In class, we have been reading Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, a short book written by a former slave and published in 1845. It depicts the hardships of back breaking labor and heart breaking attitudes of Maryland plantations. He tells of how he and his mother knew not much of one another, of the lashes he received, and the hope to overcome oppression.
In another class, the Fit Female, we watched a documentary that seems to parallel slavery in a (less severe way). The slaves depicted in "Freddie D" suffer through hardships unimaginable by America's standards today. In America The Beautiful, of which I watched the first half in the Fit Female, director Darryl Roberts brings to light America's obsession with beauty. In a way, we are slaves to mirrors.
Gerren Taylor, who wants to become a supermodel, is documented. She is almost six feet tall, has smooth skin, is very thin, plyable hair, and a fresh face. She can be found on runways in LA, magazines across the country, all that model stuff. When the documentary was made and recording her "teen dream" job, she was 12 YEARS OLD. I was taken aback when I found out she was so young; my first impression was that she was in her early twenties and finding her way in the fashion industry. Yes, she was finding her way in the fashion industry, but only when her spelling tests allowed? I guess it seems normal to her, but to the average viewer it is quite surprising. Mr. Roberts made a clear point: America rewards beauty to an almost gross extent.
We all are familiar with the extent people go to look a certain way; Americans spend $40 billion a year on diet and weight loss products. On cosmetics: $7 billion a year. According to the YWCA, almost 10 million Americans suffer from eating disorders. People feel compelled to alter themselves to achieve a conjured "perfect." I myself am guilty of this. I consider myself a "slave" to the beauty industry.
I do not go to a book store without first looking at the fashion magazines. Hours of my life have been spent watching America's Next Top Model and Project Runway, even Jersey Shore promotes a corrolation between GTL (gym-tan-laundry) and attracting the opposite sex. Oh, yeah! Sex! That's a whole different topic...
My firend once told me she spends $60 on her foundation; "I'm fat" is no uncommon phrase; celebrities endorse thinness by being thin, wearing clothes only thin people can wear, and endorsing weight loss products. Heidi Klum eats Light'N'Fit yogurt, Kim Kardashian uses QuickTrim weight loss supplements.
It is a sad reality that we, as a country, are obsessed with exterior beauty. Is it slavery? I think so, in a way. We go to painful extremes, some people dedicate their livlihoods to it (models, actors, advertisers); perfection has become a master. I hope we can all be free soon.
ALthough you are right that America focuses on exterior beauty, I believe we are far from being slaves. People have the choice to look how they want, the freedom, slaves had no freedom.
ReplyDeleteI would compare the obsession to beauty more to prejudices and racism. Although people have the choice to look how they want, they will mocked if they dress very differently. Similarly blacks were discriminated against and did not get the same job oppurtunities, and were looked at as inferiors. Although blacks were brutally treated, and people who don't have exterior beauty are only made fun of, both are looked at as inferiors.
Trevor-
ReplyDeleteThanks for your opinion. I many cases, yes, there is a prejudice against certain traits (ie: extra weight, kinked hair, fatty eyelids). To draw upon Mr. Bolos and Mr. O'Connor: "It depends." Each person has a different relationship with their emotions and their appearances; some may feel more trapped than others. Thanks, again, for your input :)
I agree with Trevor that we aren't necessarily slaves to mirrors, but I do agree that American society is so focused on that "perfect" look. Although we have the choice to go with the flow, it's hard to go against the norm of society. It's hard to think of a time where we'd be "free" from those expectations.
ReplyDeleteI with you Glenna that we are slaves to the beauty industry. We really do not have a choice at what we see in the media. They are mostly skinny "beautiful" girls. I know how many countless times a day I look in a mirror and think to myself "If I could only loose 5 pounds. . . ." I think in a way these beauty ideals are pushed on us and we need to conform to make ourselves "happy" if no one else.
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