If we want to see the effects of the media on our society, we can just take a look at ourselves. Just by reflecting on our own consumption patterns, we will find it extraordinarily difficult to deny that we are greatly influenced by media. One of the main victims of media is appearance. The way you look; the way I do. We are constantly being bombarded with advertisements telling us that we need this lipstick, that cream, those shoes. The irony is that these weapons against our appearance have now become the medium through which we express ourselves.
For the sake of keeping this post short, let’s focus on one medium; makeup. Makeup is one of the highest grossing industries in the world. It emphasizes the “flaws” we all have and then introduces a solution for our flaws. Of course, we would have to buy this solution for this amount and use it this many times to see this much change. Many females (not exclusively) use makeup, myself included; use makeup as a way of expressing ourselves. Because of what we have been led to believe, we wear smoky eyes for those nights out, red lips for those elegant events, neutral shadows for those interviews, and endless other combinations.
Because media is a profit-driven institution, its sole intention is not to shape society in a way that positively affects all the participants. If you know someone’s main goal in life was to make money, would you not find it more difficult to trust them in critical situations? This should apply to the media in the very same way. We need to stop letting profit be the justification for allowing our own reflections to be victimized.
Very interesting entry, I like the way that you emphasized the fact that makeup is used to hide flaws. In a way, the makeup industry that tries to make women feel better about themselves is perpetuating the need for women to conform to a certain standard.
ReplyDeleteAs the media world grows larger, people are more just to try to become the norm. I believe make up is a great artifact of medium because there is an infinite amount of ways you can create yourself.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading this blog i was thinking to my self about how you pick up a magazine and you have maybe like 50 pages of advertisements of models wearing nice clothes and their faces are computer adjusted and overall it is very surreal. We are bombard daily as you said and i think we have all come to accept it as well. Its a shame for those who maybe dont like make up to have to be pressured to use it.
ReplyDeleteCathy,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your assertion that makeup is a medium. Referring to David's comment, it's absolutely amazing to pick up a magazine and be bombarded by L'Oreal, Maybelline, or MAC advertisements. Branding in makeup is extremely interesting--how do companies differentiate their products? Ultimately, do you think they're all the same? How different could a blush be from MAC vs. Maybelline?
Just something to ponder over...
xoxo,
MM
when I first started reading the post, it brought me right back to the video filmed by dove on youtube about commercials. Forgot which one I'm talking about? this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hibyAJOSW8U
ReplyDeletejust incase anyone is interested. But like how media and adverisements alter our image of beauty and what is right. Like how everyone should look like the models in the magazines or stars in movies, but a lot of that is done through computer technology. So what are we covering up? is there really that one perfect person?