The way that media constructs our perceptions of body image
and what it means to be healthy, especially in regards to women has been under
intense spotlight in the recent years. However, there is no attention paid to
how fairytales contribute to this issue as well. That is why I chose this
artifact. Too many girls and young women are “brain washed” into believing that
a healthy body is what they see on the television screen. I was interested in
seeing how this affects our views on health and how Dina Goldstein contradicts
those views in her collection of photographs.
1.I discuss Goldstein’s use of perception through
incongruity in forcing the audience to take on a different viewpoint of women’s
health. I also include her use of extremes and relevance to her audience as
persuasive methods.
2. I discuss the role of post-feminism ideologies
in the photographs and how it represents the return of traditional gender roles
in our society.
3. I discuss the “incipient patient” and how the
photographs confirm the presence of this concept in our culture.
4. I discuss the ideology of the “vulnerable
empowered woman” and how Goldstein represents that women are responsible for
their health in her photographs.
5. Mainly, I focus on Goldstein’s efforts to
persuade the audience that what we see in fairytales is not in line with
reality and how the photographs drive viewers to take on a more realistic view
of health and gender roles.
I found a few interesting things while doing this project
including that many people are in agreement with Goldstein’s points and feel as
though there needs to be some kind of change; she just happened to one of the
first to create an uprising about it. I also found that there is a whole
program called “fairytale formula” that is dedicated to helping women find
their “prince charming” and live “happily ever after.” This just confirms our
society needs a reality check.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do these photos represent a “real” sense of
women’s health and gender roles in our society today? Why or why not?
2. How do you relate to these photographs? Did they
drive you reconsider the way that you view women’s gender roles and health?
How’s so?
It's interesting to consider how animated movies influence our perspectives of health, especially when the movies are those of your childhood. What girl doesn't love a cute fairytale? However, what struck me about these ads is the portrayal of society's favorite animated princesses as real women. While each photograph could warrant its own analysis, the picture of Bell, from Beaty and the Beast, is what sticks out to me the most.
ReplyDeleteIn the animated classic, Bell is a strong-willed, determined women who saves her fathers life, befriends candle sticks and clocks, and warms the heart of the beast. The photograph by Goldstein, however, conveys a fragile, imperfect, unsatisfied women. From the Bell we knew her growing up to this harsh reality, it's a shocking comparison and I applaud Goldstein for her creativity.
While I believe that these photographs do represent a sense of women's health and gender roles in today's society, it is hard for me to look past the stark comparison of children's movies. I don't see animated movies as having this kind of control over children regarding health. So, my view of women's health and gender roles are not changed by these photographs because I see the photographs as unrealistic. Perhaps I just refuse to analyze the messages subconsciously conveyed in these classic fairytales. Either way, the photographs do make an interesting and stark comparison to something that every women is familiar with.
These pictures are definitely clever because Snow White is seen as a mother figure to the dwarfs, Bell only cares about what is on the inside of the Beast instead of his looks, little red riding hood delivers all of the food to her grandma, and Rapunzel is proud of her long hair in the Disney movies. I believe that these photos represent what image the society gives women. For example, the picture of Snow White shows her taking care of four children and the dog, while the father is watching TV. This situation is not always the case because my dad is a stay at home father who prepares dinner and picks up the kids. Shows like Real Housewives, where many of the women have had plastic surgery and are open about it, give women a fake image now, which shows Bell from Beauty and the Beast undergoing plastic surgery. Little red riding hood as an obese women is controversial because in the Disney movie she is sharing her food, not eating it. The picture that had the most emotion in it is the modern day Rapunzal. She is not proud of her bald head, even though she is a strong woman going through cancer. Today, I feel that society only thinks women are beautiful if they have the perfect body, hair, face, and job as a house wife.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures represent "real" women today in some aspects of life. There are women who feel trapped at home with kids and a husband, there are women who will do anything to stay beautiful, there are women who have become gluttonous, there are women with cancer missing their beautiful hair. These could all be women we know. Society decides gender roles and paints women as a character that needs to stay at home and take care of the family and must remain fit and beautiful. These images represent that well.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that these pictures are illustrated with Disney princess from my past, one would think it would help me connect to the issue and really drive it home for me. However this isn't the case. In a way I'm slightly bothered by these portrayals. Belle from Beauty and the Beast would never get plastic surgery because she loves books and sees past the hideous beast to the real him. Snow White escaped her evil step mother and death and the survived in the woods. She doesn't really seem like the pushover type. Little Red Riding Hood took treats to her grandmother by walking through the woods. She might have been a little dumb, but she wasn't gaining weight.
Perhaps that is the photographers point though? That as society has changed and as gender roles have changed, so have our beloved fairy tales. Perhaps if Belle was living in present day, she wouldn't be able to see past the ugly beast because she is so consumed with looks. It bothers me that these women have replaced the classic fairy tale women. They are not as strong and are obsessed with beauty. So I guess that's what our gender has come to?
To answer question one, I relate to your photograph because I do feel that the older princess movies like Snow white (who is in a mothering role to the dwarves) and Sleeping Beauty (the helpless damsel in distress) have created a since of how women should be. But at the same time, I am not really affected by these images due to the fact that these films were produced decades ago, designed to reinforce the pre-feminism stereotype of the good house wife.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the newer animated movies of princess like Mulan (though a little older), Shrek, Tangled, and Brave, I would dare to say that the image of women as changed. I believe that the feminism and post feminism movements have affected and transformed the image of the female princess over the years. These films were affected by showing these newer princesses in a stronger willed, willing to take action, and not letting a male stop them kind of light. And I would also go as far to say that the ideal "beauty" has slightly changed with the making of Fiona, a princess, into her original form at the end of the movie, an ogre. By seeing theses empowered princesses in all of the new animated films, I do believe that the ideals of women are changing for the better. It may not be fast and apparent right now, but there is at least some sort of activism in the film industry to provide a new sense of women’s gender roles in our society today.