Heather

Observations:
Observe shopping habits/reactions/comments in department stores for young girls.

Surveys:
Geared toward parents with daughters; Their opinions on certain stars..giving a mix of the “skinny” vs. “curvy.”
Geared toward young women; same topic… opinions on the “skinny” vs. “curvy” body types of stars.

Interviews:
Get in touch with the celebrities themselves or their representatives.
Psychologists
Sociologists
Doctors

Abstract:
The media is a mainstream way to advertise and get specific points across. But how many times are these points and advertisements sending the wrong message to the wrong audience? With as many super-thin stars as famous as they are today – its no wonder teenage (and younger!) girls are having self-image complexes. Are there any celebrities and companies involved that are aggressively taking some kind of action to change their images and get the correct message across to the correct audience, or is it just staying the same battle it has been?

Introduction:
Kids today are more involved with technology than any other generation before them. But is this technology helping or hurting them? There are more changes for companies to project the wrong messages to impressionable children. With the on-going battle of “skinny-girls” in the media, are any corporations or even celebrities trying to combat these images or has the battle faded into the background?

Conversations:

Celebrities breaking “the mold”
• America Ferrera
• Kate Winslett
• Jennifer Hudson
• Tyra Banks
Major Corporations
• Dove’s “real” women campaign
• ABC – Ugly Betty vs. Grey’s and Housewives
Magazine Companies
• Cosmopolitan
• Glamour (photoshopping)
• Seventeen
• American Girl

Too many young girls are focusing on how they look. As developing women, eating disorders and fitting into a size double zero jeans do not benefit to a maturing age. This on-going battle needs tackled and more corporations and celebrities need to take a stand. This issue is connected to Digital Culture in a huge way because most of the ways these “standards” are broadcasted into homes is through television and the internet. Not only that, but digital image editing is sending the wrong messages through magazines as well.

Overview Of Sources:
A lot of the sources listed are specifically geared toward body image as a background companion. Also, a majority of them are blog sites, with many comments, about current events in the media that surround “role model” issues and arguments that have happened recently or in the past few years. The search is still on for scholarly articles and books, however. It was much easier to find background information on body images/psychological disorders, along with eating disorders, than how the media is attacking or pursuing this problem. There were a few sites about ads and celebrities trying to do the right thing, but getting attacked personally in return. The range of sources that have been found is not nearly where it is expected to be, but will be accomplished. There are still searches in Cultural studies, Gender Studies, Psychological and Sociological studies. Most of these studies will produce scholarly articles/journals and books.

Working Bibliography:
BBC NEWS | Health | Young ‘hung up on their bodies’. BBC News. (2007). 12 October 2007 .
CNN.com - Transcripts. (2006). 12 October 2007 .
Craven, Heather. “Tyra Banks concerned for young girls as she is blasted about her weight - ParentDish.” ParentDish. (2007). 12 October 2007 .
Daily Blabber Celebrity Gossip Blog from iVillage Entertainment. “Obese” Idol Comment Continues to Wreak Havoc. (2007). 12 October 2007 .
Female Body Shape in the 20th Century. Diet Blog. (2007). 12 October 2007 .
Hitti, Miranda. “Thin Ads + Low Body Image = Stress?, Ads Showing Skinny Models Might Hurt Self-Worth In Vulnerable Young Women - CBS News.” CBS News. (2006). 12 October 2007 .
Keller, Richard. “Ugly Betty becomes Skinny Betty for the cover of Glamour - TV Squad.” TV Squad. (2007). 12 October 2007 .
Media’s Effect On Girls: Body Image And Gender Identity | MediaWise.org. Media’s Effect On Girls: Body Image and Gender Identity. (2002). 12 October 2007 .
“The Media and Eating Disorders.” 123HelpMe.com. 11 Oct 2007
.
Small, Kelly. “Body Image.” Addressing Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Eating Disorders. (2001). 12 October 2007 .
Spencer, Mimi. “The shape we’re in | Woman | The Observer.” The Observer: Observer Woman. (2006). 12 October 2007 .
Survey Says Curvy Celebs Are Sexier - Starpulse News Blog. Starpulse News Blog. (2006). 12 October 2007 .
Top, Luke. “Dove Soap’s “Real Beauty” Campaign - AdJab.” Ad Jab. (2005). 12 October 2007 .
Wood, Kelsey. “wood.pdf (application/pdf Object).” Effects of a Media Intervention Program on Body Image and Eating Attitudes Among Children. (2004). 12 October 2007 .

I. Introduction
II. Background
a. Glorified “Shapes” of History
i. Betty Gable
ii. Marilyn Monroe
III. Girls’ Views Today
a. New Aspirations
i. First Female President vs. size 00
IV. The Problem
a. The Sources
i. Media
1. Television
a. Commercials
2. Movies
3. Magazines
a. Photo-shopping
4. Facebook/Myspace
a. Imitation of ‘stars’
V. Developmental Issues
a. The age girls start recognizing weight/appearance
b. Certain “hang-ups”
c. Developing into young women
VI. Eating Disorders
a. Easy Fixes to the “weight problem”
VII. Combating the Problem
a. Celebrities
i. Kate Winslett
1. public protest
ii. Tyra Banks
1. Talk show
iii. America Ferrera
1. ‘photo-shopping’
iv. Jennifer Hudson vs. Beyonce
b. Corporations
i. New ads focusing on ‘real’ women
ii. Some designers not hiring ‘skinny’ models for shows
VIII. Conclusion

Author: Richard Keller
Title: Ugly Betty becomes Skinny Betty for the Cover of Glamour
Publisher/Site: tvsquad.com
Public. Date: Sept 12, 2007
Access Date: Oct. 9, 2007

Least Most
1. Relevance | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5|

How closely does the material address your research question? It relates to my research question because it talks about photoshopping an image to enhance it to, in this case, sell more copies.

Does it provide background or address a central issue? It addresses the issue of a well-known “real sized” women being photoshopped onto a skinnier models body for publication of the cover.

2. Evidence | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5|

Are the ideas and information presented persuasively, with support (i.e. strong argument, relevant facts)? Yes, the article is accompanied by two images: that of the cover of the magazine and a photograph of the subject taken recently for comparison of the two images.

Is the presentation seemingly fair and informed with appropriate sources credited? Its basically a blog. It seems fair, its written persuasively and it lets users comment. The only thing it doesnt do is cite sources. It does have tags, however useful that might be.

3. Source | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5|

Who is the author? What “authority” or affiliation does he/she have? Does the style indicate reliability or biases? The author is Richard Keller. He is apparently a writer for a blog on tvsquad.com, but other than that credibility, there isn’t much.

Who is the publisher? What does this suggest about the purpose and trustworthiness of the material?
The publisher is tvsquad.com. The trustworthiness of the site is questionable, however, because it is a blog and most users can just post whatever they feel at the time.

Author: Mimi Spencer
Title: The Shape we’re in
Publisher/Site: The Observer/Observer Woman
Public. Date: Sunday, Aug. 6, 2006
Access Date: Oct. 8, 2007
Other

Least Most
1. Relevance | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5|

This source provides a lot of background on my topic and also gives a “new day” look into how women perceive themselves and how they should look.

Notes:

2. Evidence | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5|

The source is biased. It wants women to stay away from becoming a grown woman and fitting into a size 7 childrens’ jean. However, it has strong arguments to back up it’s claims.

Notes:

3. Source | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5|

Who is the author? What “authority” or affiliation does he/she have? Does the style indicate reliability or biases? There are biases. However, there are arguments to back them up. The author is a writer for The Observer. She has authority as a journalist who “observes” the trends of today.

Who is the publisher? What does this suggest about the purpose and trustworthiness of the material? The publisher is The Observer. I think this is relevant for observing today’s culture.

Revised Research Question:

What are the new the ways that images are getting to impressionable girls to affect their self-images and what are celebrities and companies doing to combat them?

Relevant Conversations:

Major Companies: Dove’s ad campaign for curvy, ‘real’ women; Curves;
Celebrities: Kate Winslet, America Ferrara, Jennifer Hudson, Tyra Banks
Parents
Magazine Companies: Cosmopolitan, Glamor (photoshopping?), Seventeen

Sources:

Starpulse News Blog. May 5, 2006.

iVillage Blog. June 4, 2007

DietBlog. April 15, 2007. How Have Women Changed in the 20th Century.

CNN.Com Transcript. Miss USA May Lose Title; Skinny Models Bad Role Models.
Dec. 18, 2006.

The Observer. The Shape We’re In. Aug. 6, 2006

Falk, Diane. “Youth Issues and Media Influences - Diane M Falk.” 28 September 2007 .

TV Squad. Ugly Betty becomes Skinny Betty for the cover of Glamour. Sept 12, 2007.
< http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/09/12/ugly-betty-becomes-skinny-betty-for-the-cover-of-glamour/>

AdJab. Dove Soap’s “Real Beauty” Campaign. July 18, 2005
< http://www.adjab.com/2005/07/18/dove-soaps-real-beauty-campaign/>

Parent Dish. Tyra Banks concerned for young girls as she is blasted about her weight. Jan. 26, 2006. < http://www.parentdish.com/2007/01/26/tyra-banks-concerned-for-young-girls-as-she-is-blasted-about-her/>

“The Media and Eating Disorders.” 123HelpMe.com. 07 Oct 2007
.

BBC News. Young ‘hung up’ on their bodies. Feb 20, 2007.
< http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6376367.stm>

Do the images that are shown to teenagers at impressionable ages(elementary school/middle school) in magazines and movies affect the mental images they see for themselves?

1.Theme: Digital Culture + Media
2.Broad Topic: The influences the media and technology have on society
3.Concept Streams:
a.Media + Children:
i.Education
ii.Spare time
1.video games
a.violence
b.Media + Teenagers:
i.Self-Image from Movies/Magazines
1. how are magazines/movies helping?
2. how are magazines/movies being harmful?
c.Media + Adults:
i.Raising Children
ii.“Second Life”
4.Relative Conversations/Sources:
a.Media broadcasting “stereotypes” and “ideal body images” – celebrities
5a. Working Research Questions:
1.Does technology create improvements in teaching?
2.Does technology create an environment where teachers/professors are no longer needed?
3.Do violent video games really teach violent behaviors in the children that play them?
4.Do the images that are shown to teenagers at impressionable ages in magazines and in movies affect the body images they see for themselves?
5b. Focussed Research Question:
Do the images that are shown to teenagers at impressionable ages(elementary school/middle school) in magazines and movies affect the mental images they see for themselves?

So my topic is transforming and I’m beginning to focus on how the media and technology work together to influence all types of people. I imagine this is going to be changed or manipulated more as I do more research, but some of my sources are:

1. Chatfield, Joanne E. “Look Smart.” 15 Feb 2002. Influence of Media Violence on Children - statement from the Committee on Public Education of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Sept 2007 .

2. Kozma, Robert B. “School Library Media Research.” 1994. 27 September 2007 .

3. McQuillen, Jeffrey S. “Look Smart.” Spring 2003. influence of technology on the initiation of interpersonal relationships. Sept 2007 .

4. Ricciardelli, Linda. McCabe, Marita. “Self-Esteem and Negative Affect as Moderators of Sociocultural Influences on Body Dissatisfaction, Strategies to Decrease Weight, and Strategies to Increase Muscles Among Adolescent Boys and Girls.” Frbruary 2001. Look Smart Articles. 27 September 2007 .

5. SEELYE, KATHERINE Q. Resignation at CNN Shows the Growing Influence of Blogs. 14 February 2005. 26 September 2007 .

6. Carolan, Brian. “Technology, Schools and the Decentralization of Culture.” 28 September 2007 .

7. Cobas, Michelle. “USF pop culture expert examines influence of media in daily life - News at USF.” University of South Florida. 28 September 2007 .

8. Dreiling, Linda. “No Offense, but Could You Make Me Look Smarter? The Media’s Influence Over Youth Culture - Associated Content.” 28 September 2007 .

9. Falk, Diane. “Youth Issues and Media Influences - Diane M Falk.” 28 September 2007 .

10. Kappelman, Todd. “Marshall McLuhan: “The Medium is the Message”.” 28 September 2007 .

11. Lessig, Lawrence . Free culture: how big meda uses technology and the law to lock down culture and control creativity. .

12. Mass media > Influence | LibraryThing. 28 September 2007 .

As much as I loved writing about Man’s Best Friend being the best therapy companion vs. technology, the direction of my paper would end up focusing less and less on that rivalry and more and more on they types of pet therapy. I’m still not a huge fan of technology taking over the world, per say, but I believe it can help. It’s just the complete and total reliance that people have on it that worries me. So after looking at the list provided of possible paper topics, I chose “The Media Owns You, Baby.” I can’t think of a more true statement. So many people and things are influenced by the media now that it’s become the “easy way out” on placing blame. “The Media made me do it.” Is everyone’s favorite excuse now-a-days. However, unlike the topic idea, I’m choosing to focus on the negative aspects of the media’s saturation of our lives instead of the media’s plight for our attention.