My photo uses different composition aspects and symbolism to show how altering your body to fit what is deemed appropriate and normal is unhealthy and the desired goal is ultimately unattainable. It touches on different aspects affecting girls' mentality such as outside influences and the transitional phrase between being a girl and becoming a woman. I used white versus black to show the transition of innocence into womanhood. The white dress (hidden behind the black shirt) and white tights represent childhood purity. It exemplifies a time when beauty wasn't a prominent influence in life. It shows simplicity and healthy youthfulness. The black push up bra (hidden behind the girl) and lacey black top represent sexiness and seduction. It shows the loss of innocence and an introduction of using physical beauty as a powerful trait that can be used for manipulation and power. The "Feed Your Head" poster in the background shows how different influencers such as media, parents, and peers ingrain you with information and false perceptions of how a woman should look and behave. Its smoky appearance almost seems toxic as if these gender codes can be dangerous and seductive. The jewelry box sits nearby to reinforce the message of "feed your head". It is referring to what it means to be a woman such as having feminine characteristics. The plastic fake legs show how changing your body to fit the modern meaning of true beauty is unhealthy and artificial. Receiving medical procedures like liposuction, breast implants, and Botox is unhealthy for your body and has serious health risks. Trying to change you to fit into something that is unattainable will only lead to depression and more health risks. The bruises on the girl's body shows how trying to fit into this mold of true beauty is self damaging and causes physical and mental issues.
The girl is in the foreground to show how all these influence (jewelry, clothes, and "feed your mind" poster) will remain how they are but the girl will be the one affected by them. This is demonstrated by her trying to fit into the plastic legs. The angle is tilted to show the illusion of how all these influences (and the girl stuck in the middle of this disarray) are tumbling over to the right. The weight of all these silent rules of what being a girl means is too heavy and thus will eventually fall, harming the girl in the process.
1 comment:
This photo is a great representation of the struggles women go through on a day to day basis in order to fit into the mold society has created for them. When you first look at the photo you see a girl with a look of confusion and pain. She is fighting a battle with herself about who she wants to be and who society wants her to be, a perfect pretty girl who knows where she stands in society. But no one truly knows where they fit in until much later in life and we see this girl fighting to find out who she is in society and where she fits in. She is struggling with the idea of growing up and who she must become. Throughout the photo there are many symbolic elements that the photographer included, like the black and white objects in the photo. These contrasting colors show this inner battle women face between staying a pure girl and the pressures from society to grow up into a sexy and seducing women in order to get what she wants. The girl is shown sitting down because she is overwhelmed by all the standards and expectations that she must fulfill in order to fit into the mold society has created for her. I really like the idea behind the “Feed Your Head” poster in the background and how it represents the media and peers filling this girls head with fake ideas of how she has to be in order to fit into society’s mold. Over all this photo is a great example of how girls must fit into these specific standards from society, but not all girls are as willing as others and are having constant inner battles with themselves in order to fit in.
Post a Comment