Sunday, December 9, 2012

#2: Biggest Lie EVER

 
 
Tampax Radiant Tampon Ad
 

This is probably one of the biggest lie society tells to men and women: periods are happy and sun-shiny and full of joy. LIE! Periods are the complete opposite, and I think I can testify considering I've experience them. I really do not like this ad because it is full of lies and assumptions that many people take to be true, such as this new tampon will cure the painful, monthly task of periods.

Tampax Radiant is a "new and improved" tampon. There is always some new tampon that is supposed to give the female population a false comfort that they will be "better protected". Really, it just comes in colorful pacakges and is more expensive. The statement underneath the picture is also completely false! "You stand out. Your period doesn't." NO girl wants to stand out when she's on her period. All we want to do is crawl back in bed and pretend like our insides aren't falling out! Which is pretty much how a period feels.

And the smiling girl? No, we don't smile when we discover our monthly visitor; we want to punch something. "Why do I have to be a girl" is probably the only thought going through a girl's mind when it is that-time-of-the-month. And the "raindrops"? No, periods are not like colorful raindrops, all light and cute. Remember that hurricane recently on the east coast? Yeah, think of that on a smaller scale comming out of a woman's body. NOT FUN! There are no smiles or colors during those 7-10 days of pure hell that almost every woman on the planet experiences.

This ad, I feel, also gives the men of the world the idea that periods aren't a big deal, and women should just get over it and deal with it. This ad gives the idea that periods are fun and easy to deal with if you just buy this tampon. The reality is, no, no tampon will make periods any easier or more fun. Ever.

This article deals with the cultural issue of the menstrual cycle. This use of media affects me eemotionally because periods really aren't something to laugh about. Hormones are very serious and I feel like girls are very vulnerable during that time and that fact should be respeted, not joked about. Many girls are embarrased about their periods, especially if they don't have a mother figure in their life to help them through it. Then, to add the stress of going through school and having to try and concentrate while your head is pounding and your self concious about if anyone can tell. Girls have a lot to deal with during that one week every month, and I feel as if this ad, and most other tampon ads, downplay the reality of the menstrual cycle.

This ad uses the technique of "Avante Garde" because the packaging has the word "New!" on it, making it seem like it's better than the previous tampons, when really it's the exact same thing. I think it also uses "Simple Solutions" because it makes the buyer think, "if I just bought this new tampon, my period would be easier". Sorry to say this, but no tampon can make periods easier.

#1: The Worlds' Words

 
 
Weight Stereotyping: The Secret Way People Are Judging You Based on Your Body
Glamour Magazine
 
This picture was in an article  in Glamour Magazine about how women judge one another based on looks. It's obvioulsy very eye catching because there's two naked women standing there. But not only is the nakedness very prominent, but when we take a second to look at the words written across their bodies, we are able to see what the article is truly about.
 
It's not about being naked, it's about how those words are thrown on us everyday because of how we look. Everyday people are judging us on our appearance and judging us thinking they know us when they really have no idea what we do or go through on a daily basis.
 
The article deffinitely caught my attention at first becuause I was surprised to see two naked women in a magazine! But then once I read the article, it made much more sense why they would make the picture that way. The use of this media deffinitely affected me emotionally because as a teenage girl in public highschool, I have also experienced some of those harsh words directed at me.
 
This picture represents a very big cultural issue of judgement in our society. The picture makes a bold statement of such a touchy topic. No one wants to talk about the fact that we somewhat find it acceptable to pass judgement on others based on their looks in our culture. We put this ideal image of beauty in magazines like the 5' 10" size 0 models, which makes young girls, even myself, feel as if their not good enough if they don't look like that. In reality, the only size 0 people I know are elementary school girls. Correct me if I am wrong, but I though men appreciate a true woman with curves and some meat rather than a woman that looks like she hasn't gone through puberty yet. Call me crazy.
 
This topic really frustrates me because it's all over our society. We all have judged someone else based on their appearance, yet still say we don't want to be judged by ours. I guess it's human nature, but it doesn't excuse the behavior.
 
Though magazines produce articles like these, they still plaster the fake beauty across every bilboard, commercial, and cover. So really their being hypocritical, saying we are all beautiful no matter what we look like, yet I have not seen a plus size model on the cover of Glamour yet.