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Contrasts in hierarchys-

I found this image very powerful to look at, it made me start to think about the opposite lifestyles between poor and rich people and the different thought processes they have from day to day. People from third world countries live their lives in a survival state like we would have done thousands of years ago, nowadays the media influences everyone, especially people of wealth, they live to look their best and to be in date with the latest styles. 

Noliesradio.org, (2015). US inequality at historic high–surpassing Roaring ’20s | NO LIES RADIO. [online] Available at: http://noliesradio.org/archives/67700 [Accessed 15 Jan. 2015].

Lesighface.typepad.com, (2006). The Myth of Famine and Third World Countries - le_sigh_face's blog. [online] Available at: http://lesighface.typepad.com/blog/2006/11/the-myth-of-famine-and-third-world-countries.html [Accessed 15 Jan. 2015].

Third world countries/the poor

 

  • malnutrition 

  • nutrition and its effects on the body, the skin, the well being, the state of mind

  • diseases

  • how does the environment reflect the way we look

  • scars and wounds from being abused

 Baker, S. and Baker, S. (2013). Perubahan Miris Nana Karagianni, Jurnalis Cantik Yang Terkena Anoreksia - Coretanku. [online] Anakmudadesa.blogspot.co.uk. Available at: http://anakmudadesa.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/perubahan-miris-nana-karagianni.html [Accessed 18 Jan. 2015].

Fashion-english115.blogspot.co.uk, (2015). Fashion in Media: Rizza. [online] Available at: http://fashion-english115.blogspot.co.uk/p/rizza.html [Accessed 15 Jan. 2015].

Malnutrition because of the state of mind Vs malnutrition due to poverty:

Developed countries/the rich

 

  • health and well being

  • effects of media the developed countries are exposed to that third world countries aren't

  • how we change the way we look-makeup, hair, plastic surgery

  • skin bleaching

  • body dismorphia

  • anorexia

  • plastic surgery

  • cultural ideas of beauty

In the article “Former model: ‘What young girls can learn from my anorexia,’ Georgina Wilkin explains how she started her modelling career when she was 15. Being casted against other models and judged by their weight encouraged anorexia to develop and she became seriously ill. 

Nana Karagianni, a journalist from greece started to develop anorexia when she ventured into modelling. I found it more interesting to discover several images and articles of Nana during the time she has anorexia, than when she was at her prime modelling. However, I found very little evidence of any of her modelling career. She seems to be more famous for her extreme weight loss.

Severely malnourished, mother of 2 Josefa stands in the doorway of the women's ward at Bailundo Hospital where she is currently being treated. An example of pure survival. Josefa lives each day hoping she will get better, have food and shelter.

Baker, S. and Baker, S. (2013). Perubahan Miris Nana Karagianni, Jurnalis Cantik Yang Terkena Anoreksia - Coretanku. [online] Anakmudadesa.blogspot.co.uk. Available at: http://anakmudadesa.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/perubahan-miris-nana-karagianni.html [Accessed 18 Jan. 2015].

 

According to some sources Megan Fox has spent over $60,000 on plastic surgery. A complete opposite lifestyle to Josefa. Megan fox spends thousands on the way she looks. Perfecting herself to every fine detail. Some of her stress in life revolve more around the way she looks, her career, or how she is being portrayed in the media. 

Dimdam, E. (2013). 25 Plastic Surgeries Gone Wrong. [online] List25. Available at: http://list25.com/25-plastic-surgeries-gone-wrong/ [Accessed 15 Jan. 2015].

Plastic Surgery Before and After, (2013). Megan Fox Plastic Surgery’s Rumors Have Been Denounced. [online] Available at: http://plasticsurgerybeforeafter.net/megan-fox-plastic-surgery/ [Accessed 18 Jan. 2015].

Here Kylie Jenner looks dramatically different from her before photograph three years ago. It is thought that she has had surgery to improve her appearance. This makes me wonder what it is that drives people to improve their already perfect appearance to live up to what is beautiful.

Here is an example of plastic surgery gone wrong. It is interesting to see what rosks people would take to make themselves look younger or more beautiful. There is always a risk with under going surgery but yet these people are willing to take it. 

Films to look at:

12 years a slave

The colour purple

Slum dog millionaire

 

Looking at these modifications these celebrities has encouraged me to look into body modification, 

Notes on body shockers and some thoughts and questions that provoked me:

 

The craze for body modification.
 

-People who are altering their natural looks

-The boob job: nearly 10,000 women had a boob job. "When I was 22 I had a boob job. I flicked through a magazine saw some big boobs, so I did it" - Katie piper.
Nicola- "all the girls around me were having boob jobs and I thought they looked great". How easily influenced are we by others? Why do we feel the need to look the same as others? What is it about others that we feel will improve our lives?
-The boob job started a negative effect on her career. She states her boobs are the first thing people judge her on. This could be linked to our natural instincts. Men seek attractive woman as a sexual mate, but what is it about big breasts that are seen as more 'sexy' or more attractive?
Faye- wants a boob bob because she believes it will change aspects of her life such as her career, love life etc.
After going to Miami she felt like the girls over there were flawless, she compared herself to them because they are sexy. Why is she wanted to feel 'sexy' what makes us want sex appeal? Why do people want to be more attractive?
-She states she doesn't feel comfortable with a bra on Infront of people and even sleeps with a bra on to make her feel like she has breasts.
-Katie piper questions "are the girls in Miami happy?" Faye answers "yeah". But how does she know? Does being attractive make you overall happy and more successful?
Faye's real problem is her insecurities.
Katie asks, what if after the boob job you still feel, am I good enough? Do I feel confident enough?
Katie piper- she's in a world that is full of peer pressure.
 

A new craze- 'tituing'.
Skin pigmentation specialist Kelly who has worked with cancer patients following reconstructive surgery. A very different need for surgery to change the nipples into hearts compared to patients who have been severely ill. Is this procedure uneccessary?

-Costs around £400. 5 nipple tattoos a week.
Annette- used to be model put a weave into her hair despite it putting strain on her hair and being so painful. "It's like torture". Are the lengths we go to, to look good too far?

-Her wig costs £500.
-How is her baldness effecting her? Her scalp was throbbing, she ignored the problem. She has insecurities now thinking people would stare.

Bodyshockers: My Big Boob Hell, [television programme, online], Prod. credit n.k., Prod. company n.k., Prod. country n.k., 23:00 26/2/2014, Channel 4, 60mins. http://bobnational.net/record/204369, (Accessed 19/01/2015).

Body modification includes gymnastics, body building, anorexia and fasting. 

Definition:

Body modification (or body alteration) is the deliberate altering of the human anatomy or phenotype. It is often done for aesthetics, sexual enhancement, rites of passage, religious beliefs, to display group membership or affiliation, to create body art, for shock value, and as self-expression, among other reasons

Body modification: the intro

Are nature and culture inherently blurred? 

"if the body is meant to be a source of pleasure and value in life in the 'if you look good, you feel good' consumer culture philosophy, the disregard and violation of the body generally suggests a threatening lack of respect for the self."

 

What lengths are people willing to go to, do people really care about their own well being and health. Why is there no self respect? 

Kasten, E. (2006) Body-Modification: Psychologische Und Medizinische Aspekte Von Piercing, Tattoo, Selbstverletzung Und Anderen Korperveranderungen. München: Ernst Reinhardt.

 

 

films to watch that involve body building and the effects on the life in relation to the way you look:

precious

pain and gain

nip tuck

The consumer culture has now turned into more about seeing the flesh and visible contours of the body, compared to years ago when it was more common to see someone more covered up beneath heavy clothing. This helps to support why 

 

What extent are people willing to go through to change the way they look? Do people really go to these extents to get a reaction from others, especially the opposite sex?

Do women body builders aspire to play with gender roles? It is interesting how some female body builders begin to look masculine but continue to dress like a woman. 

After doing some research I feel like I would be interested in these obsessions people develop to change the way they look and why. I am interested in searching body dismorphia in areas such as body building, anorexia and the extremes of plastic surgery. 

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