Real Women
(www.mindonthemedia.org/GirlCaught.jpg) Although this ad does not directly portray women, it is a pretty revolutionary idea. To have a whole campaign that is rallying for the correct representation of women in the media is both exhilirating and upsetting. This is a good thing because it shows girls that they do not have to succumb to what the media is forcing on them, that they can be their own person. The sad part about this campaign is just the fact that it is necessary. Women should not be pressured into looking and being a certain way, but should have the right to choose what would make them look and feel their best.
(w
ww.mindonthemedia.org/girlcaught.jpg) This nike ad is going against everything that was discussed in Susan Douglass’ essay. Instead of stressing the importance of not having cellulite and legs that dont rub together, this ad blatantly praises the “thunderthigh”.Although the women’s legs in the ad are not exactly those of the average woman, they are not the legs of the super skinny model that advertisers seem to favor.
(www.flickr.com) This poster shows that a normal woman can be beautiful too. Since this is not a formal advertisement, it makes it seem that the advertisers are not understanding the concept that the mass public is not responding to the usual models. Since this took a “normal” person to put up and not a company, it shows that women are rallying more realistic women in advertisements.
Professor Groom said,
October 4, 2006 at 8:05 pm
Kathy,
You have three excellent examples here. The Nike ad, as you argue, is the perfect antithesis to the logic of ads that Douglass traces. I particularly like the way in which the low shot looking up at this woman’s thighs suggests power and prowess -and powerful subversion of the more typical representations Douglass traces throughout the 1980s.
You sum the first ad up wonderfully, both “exhilirating and upsetting.” I was not aware of this particular movement -are these stickers that they use to flag products?
Your final image goes a long way towards suggesting alternatives to mass mediated representations -how about flickr or youtube, where we all can reclaim some of these representations!
kwadkins said,
October 4, 2006 at 10:08 pm
Kyle,
Your examples were really good. I especially like the one about the thunder thigs they are great. You have some good insight. So people from Conneticut reall aren’t retarded, WOW!!!!
lexydeg said,
October 4, 2006 at 10:10 pm
I love the first poster and what you said about it. It, and the third are really great examples of the opposite of what Douglass is saying. Makes me wonder how you found them. I wasn’t as sure about the second picture because the legs appear amost what “perfect legs” should look like, and then i saw the “thunderthighs” part of it. Great job.
ryanpayne said,
October 4, 2006 at 10:12 pm
How is a thunder thigh different than a toned thigh that is described in douglas’s essay. Its even more so like that of a man’s which douglas makes a point of in her writing that women are attempting to look more like men. I agree with the other ones though.