This is a really interesting and controversial topic chosen by Lauren Greenfield. I am especially intrigued by her K+M, Thin, Girl Culture and Fast Forward. As a female, growing up i have dealt with a lot of these issues, and it is nice to seen an artist take a stance on the influence media and society has on young females. Due to the rapid growth and ever changing society many youth have lost their adolescence plunging themselves in an adult world they are by no means ready for. Sex, drugs, alcohol,money, wealth, body image these are all concepts that youth attempt to understand or portray without actually realizing the impact these things have on their image of not only the world but themselves. Greenfield makes a opinionated statement about youth in America highlighting the devastating impact we as consumers and models have on the youth of America. They learn from what they see, and what the United States has become is nothing more than selfish, materialistic, greedy hypocrites.
I really like the work of Lauren Greenfield not only that we saw in class, but also the work on her website. She chooses to make work based on important issues in our society today. I thought it was really interesting that she chose to interview kids about money and shopping, because of how much importance is put on money and the things that you have. The media plays a very big part in this, especially in teenagers, because they are a huge group that the media targets. If you don't dress a certain way, and have certain things, you are not going to be considered "cool". In the video clip of Kids + Money, there are teenage girls and boys talking about how important money is to them. One girl states that she loves to go shopping, and even when she buys stuff she never feels like she has enough. There is also a boy saying that if he wants something, even if he can't afford it, he will find a way to get it. It is really sad that our society has come to this, and that there is so much based on material things in our culture, instead of things that are more important like someone's inner beauty, not outer beauty. Although I am aware of how materialistic our society is, Lauren's work brought the severity of the problem to my attention. Although it is pathetic how much we let the media affect us, I don't really think that this will ever change because of how much it is woven into our cultural fibers.
Katie Klimkowski Weekly Statement 11/1/10 ADP III Lauren Greenfield really captured my attention with her work on Kids+Money. I have been intrigued by most of her work, but this is particularly interesting and almost disturbing. As a college student, I am used to conserving spending money, but seeing the way many children see money is bizarre to me. The media, their parents, and their peers influence these kids when it comes to money. I don’t think the children can be held responsible when it comes to warped views on money. Children are immature in their judgment and decision-making. However, I also have trouble holding the media accountable. I suppose they can be held accountable, but I do not expect them to change their ways. Advertisements, movies, television, and radio are all businesses just like any other and they are out there to make money. The only real influential factor, that I believe can help youth’s views on money, is parents. It seems that the kids that grew up without much money have a much healthier view on money. Or at least, they understand what goes into earning money. I’m not arguing that it is healthy to have to work and provide for your family when you are only 13, 14 years of age, but I do think it has benefits. Many parents don’t seem to understand the way their children view money. Many of the parents “give into” their children’s whims. Materialism is strongly affecting today’s youth.
Lauren’s slide show of how girls are being raised in a society where they are being forced to look a certain way really caught my eye. I have a lot of difficulties being happy with the way I look and I am sure that I am not the only girl that thinks that. However, its cause of the environment I was raised in. Most Latina women are curvy, thick and voluptuous and it is normal. For some reason though, I am not comfortable with it. To understand where I am coming from, we would have to go back to where I am from. I went to a predominately white school where looks were everything. I was never told I was attractive and I never had anyone like me cause everyone just wanted to date the small, skinny white girls. It wasn’t until I came to the University did I realize that some people actually found me attractive (surprised the hell out of me). I am still not used to it and I still don’t like the way I look but I have to learn to accept who I am. God made me like this…He made me in His image and to hate myself is to hate Him and that isn’t right at all. Its also weird though not only with having to be a certain size but also how young girls are starting to wear make up. My father never let my sister’s and I wear nail polish or make up until we were in high school. I agree with that to some extent, the only time I would allow it is on Halloween. Nevertheless, it is really sad to hear my 10 year old cousin say that she wants to be Snooki for Halloween cause she thinks she looks good. How does a 10 year old know about Snooki and how does she know that the image of Snooki is supposed to be how girls should look? Either way, girls are going to start thinking that boob jobs and nose jobs are a normal thing…oh wait, some do already.
10/2/10 Jackie San Fillipo ADPIII Weekly Statements
This is a subject that to me is extremely important. Especially with young kids, money is a hard thing to understand. Kids have no concept of how to earn money, the work it takes, and how much something is truly worth. I grew up in a very wealthy town and compared to those around me, I had much less. What is stupid is I know now that being someone who let alone can afford college and all the things I can on top of it puts me well above the rest of the country in terms of wealth. But kids have no idea how lucky they are, they only see what is immediately around them. They only care about their school mates and what it's going to take to fit in. Despite the fact that my dad would always tell me how he grew up in the ghetto in a bedroom with his five brothers, I still thought it was BS I had to sleep in a twin bed across from my twin sister. He said he was never unhappy growing up like that and playing stickball in the street, because that's all he knew; it's all he saw. But my dad is 62 years old, when he was growing up he was not exposed to the constant RAMING of advertising by the media that all kids are today. They do not know that those $200 jeans are made out of the same material as the $20 ones, or that you are paying $50 extra per item just because it says the word Abercrombie on it. Kids do not know where material goods come from, what they are made out of, or that they are made by kids in sweatshops their age halfway across the world. They are not concerned with the rest of the world or that there are kids their age being killed in genocide and starving because they are too busy trying to find Ugg boots at the mall. They are taught by what they see in those around them that wealth is good and that they need to have it to be happy and have friends. Popularity is one of the most important things in the world. I sadly have to confess that it wasn't until college that even I began to fully understand this, and I admit it made me unhappy growing up when it truly had no reason to. How can we convey to kids what is truly important in life when they are exposed to so much media telling them otherwise?
I must confess before this year I actually contemplated a career in advertising...
“If you think you’re sick, you are”, Kalle Lasn writes. I think that this is true of most of American’s problems, trials and tribulations. We see ourselves as the people that we want to see ourselves as. If we don’t want to see ourselves as consumers then we don’t see ourselves as consumers, and this is where the construct of greenwashing enters the picture. If we want to believe that products are ethically made and not harmful to the environment, then we will believe that. This is also true in terms of our gullibility as consumers. If we don’t want to think that our intelligence is being scammed by advertisers than we wont think that it is. Campaigns such as the Dove Body Campaign are sensitive to their customers thus tricking the consumer into believing that their products are reputable and ethical. The fact of the matter is, as consumers, we are lazy. We want products, and we want them to be good, we just want them to be handed to us. Advertisers are successful for this reason. They talk us into the products that we don’t need, but we tell ourselves that we do. If we think we need a product, we do.
Rebecca Aguilar CW Community: Travel and Tourism 11/1
While reading about tourism, it wasn’t surprising to hear that a lot of the money vacationers spend doesn’t go directly to the place they are visiting. There was a part in the reading that said “It’s not unheard of to find a “Made in China” sticker on an “authentic” craft we just purchased in Oaxaca, Mexico” (pg 364). I sort of had an experience like that when I went to visit Cancun, Mexico during spring break of my senior year. While I was looking at a typical souvenir shop, I saw a leather shot glass holder that I wanted to buy. Before I bought it though, I wanted to make sure it was authentic. Therefore, I peeled it off the shot glass and what did I see, a “Made in China” sticker. I didn’t by it but I still really wanted to buy a leather shot glass holder. This mission led to my mom, and my two friends going on a mission to the less touristy area of Cancun. Most people would be afraid to wander away but I had my mom who is fluent in Spanish and knows Mexican people very well. We happened to find an area of small local shops. Then we found a tannery, which had my leather shot glass holder. I looked around the place and talked to the owner. He seemed like a trusting man and had pictures of the cows he got the hide from (his brothers farm) and my mom was with me and you don’t lie to other Mexicans cause they can tell when you are lying. Lets just say, I have a really cool leather shot glass holder now.
This section in Culture Jam talks about the media’s effect on self image is something that definitely strikes a chord with me. In middle and high school, I strived to figure out what was cool and what made me appear as feminine, and I could not seem to find it. It was not something I could understand, as things that I personally liked did not seem to be what everyone else was into, I needed to figure out what was socially accepted. It was not until I was in college that I was able to observe this for myself, and find my own style in was is acceptable. But for other friends, I saw this took to an extreme, no longer eating normally, completely changing their style for much more revealing clothes. Other than this, it was hard growing up with a rather average body, looking at the skinniest girls, the girls on tv, the girls in music videos, and trying to find confidence in my own body. For a while, I wished I was able to be anorexic, and eventually began rather purposefully, forgetting to ask my mom for lunch money. Even when I forgot though, I became hungry and bummed food off of my friends (who were very nice to put up with this). Media image of girls is becoming increasingly unrealistic, and is leading to extremes in eating habits.
This stuff is great, Greenfield takes a really nice perspective on female culture, and more importantly I think is taking notice of the younger crowd. This is some crazy ideology that corresponds with shopping and monetary obsession. The hard decision I’m dealing with is whether or not girls should be held accountable and be able to recognize a material world isn’t so good to live in. It does blindside them from a young age a lot more than it does guys so I don’t know how I should feel. I really liked the comment by one of the older girls who mentioned that you just have to stick to your roots, which for me would be some frugal roots. Parents have had they’re share of financial endeavors to know something useful so listening to them probably isn’t a bad idea. My parents are as frugal as they come sometimes and it’s really helped me thus far, especially on my own with a crazy schedule. Cooking becomes a last priority and panda express sounds fine, which isn’t bad until it happens every day and there’s pizza boxes everywhere. Even though you mainly here from the kids in Lauren’s work and it would be interesting to here from the parents, it’s still successful in getting a point across that has been stepped lightly around for awhile.
Caleb Moss 2 November 2010 Weekly Statement ADP III
Lauren Greenfield’s take on the human figure was like no other I’d ever seen. The way she showed the human figure was almost grotesque, but it showed humans in their rawest states, which is usually hidden from the rest of us. It almost seemed to be sort of a wake up call to women especially. The way that models manipulate their bodies is ridiculous. Starving themselves, throwing up, etc. are not healthy at all but Greenfield showcased it just as New York showcases the world-known Fashion Week. After our discussion on it last class it made me realize that the world throws these images to us at a younger age every year. The images and portayals of sex, drugs, and money are things typically shown in ads. Sexual puns and innuendos are usually within all of the deodorant, shower gel, and lotion commercials we see on television. Vitoria’s Secret models are showcased like gods, Barbie dolls are the girl toy for the rest of time, and every girl wants to be them. Is this fair to the young girls that see these things? Whether we think or not the things we see are a huge part of things we do.
This is a really interesting and controversial topic chosen by Lauren Greenfield. I am especially intrigued by her K+M, Thin, Girl Culture and Fast Forward. As a female, growing up i have dealt with a lot of these issues, and it is nice to seen an artist take a stance on the influence media and society has on young females. Due to the rapid growth and ever changing society many youth have lost their adolescence plunging themselves in an adult world they are by no means ready for. Sex, drugs, alcohol,money, wealth, body image these are all concepts that youth attempt to understand or portray without actually realizing the impact these things have on their image of not only the world but themselves. Greenfield makes a opinionated statement about youth in America highlighting the devastating impact we as consumers and models have on the youth of America. They learn from what they see, and what the United States has become is nothing more than selfish, materialistic, greedy hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteLindsay Avino
ReplyDeleteADP III
Weekly Statement 11/2/10
I really like the work of Lauren Greenfield not only that we saw in class, but also the work on her website. She chooses to make work based on important issues in our society today. I thought it was really interesting that she chose to interview kids about money and shopping, because of how much importance is put on money and the things that you have. The media plays a very big part in this, especially in teenagers, because they are a huge group that the media targets. If you don't dress a certain way, and have certain things, you are not going to be considered "cool". In the video clip of Kids + Money, there are teenage girls and boys talking about how important money is to them. One girl states that she loves to go shopping, and even when she buys stuff she never feels like she has enough. There is also a boy saying that if he wants something, even if he can't afford it, he will find a way to get it. It is really sad that our society has come to this, and that there is so much based on material things in our culture, instead of things that are more important like someone's inner beauty, not outer beauty. Although I am aware of how materialistic our society is, Lauren's work brought the severity of the problem to my attention. Although it is pathetic how much we let the media affect us, I don't really think that this will ever change because of how much it is woven into our cultural fibers.
Katie Klimkowski
ReplyDeleteWeekly Statement 11/1/10
ADP III
Lauren Greenfield really captured my attention with her work on Kids+Money. I have been intrigued by most of her work, but this is particularly interesting and almost disturbing. As a college student, I am used to conserving spending money, but seeing the way many children see money is bizarre to me. The media, their parents, and their peers influence these kids when it comes to money. I don’t think the children can be held responsible when it comes to warped views on money. Children are immature in their judgment and decision-making. However, I also have trouble holding the media accountable. I suppose they can be held accountable, but I do not expect them to change their ways. Advertisements, movies, television, and radio are all businesses just like any other and they are out there to make money. The only real influential factor, that I believe can help youth’s views on money, is parents. It seems that the kids that grew up without much money have a much healthier view on money. Or at least, they understand what goes into earning money. I’m not arguing that it is healthy to have to work and provide for your family when you are only 13, 14 years of age, but I do think it has benefits. Many parents don’t seem to understand the way their children view money. Many of the parents “give into” their children’s whims. Materialism is strongly affecting today’s youth.
Rebecca Aguilar
ReplyDeleteweekly statement 11/1
ADP3
Lauren’s slide show of how girls are being raised in a society where they are being forced to look a certain way really caught my eye. I have a lot of difficulties being happy with the way I look and I am sure that I am not the only girl that thinks that. However, its cause of the environment I was raised in. Most Latina women are curvy, thick and voluptuous and it is normal. For some reason though, I am not comfortable with it. To understand where I am coming from, we would have to go back to where I am from. I went to a predominately white school where looks were everything. I was never told I was attractive and I never had anyone like me cause everyone just wanted to date the small, skinny white girls. It wasn’t until I came to the University did I realize that some people actually found me attractive (surprised the hell out of me). I am still not used to it and I still don’t like the way I look but I have to learn to accept who I am. God made me like this…He made me in His image and to hate myself is to hate Him and that isn’t right at all. Its also weird though not only with having to be a certain size but also how young girls are starting to wear make up. My father never let my sister’s and I wear nail polish or make up until we were in high school. I agree with that to some extent, the only time I would allow it is on Halloween. Nevertheless, it is really sad to hear my 10 year old cousin say that she wants to be Snooki for Halloween cause she thinks she looks good. How does a 10 year old know about Snooki and how does she know that the image of Snooki is supposed to be how girls should look? Either way, girls are going to start thinking that boob jobs and nose jobs are a normal thing…oh wait, some do already.
10/2/10
ReplyDeleteJackie San Fillipo
ADPIII
Weekly Statements
This is a subject that to me is extremely important. Especially with young kids, money is a hard thing to understand. Kids have no concept of how to earn money, the work it takes, and how much something is truly worth. I grew up in a very wealthy town and compared to those around me, I had much less. What is stupid is I know now that being someone who let alone can afford college and all the things I can on top of it puts me well above the rest of the country in terms of wealth. But kids have no idea how lucky they are, they only see what is immediately around them. They only care about their school mates and what it's going to take to fit in. Despite the fact that my dad would always tell me how he grew up in the ghetto in a bedroom with his five brothers, I still thought it was BS I had to sleep in a twin bed across from my twin sister. He said he was never unhappy growing up like that and playing stickball in the street, because that's all he knew; it's all he saw. But my dad is 62 years old, when he was growing up he was not exposed to the constant RAMING of advertising by the media that all kids are today. They do not know that those $200 jeans are made out of the same material as the $20 ones, or that you are paying $50 extra per item just because it says the word Abercrombie on it. Kids do not know where material goods come from, what they are made out of, or that they are made by kids in sweatshops their age halfway across the world. They are not concerned with the rest of the world or that there are kids their age being killed in genocide and starving because they are too busy trying to find Ugg boots at the mall. They are taught by what they see in those around them that wealth is good and that they need to have it to be happy and have friends. Popularity is one of the most important things in the world. I sadly have to confess that it wasn't until college that even I began to fully understand this, and I admit it made me unhappy growing up when it truly had no reason to. How can we convey to kids what is truly important in life when they are exposed to so much media telling them otherwise?
I must confess before this year I actually contemplated a career in advertising...
Caitlin Murphy
ReplyDelete2 November 2010
Weekly Statement
“If you think you’re sick, you are”, Kalle Lasn writes. I think that this is true of most of American’s problems, trials and tribulations. We see ourselves as the people that we want to see ourselves as. If we don’t want to see ourselves as consumers then we don’t see ourselves as consumers, and this is where the construct of greenwashing enters the picture. If we want to believe that products are ethically made and not harmful to the environment, then we will believe that.
This is also true in terms of our gullibility as consumers. If we don’t want to think that our intelligence is being scammed by advertisers than we wont think that it is. Campaigns such as the Dove Body Campaign are sensitive to their customers thus tricking the consumer into believing that their products are reputable and ethical.
The fact of the matter is, as consumers, we are lazy. We want products, and we want them to be good, we just want them to be handed to us. Advertisers are successful for this reason. They talk us into the products that we don’t need, but we tell ourselves that we do. If we think we need a product, we do.
Rebecca Aguilar
ReplyDeleteCW Community: Travel and Tourism
11/1
While reading about tourism, it wasn’t surprising to hear that a lot of the money vacationers spend doesn’t go directly to the place they are visiting. There was a part in the reading that said “It’s not unheard of to find a “Made in China” sticker on an “authentic” craft we just purchased in Oaxaca, Mexico” (pg 364). I sort of had an experience like that when I went to visit Cancun, Mexico during spring break of my senior year. While I was looking at a typical souvenir shop, I saw a leather shot glass holder that I wanted to buy. Before I bought it though, I wanted to make sure it was authentic. Therefore, I peeled it off the shot glass and what did I see, a “Made in China” sticker. I didn’t by it but I still really wanted to buy a leather shot glass holder. This mission led to my mom, and my two friends going on a mission to the less touristy area of Cancun. Most people would be afraid to wander away but I had my mom who is fluent in Spanish and knows Mexican people very well. We happened to find an area of small local shops. Then we found a tannery, which had my leather shot glass holder. I looked around the place and talked to the owner. He seemed like a trusting man and had pictures of the cows he got the hide from (his brothers farm) and my mom was with me and you don’t lie to other Mexicans cause they can tell when you are lying. Lets just say, I have a really cool leather shot glass holder now.
Teresa Dennis
ReplyDeleteNovember 2nd
Weekly Response
This section in Culture Jam talks about the media’s effect on self image is something that definitely strikes a chord with me. In middle and high school, I strived to figure out what was cool and what made me appear as feminine, and I could not seem to find it. It was not something I could understand, as things that I personally liked did not seem to be what everyone else was into, I needed to figure out what was socially accepted. It was not until I was in college that I was able to observe this for myself, and find my own style in was is acceptable. But for other friends, I saw this took to an extreme, no longer eating normally, completely changing their style for much more revealing clothes.
Other than this, it was hard growing up with a rather average body, looking at the skinniest girls, the girls on tv, the girls in music videos, and trying to find confidence in my own body. For a while, I wished I was able to be anorexic, and eventually began rather purposefully, forgetting to ask my mom for lunch money. Even when I forgot though, I became hungry and bummed food off of my friends (who were very nice to put up with this). Media image of girls is becoming increasingly unrealistic, and is leading to extremes in eating habits.
Ben Paskus
ReplyDeleteADP 3
Section 3
11.2
This stuff is great, Greenfield takes a really nice perspective on female culture, and more importantly I think is taking notice of the younger crowd. This is some crazy ideology that corresponds with shopping and monetary obsession. The hard decision I’m dealing with is whether or not girls should be held accountable and be able to recognize a material world isn’t so good to live in. It does blindside them from a young age a lot more than it does guys so I don’t know how I should feel. I really liked the comment by one of the older girls who mentioned that you just have to stick to your roots, which for me would be some frugal roots. Parents have had they’re share of financial endeavors to know something useful so listening to them probably isn’t a bad idea. My parents are as frugal as they come sometimes and it’s really helped me thus far, especially on my own with a crazy schedule. Cooking becomes a last priority and panda express sounds fine, which isn’t bad until it happens every day and there’s pizza boxes everywhere. Even though you mainly here from the kids in Lauren’s work and it would be interesting to here from the parents, it’s still successful in getting a point across that has been stepped lightly around for awhile.
Caleb Moss
ReplyDelete2 November 2010
Weekly Statement
ADP III
Lauren Greenfield’s take on the human figure was like no other I’d ever seen. The way she showed the human figure was almost grotesque, but it showed humans in their rawest states, which is usually hidden from the rest of us. It almost seemed to be sort of a wake up call to women especially. The way that models manipulate their bodies is ridiculous. Starving themselves, throwing up, etc. are not healthy at all but Greenfield showcased it just as New York showcases the world-known Fashion Week. After our discussion on it last class it made me realize that the world throws these images to us at a younger age every year. The images and portayals of sex, drugs, and money are things typically shown in ads. Sexual puns and innuendos are usually within all of the deodorant, shower gel, and lotion commercials we see on television. Vitoria’s Secret models are showcased like gods, Barbie dolls are the girl toy for the rest of time, and every girl wants to be them. Is this fair to the young girls that see these things? Whether we think or not the things we see are a huge part of things we do.