holding the cigarette. By presenting us an image of a woman with a body as many see as desirable, it may cause them to think that cigarettes will help them to achieve that body. I mostly think that it won’t necessarily cause the audience to not smoke because they have been exposed to so many anti-smoking campaigns that they have become essentially numb to their intended effects.
Although I agree that many smokers would ignore this ad as they would any other anti-smoking ad, these images could help prevent the younger generation from becoming smokers. This is a reality show, but it does have a large young female following. In the past ANTM has shown their contestants smoking daily. I think it's great they took a stance against it (even if just for the TV) because the little girls watching shouldn't get this idea in their head that smoking makes you look cool and thin. Most girls are concerned about their looks, so ruining the models hair, teeth and skin was a logical path to choose. It would catch a girls attention who wants to smoke, but also wants to stay pretty. The ad shows there are consequences.
ReplyDeleteAmerica's Next Top Model has always had tall skinny women and every now and then some shot women (for one entire season) and some plus sized women (who just looked normal to me) and now men. I agree that they should address the underweight models, but in a certain way. To say that all models have eating disorders would be rude. Many were born skinny and couldn't gain weight if they tried. I think that ANTM should address eating disorders and body image on the show. Their audiences need to know the risks and dangers of these things. However, the show can't change the industry and this show is still about beauty. I think the show should just use this power to help women.
Reality tv shows like this create false images. I don’t think shows like this should be able to be on air. But because this is a freedom of speech nation it can be aired. I don’t think health relations should be the main focus of these shows because visually they are displaying health in a negative way depending on the audience. For example, super skinny women putting their body through pain for fame isn’t healthy but it is the image that is given off to our youth who grow up thinking healthy is super skinny and painful.
ReplyDeleteThese images have adverse effects because they are on a reality show. The main reason is in the name "reality". These shows are usually marketed as being the real world, or giving the audience a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous, and because of this, the audience is persuaded that the things they see are real life. The problem with putting images like these on reality TV shows is that it gives the audience the belief that the way these models look is a normal way to look when in reality it is abnormal and often times unhealthy. This leads into problems with body image, unhealthy eating and exercise habits, and self-esteem.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an interesting artifact! And I definitely agree with what you said about the models being seen as celebrities and thus having more of an influence on their audience.
ReplyDelete1. I think it would be really beneficial for reality shows to address health concerns, but I don’t think it is necessarily realistic. Unfortunately, our society is drawn to these shows because of the entertainment and drama they provide. As far as America’s Next Top Model goes, then, the show is about creating models, and the modeling industry today is comprised mostly of tremendously skinny women. In addition, like you said, what is considered to be beautiful is also considered to be healthy. Viewers aspire to be like the women that appear on shows like America’s Next Top Model because of their appearance and physique. The show would probably cease to exist if it was to advertise the health concerns that exist in the modeling industry.
2. Interesting question! I don’t think that the show will necessarily cause audience members to act differently, but it could certainly cause them to think differently. I don’t watch the show anymore, but when I was younger, I remember thinking how beautiful the contestants were and how jealous I was of their body types. I guess girls who realistically want to become models could be interpellated by the show, but as a stalky girl who barely reaches 5’4”, I’ve never been one of them.
3. Honestly, I really can’t see these images having too much of an impact. Everyone knows the dangers of smoking, and it is unlikely that audience members will think anything different after seeing these photographs. In addition, smoking is a fairly common habit in the modeling industry because of the appetite loss cigarettes are known to cause. So, these photographs seem pretty contradictory. While the adverse affects of smoking are featured in the photographs, the dominant images are of women look glamorous while holding cigarettes.
In this instance, as in many other health campaigns, we're trying to fight against the greater of two evils. Now, I don't know if smoking is quantifiably worse for the world than models. I do know that smoking kills people. I think it's worth noting that like an engine, no health campaign is totally efficient. I mean that even the most clear, simple campaign can, in some way, promote some adverse negative health effect. In this case, I think that ANTP is doing a good thing by trying to show people some of the real negative effects of smoking. Looking for adverse effects is important, but I think it's important to admit that we are 'picking our battles' in essence. Thoughts?
ReplyDelete