I've decided this blog, and most subsequent blogs are going to be entirely rant style. So here we go...
Oh great, another rant on body image and how the media affects everyone. Well, not exactly. This is more about a battle that goes on in media and entertainment. Both sides get a fair amount of attention but I have yet to see them addressed together and in how they relate to one another.
One is the often addressed issue of "perfection" in advertisement, magazines, movies, etc. Men and women (most often women) are portrayed with nearly unacheivably perfect bodies. The other is the consumer mentality that's so pervasive in America. Buy this. Eat that. Buy this. Eat that. Quick and easy is king. Both the industry promoting the sexy and good looking and the industry promoting consumption are trying to make money, but only one of them can truly win, right?
With the growing obesity problem in the United States (and elsewhere as many places become "Americanized") it would be fair to say that it's consumption that's winning out. Fast food can be found just about anywhere you look, and even what is purchased in the grocery stores is becoming more and more about convenience at the cost of health.
But the way I see it, is the "battle" of these industries is a battle of our minds. A battle between daily convenience and tasty food against the desire to be attractive and fit. The truth lies in that, as long as this battle exists, it's going to continue to make money for the coroporations pushing the ideas into our minds. The more weight we gain, and the more fit and fun people we see advertised, the more desire we have to change. There's a reason nearly all infomercials are for excersice equipment or supplements that will speed up your metabolism.
The same convenience of consumption that has been bred into us is what we desire to rid ourselves of our consumption problem!
Well ladies and gentlemen, It's not that easy, and we all know it. Maybe 1% of us will ever have that perfect body, and even the most fit of us will probably add a few pounds as we grow older. It's life. I hope each of you lives a healthy lifestyle to the best of your ability, but we are all humans and there are far more important things than our waistline. Want to have a burger? Do it. Want to jog 7 miles a day? Awesome.
Think of the important things in life first, and if you can squeeze in being super fit too, by all means do it. But in a world that wants your money I leave you with this:
"It costs nothing to be honest, loyal, and true." -The Avett Brothers
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Your argument for the battle of the minds is an interesting idea. I take it that your saying, the influences of media advocating beauty and fitness and advocating fast food and other such "obesity inducing" factors are equal, and really it's up to the individual to be accountable for how he or she reacts to such influences. I hate it when people talk about the media as if its some sort of evil mind control conspiracy. Yea...people are trying to sell things, but it is the individual in the end who decides to buy. Sorry if I completely misunderstand you, but with that misunderstanding (if I misunderstand), good point. And thanks for the comment.
<3 Scribble
You get the point if it precisely.
As far as the media, I think it has bad effects, but it's the result of accumulation. Each individual who makes an ad or a film or a magazine isn't THINKING BIG and wondering what the effects of all media combined will be. They're trying to make their product as appealing as possible.
-Tim
"It costs nothing to be honest, loyal, and true." -Avett Bros.
This just had me thinking of a third (of probably endless) offshoot(s) of the image vs. health line of thinking: medicine.
While, in general, we eat worse and become more obese... our life expentency continues to increase. Think about what past generations ate... or, more acurately, what they didn't eat (McDonalds, twinkies). We generally think of them as healthier... or at least not obese. But what was the life expentency of a Native American? 35? And did they even have teeth left if they did turn 35?
So when you start thinking about the day when the world goes to shit, and technology fails and we're back to fending for ourselves... how many will be able to?
I can't speak for the Native Americans, but I know during the Dark Ages the life expectancy was around 40. The problem is the number is severely misleading. The average lifespan was so low because there was an incredibly high infant mortality rate. Those who made it to adulthood lived lives not quite as long as ours, but generally into their fifties.
-Tim
"It costs nothing to be honest, loyal, and true." -Avett Bros.
do we have to post so you can get votes?
and i'm not fat.
Why is everything always about being perfect???? What is perfect anyways??? I hate the perception of body image! It is a topic i wish didnt exist. Too many issues involved!
Take Care,
Nikki
:) Check out my post:
http://www.progressiveu.org/232338-battle-of-the-sexes-especially-for-engineers
http://www.progressiveu.org/235117-military-appreciation
http://www.progressiveu.org/001148-remakes-keep-or-toss
many people dont even care what they look like and they shouldnt...learn to live with people, no matter how they look
how people want to be precived is very important. in todays socity if you are fat people may think, beause the media has lead us the think that they are lazy therefore not as hard of workers. This sterotype is harmful. So yeah i think people care about their imagek, and weigh is a factor in one's image