Today in Mali women are beaching their skin in order to look like what they think is beautiful. They embellish their skin with these creams that kill pigment, but that's not all it does. The creams are in no way salubrious; these creams can give the user cancer and blemishes, and putting it on is said to be extremely irritating and painful. All this just to get a more pallid skin tone. Women in Mali even go as far as saying that if you don't bleach your skin there will be no dowry in your future. They say that men are salacious of women with bleached skin, and that no man would marry a women without it.
The few women who choose not to use these skin creams are in no way jovial. These women are frowned upon by society. One woman said she was asked to stay out of some wedding pictures because of her dark skin. This is not just a harmless trend, these women are being out casted because they decide to keep their mesmeric natural skin color. This bleaching is a fashion statement that might not ever go out of style. Young girls are ebullient to get their hands on these harmful, popular products, and they will pass their passion for these products down for generations.
To read the article I read before writing this entry go to:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/718359.stm
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
A Campaign for Real Beauty.
1. What were your gut reactions to this commerical?
and
2. What do you think about the central message of the commercial? Be specific and give examples to support your ideas.
Many times before I have been exposed to the ugly truth about how our society conveys beauty to our youth. Diet pills, magazines and advertisements, they all teach our youth about how they should look. Through other projects I have completed, I have learned some shocking statistics, such as, 80% of fourth grade girls have been on a fad diet, the average weight of a model is 23% lower than that of an average women, as many as 10 million women and girls suffer from an eating disorder, and the shocking fact that Americans spend approximately $12.4 million on cosmetic procedures each year. These facts show that our countries gone out of control when it comes to exposing women in the media. I appreciate that popular companies such as Dove are trying to make people aware of these facts, and would like to see more cosmetic companies do the same. I want to see a message go out to our youth that you are beautiful no matter what you look like, and it is truly unfortunate if someone can only see "skin deep".
To see the video I saw before writing this post go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epOg1nWJ4T8
and
2. What do you think about the central message of the commercial? Be specific and give examples to support your ideas.
Many times before I have been exposed to the ugly truth about how our society conveys beauty to our youth. Diet pills, magazines and advertisements, they all teach our youth about how they should look. Through other projects I have completed, I have learned some shocking statistics, such as, 80% of fourth grade girls have been on a fad diet, the average weight of a model is 23% lower than that of an average women, as many as 10 million women and girls suffer from an eating disorder, and the shocking fact that Americans spend approximately $12.4 million on cosmetic procedures each year. These facts show that our countries gone out of control when it comes to exposing women in the media. I appreciate that popular companies such as Dove are trying to make people aware of these facts, and would like to see more cosmetic companies do the same. I want to see a message go out to our youth that you are beautiful no matter what you look like, and it is truly unfortunate if someone can only see "skin deep".
To see the video I saw before writing this post go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epOg1nWJ4T8
Acceptance.
During our discussion in class today the subject of acceptance was brought to the surface while talking about the four “cardinal” virtues created by Greek philosophers (prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice). To me, acceptance should be one of these virtues.
People take one look at someone, and make assumptions about the persons personality, likes and dislikes, before they've even spoken. People will see a person and automatically find they stereotype that goes along with what the person looks like; may it be judgment on skin color, clothing, or body type. I think that people need to learn to accept one another for who they are, and not make society driven assumptions about anyone before they get to know them.
Another thing about acceptance is accepting each others opinions and views. When someone learns that another person has a view on something that is the opposite of their own, they instantly decide that they wouldn't get along with that particular person. So, two people have different views on the presidential election and instantly mark the other as an enemy. But why? Because they could add a different view on a topic then your own? Because they could show you their point of view on a controversial topic, and why they think that?
Try to see past a persons "flaws" until you've heard them out. Let a person speak before you tell them what's "right" and "wrong".
People take one look at someone, and make assumptions about the persons personality, likes and dislikes, before they've even spoken. People will see a person and automatically find they stereotype that goes along with what the person looks like; may it be judgment on skin color, clothing, or body type. I think that people need to learn to accept one another for who they are, and not make society driven assumptions about anyone before they get to know them.
Another thing about acceptance is accepting each others opinions and views. When someone learns that another person has a view on something that is the opposite of their own, they instantly decide that they wouldn't get along with that particular person. So, two people have different views on the presidential election and instantly mark the other as an enemy. But why? Because they could add a different view on a topic then your own? Because they could show you their point of view on a controversial topic, and why they think that?
Try to see past a persons "flaws" until you've heard them out. Let a person speak before you tell them what's "right" and "wrong".
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
The Beautiful Women of Greece.
1. How did women's roles in society differ from Athens and Sparta?
The women of Sparta were clearly better off than those of Athens. Spartan women were allowed to own more than just clothing and jewelry, they could own pretty much anything they wanted, even land (it is said that they owned more than one third of the Spartan land). Still, neither of the groups of women lived wonderful lives. Women in both cultures were looked at as objects; in Athens they were merely for show, and in Sparta their husbands were allowed to “lend them” to others in order for that man to have a child.
2. If the Greeks are considered so advanced, so culturally elite, why do you believe gender equality (equality between men and women) was not established?
I find it very unfortunate that neither society took charge in making both men and women equal. I question how it came to be that women were not “worth” as much as men. Why were women in Athens not allowed to own things like land? How could it come to be that a man in Sparta could lend his wife to another man so he could use her for sexual purposes? I can’t think of why gender equality was never brought up. What did these people see in women to make them think that they were the weaker of the two genders?
3. Based on your understanding of women in Ancient Greek society, how do you think women were depicted by artists at this time?
By what I’ve read tonight I have a good feeling women were depicted as beautiful creatures in Greek society. I noticed that no matter how many cruel things I read in the articles, they always mention how a man always wished for a beautiful wife. I predict that when I am shown samples of Greek art, the women will be gorgeous, but they will not be in the best situations.
The women of Sparta were clearly better off than those of Athens. Spartan women were allowed to own more than just clothing and jewelry, they could own pretty much anything they wanted, even land (it is said that they owned more than one third of the Spartan land). Still, neither of the groups of women lived wonderful lives. Women in both cultures were looked at as objects; in Athens they were merely for show, and in Sparta their husbands were allowed to “lend them” to others in order for that man to have a child.
2. If the Greeks are considered so advanced, so culturally elite, why do you believe gender equality (equality between men and women) was not established?
I find it very unfortunate that neither society took charge in making both men and women equal. I question how it came to be that women were not “worth” as much as men. Why were women in Athens not allowed to own things like land? How could it come to be that a man in Sparta could lend his wife to another man so he could use her for sexual purposes? I can’t think of why gender equality was never brought up. What did these people see in women to make them think that they were the weaker of the two genders?
3. Based on your understanding of women in Ancient Greek society, how do you think women were depicted by artists at this time?
By what I’ve read tonight I have a good feeling women were depicted as beautiful creatures in Greek society. I noticed that no matter how many cruel things I read in the articles, they always mention how a man always wished for a beautiful wife. I predict that when I am shown samples of Greek art, the women will be gorgeous, but they will not be in the best situations.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder
1.What is so beautiful about youth?
I think that youth is beautiful because of the innocence and naivety that it embraces. When I think of innocent I think free of guilt, and the inability to know what’s wrong and what’s right. Naivety brings to mind the act of not knowing of many things our society has labeled as “important”. I believe that the mind that does not know of these “important” events can be free to live a much easier life. Of course, this sparks controversy with many people because of the fact that not knowing about said problems means that no one can help.
2. We know what "perfect" most likely means to Socrates by looking at ancient Greek sculpture and art and drawing inferences, but he doesn't describe this "perfect" human form. What are your thoughts on the idea of a "perfect" human form today? What is it in your culture for men? women? What are your thoughts surrounding those ideals?
In my mind I think that human form has nothing to do with beauty at all. I think that a person’s personality and state of mind is what makes them truly beautiful. I think that if a person sticks to whom they truly are, and refuses to change just to make someone besides them self happy, is the most beautiful person on the earth. I find it sad that in today’s society a woman has to have a perfect hourglass figure and a man has to be buff in order to be thought “beautiful”. In today’s society men and women have to be aesthetically pleasing in order to be considered beautiful. Sure, aesthetically pleasing people are technically beautiful, but perhaps they are only beautiful on the outside. No one cares to look at a person’s inner self in order to determine weather or not the said person is beautiful.
I think that youth is beautiful because of the innocence and naivety that it embraces. When I think of innocent I think free of guilt, and the inability to know what’s wrong and what’s right. Naivety brings to mind the act of not knowing of many things our society has labeled as “important”. I believe that the mind that does not know of these “important” events can be free to live a much easier life. Of course, this sparks controversy with many people because of the fact that not knowing about said problems means that no one can help.
2. We know what "perfect" most likely means to Socrates by looking at ancient Greek sculpture and art and drawing inferences, but he doesn't describe this "perfect" human form. What are your thoughts on the idea of a "perfect" human form today? What is it in your culture for men? women? What are your thoughts surrounding those ideals?
In my mind I think that human form has nothing to do with beauty at all. I think that a person’s personality and state of mind is what makes them truly beautiful. I think that if a person sticks to whom they truly are, and refuses to change just to make someone besides them self happy, is the most beautiful person on the earth. I find it sad that in today’s society a woman has to have a perfect hourglass figure and a man has to be buff in order to be thought “beautiful”. In today’s society men and women have to be aesthetically pleasing in order to be considered beautiful. Sure, aesthetically pleasing people are technically beautiful, but perhaps they are only beautiful on the outside. No one cares to look at a person’s inner self in order to determine weather or not the said person is beautiful.
Monday, November 26, 2007
My Image of Beauty.
My first image of beauty is a daisy. I chose this image for it's simplicity and what I see as "true beauty". When I say "true beauty" I'm talking about the beauty that comes naturally, without things to cover up any so called "blemishes". I appreciate the fact that this image shows just one flower, because it shows that we don't have to be surrounded by others or by a particular scene in order to shine.
The second image I chose was of a black jaguar. I chose a black jaguar because they always seem to carry themselves with such pride. A pride that says "I'm not afraid of you," and "do you dare insult me?" I think that this pride is something beautiful because it shows that the person carrying it doesn't care what other people think, and they're not afraid to break away from the main stream and what others want them to be.
My third and final image is that of two people hugging. I see hugging as a gesture that can show all different emotions. It can show sadness when two people must part, or it can show happiness when two people reunite, you can comfort a person by giving them a hug. I find all of these emotions beautiful because of how natural they are. I also find this image beautiful because it represents the connection two people can have with each other. I always find it amazing when you can be apart with someone for so long, but within seconds of reuniting, the connection between you can be just as strong if not stronger than before.
To see the assignment go to http://cortneyshumanities.blogspot.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)