From: Jennifer
The magazine being the center of the photograph and the products surrounding the magazine in a circle shape symbolizes the influence of media and the elements that go into what the media defines as being female. Based on the media's portrayal of females, the make-up, the products, and the pictures in the magazines give ideas from an early age what it means to be "feminine". The models in the pictures look well put together and glamorized thus giving young girls the idea that this is what a girl should look like. When young girls see these models who they can look up to, they imitate and portray what they see. They see the girls are skinny, fashionable, and wear lots of products. These portrayals give them ideas of what they "need to do" or "need to wear" in order to look good, attractive, and be like other girls. The media is at the core of where the socialization of being female comes from. The perceptions are based off of what is seen by a young age and further influences later development of the young girl to young woman. Even the youngest of girls could pick up a magazine and see these women, they don't have to be able to read to see the visuals that the media embodies. The circle of items surrounding the magazine also represents being trapped and wrapped up in this mold of what identifies femininity. The picture is also taken from above not at the same level, as if someone was looking down at the items, maybe unhappy or maybe overwhelmed with the process of being the media's portrayal of a female and with elements of what it takes to be considered feminine.
4 comments:
When I first looked at this picture I thought I was looking at my bedroom floor... I think this picture does represent how the media controls what it means to be an attrative feminine woman. It shows that womens magazines show young girls what make-up to wear, what clothes to buy, even how to talk, walk and act more feminine. Sadly this standard is hard to obtain. It shows airbrushed skinny women. This picture also shows how hard it is as a woman not to buy into the media's version of pretty. I hate to admitt it, but I along with all of my girlfriends look foward to to getting our cosmo's and reading the new trends for the seasons. I sadly along with most girls try to conform myself to that standard of pretty and buy the hair and make-up products...the new expensive clothes. I think this is unfortunately a very important problem that will hard to change.
How are young girls supposed to feel when magazines portray endless pages describing beauty products to help them become beautiful? Young girls absorb information in these ads in hopes of being perfect, not realizing that the type of beauty represented cannot be obtained, and is all manipulated. The background of the beige carpet symbolizes the clean pallet with which young girls can begin their transformation. Looking down at all the beauty products displayed is a subtle reminder that females are looked down on in society. Even though many young girls have love and support from their moms, the peer pressure they feel is enormous. You see brushes and blushes, nail polish and hair products, eyewear and hair wear. Should I choose a lighter shade for day and a darker one for evening? How much do you need to spend to make sure you have just the right color for your complexion? You won’t look like the models on these pages. This type of advertising diminishes self esteem. It gives us the impression we should resemble someone that we don’t even know. It’s sad that we are not comfortable in our own skin and rely on the media to lead us in the opposite direction.
girls today do anything they have to do just to be noticed. they even go out of ther way. Its crazy.
Girls go through these magazines and go look for accessories that they see people wearing in order to feel cool about how they look. They want to be like these woman they see. They believe they will be cool and socially accepted if they look like the girls in the magazines.
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