When this project was first assigned I wasn't sure what to do. I thought it was cool that we could have picked any topic we learned this year, because I did learn a lot. At first I wanted to do something involving The Catcher in The Rye but since we did a whole project on I thought I'd do the project on something we really focused on not too long ago so it was still fresh in my head. I choose beauty, because of the way it was shown in the bluest Eye.
Everyone in the book everyone who was discriminated by the way the looked was because they did fit into the societal norm. It isn't right to be ridiculed for looking different, when it isn't your fault. Pecola wanted blue eyes because her dolls had, famous actresses had them. The bluest eye took place in the 1940's and this issue in beauty is still taking place, that's really made me choose this topic.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Bibliography
Toni Morrison Biography: From Nobel Lectures, Literature 1991-1995, Editor Sture Allén, World Scientific Publishing Co., Singapore, 1997
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1993/morrison-bio.html
Beauty Timeline
http://www.ukhairdressers.com/history%20of%20beauty.asp
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Published by Plume, 1970
The Devil Wear's Prada, movie information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Wears_Prada_(film)
©2005-2009 WebMD, LLC
http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/what-is-beautiful-a-brief-look-through-history
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1993/morrison-bio.html
Beauty Timeline
http://www.ukhairdressers.com/history%20of%20beauty.asp
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Published by Plume, 1970
The Devil Wear's Prada, movie information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_Wears_Prada_(film)
©2005-2009 WebMD, LLC
http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/what-is-beautiful-a-brief-look-through-history
Movie Review for The Devil Wears Prada
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway play two parallel characters in the Devil Wears Prada (2006).
Meryl Streep plays the role of Miranda Priestly editor and chief of fashion magazine "Runway" and Hathaway plays the role Priestly's assistant Andrea (Andy) Sachs. Andy, fresh out Northwestern University is an inspiring journalist, but some how leads up in front of Miranada Priestly's office asking for an interview. Sach's doesn't fit the usal criteria for Priestly's assistant but is given the job anyway.
As Andy starts her new job she learns that she needs to change her self if she wants to do well. Andy begins to lose weight changes her wardorbe style to a more "chic" look. Her friends and family don't recongnize her. Her co-worker, Priestly's other assistant Emily shows how the presure of being involved in modeling bussiness affected her life. Worried of not being to fit in any of the clothes at Paris's Fashion Week, she goes on a strict diet. The movie portrays this act as a joke, but people really do things like this.
Andy realizes what how different she had become and quiets her job and goes in search of a job that will better suit her.
Reflection: This topic reminded me of this movie. The scene where Emily talks about not until Fashion. I thought to myself why is she doing, if she does want to lose weight she could just diet, exercise but not starve herself. No one should have to do that just appear beautiful.
Meryl Streep plays the role of Miranda Priestly editor and chief of fashion magazine "Runway" and Hathaway plays the role Priestly's assistant Andrea (Andy) Sachs. Andy, fresh out Northwestern University is an inspiring journalist, but some how leads up in front of Miranada Priestly's office asking for an interview. Sach's doesn't fit the usal criteria for Priestly's assistant but is given the job anyway.
As Andy starts her new job she learns that she needs to change her self if she wants to do well. Andy begins to lose weight changes her wardorbe style to a more "chic" look. Her friends and family don't recongnize her. Her co-worker, Priestly's other assistant Emily shows how the presure of being involved in modeling bussiness affected her life. Worried of not being to fit in any of the clothes at Paris's Fashion Week, she goes on a strict diet. The movie portrays this act as a joke, but people really do things like this.
Andy realizes what how different she had become and quiets her job and goes in search of a job that will better suit her.
Reflection: This topic reminded me of this movie. The scene where Emily talks about not until Fashion. I thought to myself why is she doing, if she does want to lose weight she could just diet, exercise but not starve herself. No one should have to do that just appear beautiful.
A Modeling AD
ATTENTION WOMEN BETWEEN THE OF AGES 18 to 30!
Have you ever flipped open a fashion magazine and seen beautiful women with stunning bodies?
Want to end up on the covers of Vogue and walk on runways?
If you are 5'7 and up and weigh less than 130 we want you!
This is your chance to embrace the model in you.
Call us now at 1800-758-0964 to meet with us!
Reflection: I've seen modeling ads, although they were not as exaggerated. The ads don't don't say these requirements but that's what they want. In shows like America's Next Top Model they have weight and height requirements so they really are out there.
Biography on Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison was born Chloe Anthony Wofford, on February 18th, 1931 in Lorain, Ohio. Morrison was the second child of four in her working class African American family. She was always interested in literature. As a child she was always reading. Her father told her many African folk tales growing up.
In 1949 Toni Morrison began to attend Howard University to Study English. In 1953 she received her Bachelor's in English from Howard also earning a Masters of Art degree. After graduating at Howard Morrison moved to Houston, Texas to teach at Texas Southern University from 1955 to 1957.
In 1958 Toni married Harold Morrison. They had two children together before getting divorced. After the divorce she moved to New York. Morrison began to focus more on her career and began to right poems and fictional pieces at a informal group of poets and writers at Howard University, who met to discuss their work. There she wrote the fictional story that was going to make her famous, the story of a young black girl who wished she had blue eyes. From 1975 to 1977 Toni Morrison wrote two other books, Sula and Song of Solomon.
In 1987 her novel Beloved won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In 1993 Morrison was awarded the Noble Prize in Literature, and in 1996 the National Endowment for the Humanities selected Toni Morrison for the Jefferson Lecture.
Since then Toni Morrison went on to teach at colleges around the country such the State University of New York, the University at Albany, Princeton University, Barnard College and Oxford University in England.
Reflection: When author's write books they're backgrounds are usaly the explanation of what they write. This biography on Toni Morrison helped me understand how she felt towards beauty.
In 1949 Toni Morrison began to attend Howard University to Study English. In 1953 she received her Bachelor's in English from Howard also earning a Masters of Art degree. After graduating at Howard Morrison moved to Houston, Texas to teach at Texas Southern University from 1955 to 1957.
In 1958 Toni married Harold Morrison. They had two children together before getting divorced. After the divorce she moved to New York. Morrison began to focus more on her career and began to right poems and fictional pieces at a informal group of poets and writers at Howard University, who met to discuss their work. There she wrote the fictional story that was going to make her famous, the story of a young black girl who wished she had blue eyes. From 1975 to 1977 Toni Morrison wrote two other books, Sula and Song of Solomon.
In 1987 her novel Beloved won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In 1993 Morrison was awarded the Noble Prize in Literature, and in 1996 the National Endowment for the Humanities selected Toni Morrison for the Jefferson Lecture.
Since then Toni Morrison went on to teach at colleges around the country such the State University of New York, the University at Albany, Princeton University, Barnard College and Oxford University in England.
Reflection: When author's write books they're backgrounds are usaly the explanation of what they write. This biography on Toni Morrison helped me understand how she felt towards beauty.
Converstation Pecola Has With Herself When She Goes Crazy
Blue, blue, blue yes it's true! My eyes are finally blue. Bluer than the sky, bluer than the ocean's water's, blue, blue, blue. I have a piece of a broken mirror that I keep in the little pocket of my dress so I can see my beautiful eyes. Frieda and Claudia don't understand 'cause they never had blue eyes before, and they just jealous. Aint' no one taking my blue eyes away. With these blue I will walk down the streets and everyone will say is that Pecola Breedlove with her beautiful blue eyes? I'll walk by stank old Maureen Peal and it'll kill her that my eyes are more beautiful than her's, and I'll get all the attention. My eyes will take me everywhere maybe even to Hollywood! These precious eyes of mine are like diamonds not everyone can have them, but I do and their mine all mine. Now no one will hurt me no more, they wont want hurt my beautiful blue eyes.
Reflection: I thought by using this conversation it would show how disturbed Pecola was. I tried my best to sound the way she would speak to make it as believable as possible.
Reflection: I thought by using this conversation it would show how disturbed Pecola was. I tried my best to sound the way she would speak to make it as believable as possible.
Book Review on The Bluest Eye
The "Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison deals with many different issues. Race, beauty, poverty, beauty, abuse and sex. The Bluest Eye takes place in the 1940's in Loraine, Ohio a town know for it's coal mines. Segregation between blacks and white was big in the town. The white families had the nicer homes, clothes, cars everything. The troubles most blacks affected their behavior, some like Cholly Breedlove, father of Pecola Breedlove. Cholly was a drunk. Wasted his money on alcohol and was lazy. He didn't have a healthy relationship with his wife and children, because he abused them, in particular Pecola. He enpregnanted his her.
As if being sexually abused was't enough Pecola had other problems. She was picked on consantly from her classmates for her appearance and because of her father. All that added up to her insecurities, what eventually drove her crazy. Pecola didn't have much friends except Claudia, her younger sister Frieda and the prositutes that lived above her. Strange you would say, that this young girl hung around these type of women? They tought Pecola about love and life. This very much so was a friendship even it was strange combination of people. They looked out for Pecola. Pecola being so young and fagile was so rulnerble and was hurt by many.
As Pecola's insecurites worstened she became crazier. She thought if she had blue eyes that nothing and no one would hurt her. At the end of the book she thinks she actually has blue eyes.
Reflection: My thesis originated from this book so I felt it was appropriate for me to do this book review.
As if being sexually abused was't enough Pecola had other problems. She was picked on consantly from her classmates for her appearance and because of her father. All that added up to her insecurities, what eventually drove her crazy. Pecola didn't have much friends except Claudia, her younger sister Frieda and the prositutes that lived above her. Strange you would say, that this young girl hung around these type of women? They tought Pecola about love and life. This very much so was a friendship even it was strange combination of people. They looked out for Pecola. Pecola being so young and fagile was so rulnerble and was hurt by many.
As Pecola's insecurites worstened she became crazier. She thought if she had blue eyes that nothing and no one would hurt her. At the end of the book she thinks she actually has blue eyes.
Reflection: My thesis originated from this book so I felt it was appropriate for me to do this book review.
A Conversation Between Pecola and the Maginot Line
Maginot Line: Pecola what chu doin' around here at this time?
Pecola: Nothin' ma'am.
M: Well why don't you come on up and help me here with something.
P: Yes ma'am.
M: Can you iron these's 3 dresses here for me, I gotta go to work soon.
P: Yes ma'am. These sure are some nice dresses you have here.
M: Ha, I know. I have to look beautiful for my customers, ya' know?
P: Do you have to look beautiful because you love them?
M: Ha, no darling it's because they love me.
P: I bet you look beautiful with these on.
M: Girl, what chu know about looking beautiful?
P: Well not much, alls I know is my mama looks beautiful when she gets all dressed up to go to parties.
M: Haha, girl you don't know nothin'. Young girl, being beautiful is not only getting all dressed up, it's part of it, but what's important is your attitude and such. You see when I go to work I wear nothing but the finest dresses, it leads men on but I know got the right attiude to go with the dress. Ya' know?
P: Ye ma'am.
M: Pecola, one day if your lucky when your older you might grow up to be as beautiful as one of those baby dolls you have, and then maybe just maybe you'll find someone to love you too.
P: And what if I don't find anyone to love me?
M: Well honey, it means you aint beautiful. It's a complicated thing dont get too worked up on it now, ya' hear, just worry about getting my dresses right.
P: Yes ma'am.
Reflection: The Bluest Eye Pecola and Miss Marrie had a lot conversations like this. I wanted this to show how Pecola lacked love and how she was curious about beauty. I tried sound as believable as possible.
Pecola: Nothin' ma'am.
M: Well why don't you come on up and help me here with something.
P: Yes ma'am.
M: Can you iron these's 3 dresses here for me, I gotta go to work soon.
P: Yes ma'am. These sure are some nice dresses you have here.
M: Ha, I know. I have to look beautiful for my customers, ya' know?
P: Do you have to look beautiful because you love them?
M: Ha, no darling it's because they love me.
P: I bet you look beautiful with these on.
M: Girl, what chu know about looking beautiful?
P: Well not much, alls I know is my mama looks beautiful when she gets all dressed up to go to parties.
M: Haha, girl you don't know nothin'. Young girl, being beautiful is not only getting all dressed up, it's part of it, but what's important is your attitude and such. You see when I go to work I wear nothing but the finest dresses, it leads men on but I know got the right attiude to go with the dress. Ya' know?
P: Ye ma'am.
M: Pecola, one day if your lucky when your older you might grow up to be as beautiful as one of those baby dolls you have, and then maybe just maybe you'll find someone to love you too.
P: And what if I don't find anyone to love me?
M: Well honey, it means you aint beautiful. It's a complicated thing dont get too worked up on it now, ya' hear, just worry about getting my dresses right.
P: Yes ma'am.
Reflection: The Bluest Eye Pecola and Miss Marrie had a lot conversations like this. I wanted this to show how Pecola lacked love and how she was curious about beauty. I tried sound as believable as possible.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A Letter to Vogue Magazine
To whom this may concern,
My name is Valerie Jones, and I've recently come across your magazine. Vogue is known worldwide, read and seen by many. For your works you are considered a fashion institution. You have the power to influence many women, and set good examples, but when I opened your magazine I saw nothing like that. The models that represent these high end designer look like the way 90 pounds. Is that the image you want to convey?
When young girls pick up your magazine they're looking for inspiration, what they want to look like. You should show young healthy girls with body types that are realistic. Examples are super models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, beautiful skinny 5'9 girls. I don't look like that and I don't know anyone who does. Do you know how many women died trying to look like that, or who have had eating disorders because of your advertisements?
I'm not asking for you to change your whole magazine on one letter, but take what I said into consideration, by doing something different to help young women around the world.
- Valerie Jones
Reflection: When starting this letter I really didn't know what to write, I improvised a bit. I don't think the letter came out too bad.
My name is Valerie Jones, and I've recently come across your magazine. Vogue is known worldwide, read and seen by many. For your works you are considered a fashion institution. You have the power to influence many women, and set good examples, but when I opened your magazine I saw nothing like that. The models that represent these high end designer look like the way 90 pounds. Is that the image you want to convey?
When young girls pick up your magazine they're looking for inspiration, what they want to look like. You should show young healthy girls with body types that are realistic. Examples are super models Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, beautiful skinny 5'9 girls. I don't look like that and I don't know anyone who does. Do you know how many women died trying to look like that, or who have had eating disorders because of your advertisements?
I'm not asking for you to change your whole magazine on one letter, but take what I said into consideration, by doing something different to help young women around the world.
- Valerie Jones
Reflection: When starting this letter I really didn't know what to write, I improvised a bit. I don't think the letter came out too bad.
Poem; "What is Beauty?"
Beauty, is that what I see?
Is it all around me?
But everyone see's differently
Women walking around wearing what they see on T.V.
Is that beauty?
Is it the models on the runway, looking like they haven't eaten for days?
Or is beauty the new reality T.V. star looking for love
I don't know
The media show's us people who aren't like you and I, not perfect
What happened to inner beauty, where did it go?
Is it blinded by all the models, magazines and T.V. shows
Is that beauty?
No, I just can't see
Reflection: I'm a terrible poet, but I tried my best with what I knew.
Is it all around me?
But everyone see's differently
Women walking around wearing what they see on T.V.
Is that beauty?
Is it the models on the runway, looking like they haven't eaten for days?
Or is beauty the new reality T.V. star looking for love
I don't know
The media show's us people who aren't like you and I, not perfect
What happened to inner beauty, where did it go?
Is it blinded by all the models, magazines and T.V. shows
Is that beauty?
No, I just can't see
Reflection: I'm a terrible poet, but I tried my best with what I knew.
Journal Entry
Dear Journal,
I make myself sick. Everytime I look in the mirror I make myself want to puke. You know those games where you can pick and choose how you want your character to look, what body type, I wish I had one for myself. I know it sounds crazy, but that's just the way I feel. I can't help to hate the way I look.
I walked into 7 Eleven today and they had at least 10 stands of magazines with these beautiful models on them, in front of the entrance door. I don't know why they would put it there, it's like they're trying to say "Hey welcome to 7 Eleven, this is wont you don't look like". It kills me. If it were really up to me these goddamn magazines wouldn't exist.
I didn't know that it was so obvious that I hate my body. Mom told me if you hate the way you look why don't like the way you look then why don't you go to the gym, blah blah blah blah.
Nothing works, I give up on myself.
-Michelle
Reflection: I thought this would show how some view beauty, and how it affects them.
I make myself sick. Everytime I look in the mirror I make myself want to puke. You know those games where you can pick and choose how you want your character to look, what body type, I wish I had one for myself. I know it sounds crazy, but that's just the way I feel. I can't help to hate the way I look.
I walked into 7 Eleven today and they had at least 10 stands of magazines with these beautiful models on them, in front of the entrance door. I don't know why they would put it there, it's like they're trying to say "Hey welcome to 7 Eleven, this is wont you don't look like". It kills me. If it were really up to me these goddamn magazines wouldn't exist.
I didn't know that it was so obvious that I hate my body. Mom told me if you hate the way you look why don't like the way you look then why don't you go to the gym, blah blah blah blah.
Nothing works, I give up on myself.
-Michelle
Reflection: I thought this would show how some view beauty, and how it affects them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)