Class 5, Assignment 5

       The body image can differ among individuals, and I've always thought that it is wrong to set a certain standard on how it should look. Just as different individuals possess different personalities, it is extremely natural and normal that they also carry different body images. I believe that it is a big part of what represents one's personal identity. However, in the youtube video that we watched, it is obvious how the media, magazines, and many more are indirectly forcing us - particularly women- towards a body image that the society has set and wishes to see. After looking at an entirely different image of themselves, all of the participants expresses uncomfortable feelings. They say that the image seems to be representing a different person, where their personal identities seems to be lost. I think that extreme photoshopping represents the lack self esteem, showing less confidence in how we look. It also seems like we are trying to let go of our personal identities, to confirm to the personal identities created by the standards of the society. Therefore, no matter what others think, it is important to love and have confidence in one's body image, because it is the best way to represent self esteem and preserve one's personal identity.
     
Here are some of the comments that I posted in response to my classmate's opinions:
        I agree with Haesso and Mathea in that people lack confidence towards their body nowadays, especially because of the photoshopped images of many celebrities and models. These images create fantasies and people tends to push themselves more to reach such standards to the point where they become miserable and loose self esteem. We all need to learn how to love our body and images.

       I always experienced myself looking through the flawless images of celebrities in magazines and feeling low self esteem. This is probably happening to everyone else, at least once in their lifetime. The photoshopped images do create fantasies, and this is not just bad, but if people start to devalue what they have and feel miserable trying to catch up with such beautified images.