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.
Friday, June 12, 2009
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.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Beauty Timeline
Since the earliest of times women have tampered with the way they look to satisfy the standards of the time period in which they lived. This is a timeline of the ideal looks and what was used during different periods.
Renaissance: During this period ladies of the upper class, in northern Europe plucked their hairline to make their foreheads seem higher. Both men and women attempted turning their hair blond.
Elizabethan: Men wore short hair and grew short beards. Women copied Queen Elizabeth's look; her pale complexion and red hair by using powder and red wigs.
18th Century: Wealthy men wore white powdered wigs tied back into a braid.
Victorian: Face powder was the only make-up used daily. Hygiene and health were considered big aspects in appearance.
1920's: With the high popularity of women in the cinema, the "bobbed" haircut, a waved or shingled; was created. Make-up started to be used more. Perfume was created during this time.
1940's: Feminine hairstyles were brought back. The hair style that most represented this era was the hair parted to the side with soft curls.
1950's: Women of the time tried to live up to the standards of the ideal American women. Mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, and red lipstick were the cosmeitics used at the time.
1960's: This is the starting point were women were out in the work force, working at offices as well as going to school to reach a higher education. Music influenced the way people looked. This was the era in which Rock n' Roll was created; and this particular type of influenced the way people dressed.
1980's: This was considered the "age of excess". Bright neon color were used, and women wore heavy make up. Hair styles were considered the bigger the better. Men wore the "jheri curl", sported by pop singer Micheal Jackson. Television, and music videos was the outlet for people to see what was fashionable for the time.
1990's and Present: Modeling really sprung out. The ideal model was considered to be tall and skinny. These standards did not fit the average American women. This was when the media began to play the judge what was beauty at time, and discriminating those who did not fit.
Reflection: I learned the most from this genre. I didn't know much about the fashion in 1800's and earlier.
Victorian: Face powder was the only make-up used daily. Hygiene and health were considered big aspects in appearance.
1920's: With the high popularity of women in the cinema, the "bobbed" haircut, a waved or shingled; was created. Make-up started to be used more. Perfume was created during this time.
1940's: Feminine hairstyles were brought back. The hair style that most represented this era was the hair parted to the side with soft curls.
1950's: Women of the time tried to live up to the standards of the ideal American women. Mascara, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil, and red lipstick were the cosmeitics used at the time.
1960's: This is the starting point were women were out in the work force, working at offices as well as going to school to reach a higher education. Music influenced the way people looked. This was the era in which Rock n' Roll was created; and this particular type of influenced the way people dressed.
1980's: This was considered the "age of excess". Bright neon color were used, and women wore heavy make up. Hair styles were considered the bigger the better. Men wore the "jheri curl", sported by pop singer Micheal Jackson. Television, and music videos was the outlet for people to see what was fashionable for the time.
1990's and Present: Modeling really sprung out. The ideal model was considered to be tall and skinny. These standards did not fit the average American women. This was when the media began to play the judge what was beauty at time, and discriminating those who did not fit.
Reflection: I learned the most from this genre. I didn't know much about the fashion in 1800's and earlier.
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