Jacqueline S. Denton
Visual Communications: Jour 300
Final Assignment
A Compare and Contrast of a Depiction of Health in American Media
Originally when first assigned this assignment, I had no idea as to what two images I was going to compare and contrast. It was as a result of my brief meeting with you, Professor Lenert, that I came to realize my own personal decision of refraining from buying fitness magazines that do not foster a “healthy” image. You see, I knew that I consciously make the decision not to buy a fitness magazine entitled Fitness RX, but also willingly make the choice to subscribe to the fitness magazine entitled Self. What is the difference in the visual images that influences my decision? Why does one image inspire me to take care of myself and another make me ashamed to wear a bikini?
To begin my personal psychological investigation, I will first start out by comparing and contrasting my personal reaction I undergo when first glancing at the April 2008 Self magazine cover of Christina Applegate and the May 2008 Self magazine cover of Jennifer Garner with that of two unidentified cover models of the Fitness RX magazine.
Christina Applegate is standing tall, wearing a purple tank top with a slight hint of her stomach showing, white jeans, and a simple necklace. The outfit she is wearing can be judged as “comfortable, casual.” She is smiling and confidently looking straight ahead at the camera/readers. She is placed amidst a neon green background with her hands relaxed on her hips.
Jennifer Garner is also wearing a brightly colored tank top with white jeans. She has minimal jewelry on as well and is also looking straight at the camera/readers smiling amidst a bright blue backdrop. One hand is leaning against her face while another is on her bent leg as she is casually sitting with crossed legs.
Personally, I feel as though the bright backdrops emit an energetic feel. Both models are smiling, which shows me they are happy and possess positive mindsets. The body language in both of the photos suggests to me that they are confident and comfortable with themselves. I also like the fact that Jennifer Garner’s arm is obviously not airbrushed since it is not abnormally thin. The image of that in conjunction with the smile she has on her face shows me she doesn’t care what people think and that she does not measure her happiness by vain standards. All in all, I feel authenticity and respect for oneself is encouraged when I look at these two photos.
Next, I will analyze my personal reaction with that of the Fitness RX magazine covers. Both covers are of two different, unidentified blonde models. In the attached photo I entitled “Picture 1,” the blonde is wearing a red and white striped bikini that is not exactly “conservative.” Her hair appears to be damp suggesting she just got out of a pool or ocean. In contrast with that of Self’s body language, the girl’s head is thrown back and her arm is at her side. Also, her body is not directly facing the camera. Instead, it is a shot of her side which emphasizes her breasts and butt. I feel as though the body is more on display in this photo.
In the attached photo I entitled “Picture 2,” the blonde is also wearing a revealing, black bikini. She is holding a surf board as though she just got out of the ocean.
In both Self and Fitness RX, the subjects are smiling. I get more of a “flirtatious” vibe from the Fitness RX models. They look more like sex symbols, whereas the smiles on the Self cover seem to emit more of a “friendly” and “inviting” impression. Next, there is a distinct difference in apparel. The Self models are all fully, casually dressed while the Fitness RX models are wearing scanty bikinis coming from an ocean or pool. It seems as though the Self models are dressed to go to a nice BBQ and do daily, “normal” activities while the Fitness RX models are dressed for the beach – not your “everyday activity.” Thus, I am starting to understand why the Self models project a “girl next door” impression and the Fitness RX models project more of a “fantasy girl” vibe.
Next, I will explore the historical context of the discussed images, as it is well-known that thinness is determined by culture. With that being said, America’s “perfect body” differs with that of France because of their contrasting historical backgrounds.
In the year 1959, the Barbie doll, a toy for young girls, came out in America.[1] “Girls are indoctrinated at a very young age that Barbie is how a woman is supposed to look (i.e. no fat anywhere on your body, but huge breasts). NOTE: If Barbie were life-size, she would stand 5’9” and weigh 110 lb (only 76% of what is considered a healthy weight for her height)” (UCLA)[2]. Therefore, it seems that young girls are raised and conditioned to believe that thinness is the ideal for a woman’s body.
Also, “Twenty-five years ago, the average female model weighed 8% less than the average American woman. Currently, the average female model weighs 23% below her average weight” (UCLA[3]). This fact demonstrates a trend of the American culture. To sum up, the representation of the “ideal body” has gotten thinner over the course of the last twenty-five years.
In the images submitted by Self, the women look less airbrushed. The bags underneath Applegate’s eyes are visible, whereas the Fitness RX models are more unrealistically glowing and there is not a “flaw” to be seen let alone one wrinkle. Why is there a difference in the amount of airbrush being used? It is apparent to me that Fitness RX caters to the old-fashioned, custom mentality of beauty having set measurements and standards. They are supporting the Barbie doll image as their visual image of the “perfect body.”
Self images look as though they left some “flaws” on purpose. It almost appears as though they are rebelling against the historical “perfect body” image to bring forth a new image of “perfect body.”
This apparent fact, to me, shows me that the magazines possess different “health” interpretations and definitions. Fitness RX seems to submit to the visual image in the past where the “perfect body” is an ideal associated with low body mass index like that of the Barbie doll. Self seems to adhere to a more modern day, revolutionary philosophy and outlook on health that is not so cookie-cutter in its standards. They promote the idea that women should strive to take care of themselves and embrace their uniqueness.
Now I will discuss the technical component of the images. All four images look as though they were produced in a studio. Even the Fitness RX ones that are supposed to look as though they are at the beach still seem as though they were taken with the help of lighting, etc. in a studio.
In reference to composition and framing, all four of the photos have the girls as their main subject. The Self images, however, seem to have their main subject slightly to the right of the cover whereas the Fitness RX models are framed in the center of the cover. Maybe this visual technique employed by Fitness RX was purposefully done to emphasize the girls’ bodies as an advertising technique that aims to get readers to want to look like the body. In contrast, maybe the Self images put their subjects to the right to emphasize the magazine’s positive, health-oriented headlines as a technique that aims to get readers to take notice of their healthy outlook and educational value.
It looks as though the subjects’ body language in Fitness RX serve as graphic vectors that attract even more attention to their bodies. It is apparent that the body is the main showcase of their magazine. For example, “Picture #1” has the woman’s hands on her bare legs. This points the viewer’s attention to that of her scantily dressed butt. The pose of her shrugging her shoulders also serves as a graphic vector that points the viewer’s attention to that of her full bust size. In “Picture #2” of Fitness RX, the blonde has her arm across her midsection holding a surf board. Her arm, therefore, serves as a graphic vector that takes the viewer’s attention to that of her tight and toned midsection. The hand on the board serves as a graphic vector pointing towards her breasts.
The images from Self have their subjects’ also make use of graphic vectors through the subjects’ body language. For example, Applegate’s hands at her hips point the viewers’ attention to her slightly revealing stomach from her tank top. Garner’s hand on her face points the viewers’ attention to her smile.
I think the graphic vectors definitely are the key element in projecting the symbolism associated with a magazine’s mission statements and overall purpose. For example, as I previously mentioned, Applegate’s hands at her hips point the viewers’ attention to her slightly revealing stomach from her tank top. The signifier is the toned stomach that looks as though it is peaking by accident. The signified is that Applegate is confident since she is not embarrassed her stomach is showing. It shows she feels free in her body and is not ashamed of it.
The signifier of the image of Garner is her relaxed sitting stance. The signified is that Garner is comfortable in her own body. The signifier of “Picture 1” of Fitness RX is the head thrown back, smiling ear to ear while in a half-way kneeling position in a scanty bikini. The signified is that she is extremely confident with her body since she is posing in an unordinary stance. Applegate’s body language suggests embracing her body whereas the blonde in “Picture 1” suggests flaunting it.
The signifier of “Picture #2” of Fitness RX is that she is holding a surf board while in a scanty bikini. The signified is that she feels free to do activities on the beach without worrying about her body image; therefore, her body is a representation of the “perfect body.” Unlike many women who feel self-conscious about their bodies on the beach, the blonde model appears as though she has absolutely no worries about her body since she is smiling and in a pose that suggests confidence since she is not aiming to cover up her body.
It is not surprising to me that both covers utilize high-key lighting since we learned in class that high-key lighting suggests an upbeat mood. Both magazines are fitness magazines and are obviously aiming to get their viewers to develop the desire to get fit and ultimately, in turn, develop the desire to purchase their magazine, a tool that will aid them in getting fit.
Lastly, the typography on the covers of the magazines also is different which could be another technical component that ultimately arouses different feelings within me at first glance of their covers. The April and May 2008 issues of Self both have the title in slanted, capitalized letters that are trademark of the magazine in bright colors (bright orange and bright yellow). Fitness RX, on the other hand, has its two issues in the same font trademark of the magazine, but the colors remain the same. With just this small difference, I think that Self successfully masks and communicates the message that it promotes diversity and change. The bright colors also seem to radiate optimism, a theme I feel strongly intertwined in all its issues. Additionally, Fitness Rx seems to have more of its headlines in capital, bold, large letters. This visual technique makes it appear more like a “prescription,” or “doctor’s order” for a “perfect body.” To me, it looks like yelling, and enforces negative thought processes in my mind about how I should and could be doing more to improve my body. Self, on the other hand, does not have as many capital, bold, large letters and uses a variety of fonts in its headlines. Consequently, I think this is the reason why I feel like fitness is more “fun” than a “chore” when looking at Self in comparison to that of Fitness RX.
Ethical, Cultural, Critical
First, I would like to point out the mission statements of each magazine. Self’s tagline is “You at your best” while Fitness RX’s is “Your ultimate prescription to the perfect body.” Secondly, I would like to call attention to the fact that “In 2003, Teen magazine reported that 35 per cent of girls 6 to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50 to 70 per cent of normal weight girls believe they are overweight” (Media Awareness)[4]. With that being said, I feel as though the magazines both possess a different set of ethical standards, but they both administer to the same American culture.
Personally, I feel as though both Self and Fitness RX, two influential publications that affect the manner in which American women measure their own bodies, have a great responsibility to ensure they do not encourage disordered eating, a behavior that is associated with unhappiness with one’s own body that is popular in the American culture.
Therefore, since Fitness RX’s images seem to foster an unrealistic body standard that encourages women to become “perfect,” their ethical standards do not accept much responsibility for the influence they may have on young girls’ body images. This can be seen by the supplemented “dieting” headlines surrounding the bodies on display that emit a feeling towards women as though they have not earned being happy. The women are chiseled and look as though all they do is work out. Self’s images, on the other hand, project more of an attainable image that is not far from what people really do see and come into contact with in everyday, American life. The women look as though they work out, but the casual clothing makes it appear as though they do not make work out regimens their life. Personally and critically comparing the two magazines, I feel as though Self gives more substance and value to the American woman than does Fitness RX. Self encourages respect for one’s own body through practices such as working out and eating healthy, but at the same time ensures women know that they are more than just their body.
Works Cited
April 2008 Issue of Self
May 2008 Issue of Self
Fitness RX 2008 Issues
(Please note they do not come out monthly.)
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blbarbiedoll.htm
http://www.snac.ucla.edu/pages/Body_Image/Body_Image.htm
[4] http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm
Dear Professor Lenert,
Please note that my footnotes were all affected by the copy and paste of my paper to the blog. I will provide you with a rough copy this afternoon! Thank you very much!
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Denton