In the video we saw Jean Kilbourne talk about how the media is portraying women. Her assesment in ways is correct, the subliminal messaging being put on young girls about how they should look can effect their lifestyle. However she completely misses the fact that women "supposed" to be skinny has been around since ancient times and has been a status in our culture forever. We cannot trace the origins of these effects in just this time period. She instantly assumes that the advertisement is causing the genetically honed NEED to be perfect. Of course the argument can be made of who decides what perfect really is. Is it the population that decides? Or one individual? But that is a different topic entirely.
She brings up the issue of abuse against women that has been brought on by advertisements. She states that showing men in more powerful positions and as more agressive. However, we all know younger men are pumped full of testosterone which increases violent activity. This is not advertisement which is causing people to become more violent, but a natural reaction of men. Once again this has been around for hundreds of years and she is trying to make an insignificant connection to advertisements. Most of these advertisements with women are portraying women's products. Why would a man want to read about a product he will never need?
Some of these connections made are far-reaching at best and can be counted out. This is only one person's opinion. Every scientifical discovery ever made has to be backed by numerous sources and repeated again and again.
Alex your historical facts add alot to your argument. I think that there needs to be change and it needs to come from the consumers since we are the ones that fund these companies and pay for these ads.
ReplyDeletehmmm you have a point. the demand for women to be skinny has been around for a lllooonnnngggg time. corsets anyone? however, the ads are perpetuating the issue.
ReplyDeletebut i think you're discounting the power of advertising on people. i think it affects men, whether the product is aimed at them or not. plus, the subliminal messaging is definitely present in mens' products as well.
you're right, some of the connections she made were a bit shaky, but the issue is still there. i don't think it can be discounted just because of some poorly-chosen evidence in kilbourne's presentation