Representing America - American Literature AP - Blog

More Than Meets the (Doll) Eye

Not only is this picture incredibly creepy, it also says a lot more than what one might first notice. When one initially looks at this advertisement, they see an advertisement for eye makeup. This is fairly obvious from the caption in the bottom left corner and even the remarkably unnerving photograph. These women literally look like dolls. Based on this idea of women looking like dolls, this ad constructs gender by enforcing stereotypes and shaping the ideal body image for women.

Because this advertisement depicts women as dolls, it enforces the stereotype of women as an object. Dolls, being the epitome of an object, have absolutely no say in what they do, they just go along with whatever is playing with them at the time. This is a horrible idea, especially when translated to be applied to women. Women just sitting there limp, waiting on their man and having no say whatsoever, is a sad, sad ideal that this advertisement is trying to get the viewer to buy into.

Furthermore, this ad, playing off of the idea of women as lifeless dolls, shapes the way women feel about how they look. Dolls, often considered to be flawless in beauty, have a sense of perfection that go along with them. Also, this idea of physical perfection goes back several decades to the invention of the Barbie doll. This revolutionary and iconic doll shaped millions of girls' self esteem around an impossible, stereotypical image. However, no woman could ever have perfect looks, even with the dieting, the makeup, and the clothes. When this dream falls short of becoming a reality, the results of the emotional states of these women could be catastrophic. As a matter of fact, almost all eating disorders are developed from a poor self body image.

Based on the fact that it portrays women as a stereotypes of sex objects and creates an unhealthy body image, this ad praises the regressive ideas that women have fought so hard to get rid of. As about as anti-feminist as something can get, this image truly constructs gender in a negative way.

Image over Substance, Materialism at It's Best

Many American women and men suffer to escape the walls of what the material world traps us in. While taking the bus to school, while ordering food at a resturant, or even just leaving a coffee shop, advertisments of ads from all different points of the material spectrum are posted. Having so much of modern day America be so consumed in what designers the celebrities are wearing or who did their make up for the red carpet event takes away the minds of dozens of Americans to assume what they see in the magazines to be what they expect to look, talk, or feel like in real life. While eating dinner one night, I came across an add for Dolce & Gabbana which completely exploits women, making them look like a sex object for the eyes of all men. This made me question; Why would anyone advertise clothing by publishing a women being dominated by a man? And even so, the clothing that they are trying to sell in the ad is almost totally absent. This attept for creating an eye drawing scene, well, unfortunatly, did it's job. But, this ad is nothing more than a moment of pleasure because of the lack of advertising clothing (the actual object set to be sold!) This simple picture, which is only one of the many ad campaigns that diminish self esteem of women or just advertise the product through sex appeal or solely the appearance of a model gives the impression to America that image is the most important thing they must care about. Image over clothing, over character, over substance, over slef worth... These ads are giving American's the wrong idea about what is important and provides them with flase ideals on the real world. 

 

Seventeen: Appearance is Top Priority!

Every month there are dozens of beauty and fashion magazines created. This number has been increasing steadily for the past few years. Some of these magazine include Seventeen, Teen Vogue, Vogue, Glamour and In Style. Most magazines are beginning to target a younger audience, such as teens and pre-teens. These magazines stress the importance for women to have perfect clothes and makeup. Additionally, on every other page there are ads that objectify women and stress the importance of appearance. Seventeen magazine has a huge impact on young women, but it continues to stress the importance of appearance and not intelligence and supports the "tough guy" stereotype.

Our society has not completely deserted the idea that women need to care much about their appearance and do not have intelligence. Seventeen is beginning to challenge the idea that women must take great care of their appearance, but they are not successful. In this April's issue of Seventeen there is an ad talking about eating disorders and their dangers. This is a great step in improving women's body image, but every model in Seventeen is under a size two. In past issues, Seventeen had articles discussing photo retouching, but every one of their photos are retouched. Seventeen magazine is hypocritical. It continues to support societies stereotype that women need to be beautiful and thin. 

Additionally, Seventeen stresses the importance of women understanding and taking care of men. In Seventeen there is an article called "Do you speak dude?". The reader is supposed to guess what phrases said by men, such as what are you doing this weekend really mean. Another quiz is titled "Can you read his body language?". Different pictures are taken and the reader is supposed to guess what the guy's move means. Seventeen magazine argues the importance that women understandand predict what men mean. This goes back to the stereotype that wives need to tend to their husbands. In reality, it is not women's job to predict what men need and want.

Seventeen also reinforces certain stereotypes of men, such as the "tough guy" and player in their new section called the Hot Guy Panel. Seventeen states that inside their magazine, "We profiled our team of real-life hotties and captured their best quotes! Look for them in the February 2011 issue- inside, you'll find tear-out trading cards of the guys, just for fun!" Like women, Seventeen stresses the importance of men's appearance. It does not talk about qualities such as intelligence and kindness. Almost all of the guys on the Hot Guy Panel are muscular and tall, which fits in with the stereotype that men must be manly and tough.

Seventeen magazine is definitely not a feminist magazine. It objectifies women and men and stresses the importance of appearance. It continues to support society's idea that women must be thin and beautiful and men must be tough and masculine.

Baby Beards

Recently the number of the percentage of black Japanese residents who are unable to grow beards is on the rise. At the same time, the number of Japanese babies gone missing has spiked incredibly. Studies show that in 2008, only 12 Japanese babies went missing, while the running total of abducted children in 2010 is a whopping 3,270*.There is only one explanation for this: the babies have been abducted to create artificial beards.

One man has been taken into custody to date. The defendant, who wishes to remain unnamed, admits that, "I like the softness of the babies' hair. It's perfect for making beards!"

If babies continue to go missing, the Japanese government will have to take drastic measures, and it will not hesitate if it must resort to violence.

*All statistics made up on the spot.