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"Body Image"

In a couple of month’s time, I will be in a play that will find me onstage and as naked as the day I was born. Naturally, were it not for the fact that I'm so damned sexy, I'd be sh!tting my pants to the point of overflowing. And predictably enough, everyone whom I've told has asked "Aren't you embarrassed?". To which the answer is "No; should I be? Do I have anything to be embarrassed about? It's my body, I'm rather fond of it, and if other people want to come along and have a look at it...well, more power to 'em!"

But, me being me, all those blushing and giggling questioners did set me off thinking; why do we seem to have such a huge hang up on body image in our society? Especially where women are concerned, but increasingly with men as well. I mean, we live in a time when the NHS farts and collapses every time there is a flu epidemic, but where men can also have operations to implant fake muscles into their chests. I'm a first class pervert, and am the first to admit that I have no problem with silicon breasts. But silicone pecs...is it just me, or does that seem like vanity taken to the point of parody?

Everyone, men and women, seems to feel that they are under increasing pressure to have a certain shaped body, a particular size waist, a specific weight range. Why is this? As far as I can see, it seems to be down to insecurity about ourselves and the way we look. But when did self-centred vanity become the accepted way to express this insecurity? Did we, as a society, inch slowly towards that all by ourselves? Or did we receive a helping hand along the way?

Naturally, when looking for something to blame for a fault in society, we will turn our attention to the media. The media gets a lot of bad press (if you'll pardon the pun) in this regard; I'm sure everyone is familiar with the somewhat schizophrenic approach taken by the print media towards body image. On page 4 we will be told of the anguish caused by the increase in anorexia and bulimia among young women, and what could perhaps be done to stop it. Then page 5 will, in scandalised tones, launch an epic flurry of claws and handbags at whichever celebrity happens to have been snapped with his/her stomach being anything less than washboard flat.

In the past, I've always had the same opinion when it comes to criticising any media for what they do; if you don't like it, don't read or watch it. There's not exactly a dearth of newspapers, lifestyle magazines, TV, or radio programs to choose from, so choose one more to your liking. After all, we're adults and are capable of making our own choices. That is still my opinion, but I have had cause to add a caveat to it; sometimes we have no choice in the matter. Sometimes something permeates so many different parts of the media on so many levels that we're left with little option but to be aware of it. There can't be many people in the UK who remain blissfully unaware of the continuing saga of Victoria Beckham, her appearance, her weight, and her husband (and anyone who has stayed unaware is a lucky, lucky person...). However, just because we are all aware of something, doesn't mean we have to actually pay any attention to it, or give it any credence.

(As a side note, I should really confess that I've found myself modifying my opinions of films or albums based on favourable write-ups in magazines. Curiously, I'm not really ashamed to admit that...maybe that's just because I've never read a magazine that's told me I should be)

The thing is though, if it is the media, then why do we go out and buy or watch the image-obsessed dross that is cluttering up newsagents and TV stations? I mean, they wouldn't be successful if we had no interest in them, yet we weekly spend a sum equivalent to the third world national debt on ladmags/'lifestyle' mags (as women insist on calling the froth that fills the pages of Cosmo et al)/scandal rags. It seems odd that the media gets so much of the blame for our growing obsession with body image, when one could build a convincing case that they are merely responding to what the public wants.

Which leads us to the obvious question; why is this what the public want? Why do we want the perfect body, even at the expense of having a remotely enjoyable life. I mean, I've known a few people with eating disorders, and the misery that they caused themselves trying to sculpt their body to someone else’s idea of perfection far outweighed any misery they had felt for being overweight/ugly. To me, it seems bizarre that no-one stops to think "Hang on; I only weigh as much as a packet of crisps now, I have hunger pains all the time, and my body chemistry is completely screwed due to malnutrition. Hmm...yeah, I must be happy with my weight!".

I'm taking the proverbial to an extent there; eating disorders are a mental illness, and expecting someone to think logically about anything when in the throes of mental illness is unreasonable of me. Couldn't we therefore say that society's body image hang up is a widespread form of mental illness? Well...perhaps, but not everyone with an obsession over body image ends up with an eating disorder. So perhaps it is a mistake for me to think of this hang up of society as something to be diagnosed and then treated.

I'm starting to ramble more than usual, so I shall draw things to a close now. And as per usual, I find that I've raised more questions in my own head than have been answered. The one thing I remain sure of, and hope I've gone some way to impressing on you, is that society is spending a disproportionate amount of its time being concerned with what is not much more than petty vanity. Surely we're all better than that.

Aren't we?

Practical Magic wrote:

>
> But at the start you say you're doing this play thing and only feel
> secure striping off because, to quote you, "I'm so damned
> sexy". If you were not of certain build then you almost certainly
> would not be doing the play and would never have been chosen in the
> first place.

There was a very, VERY healthy dose of sarcasm when I wrote that particular sentence. In fairness though, I appreciate that sarcasm sometimes doesn't come through in print.

Practical Magic wrote:
. Think how many teen movies reinforce this image
> - Clueless etc..

Its obviously a issue thats been around for a long time then. Isn't Clueless a rewrite of Emma

gamezfreak wrote:
> Interesting post. I found I could relate to a lot of points you raised
> in there and i'd just like to give my view on this.
>
> I feel that society today is focusing way too much on image, I
> personally don't really care how people look - as long as they have a
> decent personality thats cool. Its a sad fact that people who
> undertake pointless cosmetic surgery to "improve" their
> image, spend so much obsession into it, they forget their own
> personality!
>
> Girl's are the worst, All girls are pretty - I don't see why they have
> to try and copy off the celebrity's way of lifes to become thinner,
> Celebrity's are a bad example of living. I know one girl who suffered
> from anorexia for a year - it pains me to know that there is other
> people out there who put themselves through the torture of this
> illness to gain a better "look"
>
> Looks mean nothing, Its just the way we are - and should stay that
> way.
>
> And men who get Silicon breast implants? What?

Heh. Yeah, it is sort of a headscrew to know that there are men willing to do that; sorta detracts from the unspoken view that it's only thosed dashed silly fillies who do this sort of thing.

Rosalind wrote:
> Unfortunatly most men judge women on their appearence. They won't
> date fat girls, or ugly girls. You only have to listen to a bunch of
> blokes talking about girls to hear how horrible they can be if they
> don't like a girl's appearance. Loads of men talk to my boobs.
> Pretty girls are more likely to get stuff done for them by blokes etc
> etc.

I agree to a point, but I think you'll find that many women are guilty of abusing their appearence to get stuff done for them by blokes etc etc.

>
> The reason loads of women are obsessed with dieting and image is
> because of the way men judge us on our appearance. Simple. I don't
> think you should blame the image obsessed people, blame the people who
> judge by image.

But why do they judge by that particular image? It's only comparatively recently, and only in western society, that being thin has become the be all and end all. Prior to that, beauty was found in all shapes and sizes. How did we get to the stage where a particular image becomes a criteria to judge someone by?

mikelar wrote:
> ...your really gonna get your weiner out in front of everyone...

Yup. Y'know those dreams people have where they turn up to work or something, and they've got no pants on? I'll never have to worry about getting another one of them as long as I live...

Skorp1on wrote:
> Also light, your gonna get quite cold unless there are lots of people
> there and heat lamps. Prepare yourself by practising in your living
> room, that way it won't be such a shock when you get up on stage, the
> cold really is colder than most people think.

Oh I know! I've performed at the theatre before (fully clothed of course...) and it can get nippy, so I've INSISTED on onstage heating.

Failing that, the old "Elastic band and a semi" trick should work fine...

gamezfreak wrote:
> I don't judge by image,

I would be surprised if this is true.

I think on some level everyone makes snap judgements about people due to their physical attributes.

If you were in a bar, you aren’t going to look at someone at the bar and think, hmm, I bet she has a great personality. You will be much more likely to approach someone that you are attracted to. In my head, this is ok. It is when people solely focus on appearance in all area’s of their lives, and will refuse to date, or even just be polite to people because they don’t find them attractive that I think there is something wrong.

Rosalind wrote:
> Yeah but most men do
>
> how many of you would date a Lisa Riley look-a-like
>
> And I guess it works the other way around too.

I agree. What is ironic however, is that I remember reading an interview (don't know why) with Riley's mother, who made repeated and strenuous efforts to get the point across that; Lisa's boyfriend is a model. Thus she felt oblidged to make a point that her rotund daughter had still managed to snare someone with perceived good looks. Her perception of the importance of looks had been influenced somewhat by the constant referal by all and sundry to Lisa's size and weight.

Practical Magic wrote:

>
> Surely being able to act plays more of a part than a willingness to
> disrobe in being chosen?
>
> Yes, but, with few exceptions, how many successful male or femal
> actors are overweight ?

Within acting? Loads; Robbie Coltrane springs to mind, but I know what you're driving at. However, a lot of stage actors are somewhat less than body beautiful...


> - Clueless, Bring It On, She's All That, Next Best Thing, Road Trip,
> Loser and tons more - all feature someone who is not popular in
> school/college but become popular when they are transformed into the
> image of the self perceived 'cool kids'.

Aren't you just picking one genre there? What about Richard III, LOTR, Star Wars (I defy anyone to describe Luke as cool...)

>
> Image - success. If you look good you do good. It isn't necessarilty a
> true parallel to the real world but it is the reality created by, and
> despite what Light says I'm holding them mainly responsible - the
> media outlets of varying industries.

Okay, but that doesn't address the point I made about if it is the media that is responsible, how did they persuade us all that image was everything? For once, I'm not saying you're necessarily wrong, but as per usual I AM asking you to explain yourself.

I'd go out with a non-thin girl. Not Lisa Riley fat though. That is just ill.

I'd be more fussed in her personality (cliche yay!!!!) and having shared interests. But I'm not normal at all.