In response to: http://christineelysewb.blogspot.com/2008/04/i-cant-believe-how-people-who-use-body.html

I agree with what Christine has to say about the pain people go through with body modifications: scarification, body-implants, and branding. Our society uses novicane at the dentist, and anestetics during surgical procedures. It confuses me as to why someone would willingly have their skin opened up and implants put into them without any pain medication. I think it is outragious that someone would feel they had to partake in something like this in order to stand out or "fit in". They are not only inflicting pain upon themselves, but they are putting their body at risk for infection and possibly death because the majoritiy of people who perform these tasks do not have any medical background and barely any knowledge of the human anatomy. After reading the article about body-implants I felt the same way as Christine. I was happy to know that I had some place where I felt I could be myself and not be judged.

Hidden vs. On the Outside

In response to: http://danielleaw1.blogspot.com/2008/04/hidden-vs-on-outside.html
I agree with Danielle in that there are some people who want to stand out with peircings and cosmetic surgeries and there are others who do it so you can barely notice a change on their body. But for those who do it to be noticed... what is their reason and why do they want to be noticed? They are trying to make some sort of a statement to the people around them... and that is clear. So is altering your body a form of rebellion when you want to be noticed by society and make a statement? There are many different reasons for body alterations and some are unknown. As with Danielle I just want to know what drives people to take such extreme actions on their bodies such as body implants and large haning piercings. Body alteration is an extremly intresting topic espically because the media has driven many people to engage in cosmetic surgery to look "better". I look foward to reading/hearing more about what other people in the class feel about this topic.

No regrets for a healthy limb amputee...

In reponse to: http://alibuchanan.blogspot.com/2008/04/no-regrets-for-healthy-limb-amputee.html

In response to Ali and what she felt about the article on the doctor performing a leg amputee on a healthy male, I strongly agree with what she felt. Originally, after reading the article I thought that the doctor was insane to be removing a limb from a healthy male. Until, I realized that if this doctor did not procede with this surgery that this man because of his physiological problem(body dismorphia) would have attempted to remove his leg himself. He talked about suiced and remeoving his leg with a gun or by getting run over by a train before the doctor agreeded with the procedure. This doctor not only prevented this man from serious infection and possibly death but he also allowed him to live a happier life. The male who asked for a limb removal is now happier than ever and he has his doctor to thank for tha becuase not many doctors would agree to such a procedure because it is not accepted in society. (because he was healthly)

What is normal?

In response to: http://jodibrooke.blogspot.com/2008/03/what-is-normal.html
I agree with Jodi, in the sense that the media has too much of an impact on the way women; espically with clothing, cosmetic surgery, and weight. The majortiy of actors and actresses on television shows are extremly small, in the sense that their weight and waiste size are much smaller than that of the average person. This puts more pressure on those watching the shows to want to look more like their "idols". So once again in response to Jodi's question... what exactly is normal? Well, the media has their own view on normal, but different groups and different religions and so on all have different outlooks on what exactly normal is. Normal will be chaning with society, the media changes what normal is every year: with fashion, hair, skin color, etc. I just hope more people can learn to accept who they are and not what the media wants them to buy into and become.

In response...

In response to: http://brilista4.blogspot.com/
I Strongly agree with what Brianne wrote about having difficulty picking a side to essay number 3. I didnt know if I should agree with the rules Doctors must follow about only performing surgies that fit into what is acceptable to society. Although I then considered the fact that the people getting these surgeries done had thought strongly about them and had extremly detalied reasons on why the surgery should be perfomed. Along with Brianne, I felt that the essay would be much easier to write because cosmetic surgery is such a big thing in todays society. However, It was just the opposite. I took me a long amount of time until I decided that the Doctor should have say in whether or not the paitent receives his/her cosmetic operation.

Body image paper:

After reading over my body image paper as well as one of my group members final copies I felt I had learned more about how people view what normal is and where there idea of normal came from. My partner talked about athletes and the use of steroids and how they make the athletes looks so mucular that little kids who look up to them want to be like them, but with out the use of steroids there is no way they could. They media shows these muscular men at these unattinable body sizes, so in a sense they are encouraging the use of steroids. My partners paper was similar to mine in the way i talked about celeberties being so thin from "eating disorders" that they are almost accepted in todays media becausae girls want to look like their idols and will practically die to. They take extremes by not eating, over exercising, and comparing themselves to every other girl. Whats normal to one person may not be to another by the media has surly deicded that its better to be extremly muscular for men and extremly thin for women. They dont care about the health issues that go along with it they only care about people buying into their ideas!

Cancer free at 33...

After reading through the article about having a mastecomy I had differnt views on breat removal. Although breat removal is a very personal and seriousl surgery I fully understood the measures that were being taken. For somone who knows that they run an exremely high risk of recieving breast cancer and are basically waiting for they day they find out getting a mstecomy before you know you have breast cancer is a smart prevention. It prevents you from going through all the painful steps before your last option is the removal of your breasts. Although breasts stand for feminity, you can still be a woman and live a wonderful life of motherhood with out your real breasts you were born with! If I knew breast cancer ran through my family and that I ran an extremly high risk of having it one day, I would seriously contemplate getting a mastecomy before it was noted necessary to save my life at that moment.! I wouldnt think once about people thinking I was not a real woman because your health comes before everything!

Body Artists

I could not believe the things that were being talked about it the Body Artists article! For someone to allow an unprofessional(no medical background) to install implants into their body without any type of anesthetics is outrageous! The main controversy begins because clients are putting their lives at risk. Working with body artists who have no history of anatomy can put them at risk for an infection at the site, and the tissue over the implant can die. If the area is not sterile enough the infection can become an "disaster". I feel people should not be allowed to perform body art on people until its legal and safe by Doctors. Electronic body art may be the future for body artists, but I would not  allow myself to go under the work of someone who has no medical background especially when your health is a leading risk factor. For now I would advise anyone who is thinking about body art to wait until Doctors are allowed to perform such procedures! 

Jordan Sparks

After watching today's youtube clip about Jordan Sparks "weight problem" I didnt know how to react. As a beautiful and talented 17 year old girl I could not understand how someone could call her obese and claim that she shouldnt win the American Idol title because she was setting the idea that being "obese" was acceptable in society. Jordan Sparks was referred to as "normal", but in the sense that "normal" now is overweight in our past standards society because such a high percentage of Americans are overweight now. I personally feel that if someone is competing in a competition and is noticablly better than they should clearly win the competition. In the case with Jordan Sparks weight should not have a been a factor in her voting or publicity. The one thing that stuck out in my head was the fact that noone took measures this far with Rubin Studder who was much more over-weight than Jordan Sparks. The only thing I can understand is the fact that people are worried for Jordan in regards to future health problems, but at the same time she is a 6 foot girl who is never going to weigh 100 LBS. That would just be unrealistic.

Cosmetic Surgery

After reading the article that talked about cosmetic surgery I didn't know how to react. I knew that more women than men opted for cosmetic surgery, but I didnt know how much larger of a percentage it was for women. The article talks about how Doctors decided if the person is getting thes surgery for the proper reasons. To me plastic surgery is pointless. I feel that you are made the way you are for a reason, and unless you have health problems that relate to a specific body part nothing should be changed. However, the doctors say that people who feel their jobs, and self-esteem can be boosted with a new nose, boobs, tummy tuck, ect. are "good candidates" for the surgery. On the other hand, Men and women who opt for cosmetic surgery because of a recent divorce, prevention of divorce, or to make the other spouce happier are not "good candidates". To me in a way I believe the first group has better reasons for their cosmetic surgery, but I still strongly believe that unless a preson has medical reasons for plastic surgery the procedure should not be done.

Hair

After reading the past two articles about African Americans in reguards to their hair I no longer feel its the same for a white woman when she gets a perm or stragatins her hair. My reasons for this are because this is a personal choice, and when African American girls grow their forced by their mothers to go to the hair salon to get their hair chemically strgatined in order to look more "acceptable" to society. Society has built this standard that long silky hair is attractive and that nappy, dreaded, braded hair is just the opposite. As both atricles, and video in class talked about African Americans are looked at differntly and taken less seriously when they keep their natural hair, and dont add any chemicals to change it. I myself have never been fully happy with my hair and have contemplated chemical hair straightining several times, but I never felt I had to get my hair straightened to feel normal, and to be taken seriously. I was just a personal preference that I thought I would look better with straight hair. I dont understand who created these judgements of what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in todays society, but I think it is unfair that African Americans cant feel comfortable in their own skin becuase of these stereotyes and judgements made towards them.

Essay #2

Writing my essay on body image with reguards to the articles we read in class was intresting. I didnt realize how much men and women were effected by the media and the need to look "normal" to feel accepted. The article that i felt applied most with this topic was "Unnerving Ads For Real Women". The descriptions of how American women feel about the reveling "real" women ads caught my attention. I felt exactly the same as the author. When it comes to revealing advertisemtent such as doves, professional models should be used. I myself felt a bit uneasy when i saw the women in the articles pictures. I actually felt like my privacy had be intruded bcause of their physical appearence.

Freaks

After researching the 1932 flim Freaks, I was able to learn alittle more about it. I now understand the difference of horror films in the 30's compared to todays films. The director felt it was better to use people with real deformities rather than use costume and make up on "normal people". This I felt was an intresting because the director tryed to portray that beauty is not always what your see on the outside; its on the inside that counts. So even though the "freaks" in the movie were not ats beautiful as the other characters their innure beauty was able to be shown. The film was very controversial when it was first released becausae of the actors that were used, it was cut short of its original time, and was not recogniziable by many. Howeverm i feel that if more people were exposed to this film they could learn that its more than just looks that counts. Its like the saying goes" you should never judge a book by its cover"

Freaks

The movie Freaks did not portray itself as a horror film. Its intresting to see what people in the 30's considered horror compared to todays people. During the movie I was unable to pick up on the symbolism of the peacock bird name and how it forshadowed that in the end of the movie; she would no longer be a beautiful "normal woman". She had been turned into some sort of duck, and had lost her legs. The "Freaks" that were introduced in the beginning however, had turned normal by noticing the harm that was being caused. They stood up for each other and went right to the woman who was causing all the trouble. Also, I did feel bad thinking that people with physical and mental disabilites were used as a form of entertainment in the 30's. I thought it was a bit upsetting that just becuase they were different they were allowed to be laughed at.

The Infirmity and Cultural Models

Having taken American Sign Language for 5 years, the article Representations of Deaf people impacted me. I had already learned about the stereotypes and judgements that people make about the deaf community, and i had learned about the cochlear implant. The article made me notice how many people dont think about the daef community. The author talks about the "silent treatment" and how its a punishment for children, but the "silent treatment" is an everyday expericne for the deaf community. Also, the deaf community is never looked at as "successful, and career orentated" because the hearing community makes it so diffiuclt to accept the deaf into their business world. When you do hear about a sucessful deaf parent its usually marked as a huge acheivement because their looked at as "disabled" in a way to the hearing community. I think that the hearing community needs to judge the deaf less, give them more chances in the business world, and most of all accept them for who they are. Weather they were born deaf or became deaf; its their way of life(and its what makes them different).

The Masculine Mystique

Reading the interview between Sylverster Stallone and Susan Faludi I began to notice how critical Americans are. Stallone talks about how he himself is a stereotype because of his involvement in the movie series Rockey. He was always a built, muscular, active, and strong man, but after taking a part in a movie called Copland his waiste size increased by 8 sizes and gained alot of weight. When he goes out in public, just like his character he walks with his head down beacause he has nothing to be proud of. Durring the interview Stallone talks about how a fan who is very into fitness asks for "ROCKEYS" autograph. Stallone signs his real name because he feels he is a different person. His fan gives a rude comment " look at that chest", and makes rockey think of how he is percieved so differently now that he has a new body. I feel that if America wasnt so obsessed with physical looks, and sterotypes of "heros"; people would beable to live happier lives.(Judgement free).

The unnerving ad's called real women

I never really looked into the meaning of the doves cellulite cream. The company tries to advertise "real women" with "real bodies" as opposed to thin models. There modo is try to and show that women should accept and love their bodies for what they are, and not try to become something your not (model/ stick thin). However, the dove company is selling a product to "perfect" womens bodies by removing cellulite that has formed on their "natural bodies that they are supposed to love". I never really thought how contradicting the company was being. If they really wanted women to embrace their natural bodies, they wouldnt be using cellulite remove cream.

In the Combat zone

After reading the piece, In the Combat Zone by Marmon Silko I was very shaken up. She is very descriptive of how women are targets of crimes such as: robberies, rapes, and murders. She talkes about how women are raised to be delecate, elequent pieces of art. However, she feels that women should learn to protect themselves, and not depend on men. Silko believes that becuase women are forced to go out alone at certain times of the night they should be prepared for an attack at all times. When Silko grew up she was taught by her father how to shoot a gun, and killed her first deer at the age of 14. She stongly believes that all women should have a gun to carry around with them just incase ! Her father told her as a child that she never had to be afraid of anything because she had the power of a gun. However, I personally would be too afriad to take the risk of an accident occuring. I feel women should take different percutions in protecting themselves such as: self defense classes, carrying around peper spray, staying out of un-safe neighborhoods, and avoide walking alone at night.

How It Feels to Be Colored Me

After reading the passage How It Feels to Be Colored me I felt a stream of emotions running through me. I found it very interesting that Zora felt white people interpreted things such as music so much differently than colored people. Zora's emotions towards the jazz music related past tribal gatherings. She described being in a jungle, living the jungle way, and having her face painted. She began to feel her heart pounding when the thought of hunting spears got involved. The white man sitting next to her claimed to enjoy the music, but did not feel any emotions like Zora. Zora seems to find her self unsure about her color at times. When she is with a group of white people she feels she stands out more as colored, and feels in a way like an outcast (but continues to act the same, and believe as she always did). I think Zora is a courageous women to allow herself to leave her "comfort zone" and go to further her education. (even if it means people would be watching her closely)

A few words about breasts....

After reading Nora Ephron's "A few words about breasts" I was able to feel a connection. No girl is every happy with how they look. If they have stright hair, they want curly... If their tall they want to be short. She was very open with her stories, and it made it easy to read being able to relate with the struggles girls have growing up. Its not easy to talk about your insecurities but she makes you realize that noone is perfect.

John Updike- At War With My Skin

After reading At War With My Skin I felt a certain type of sorrow for John Updike. I could not imagine feeling so uncomfortable in my own body. However, for John to be so open about his 'disease' was heart warming. He made alot of spur of the moment decisions in his life because of his psoriasis. He married the first woman who came into his life because he was too afriad to risk losing her. He had children at a very young age beacuse he wanted to surround himself with people who did not have psoriasis. He became a writer becuase he knew it would enable him to hide from the public eye. He did not want to be exposed to judgemental people who may stair or make comments about his psoriasis. I am very sympathetic towars John Updikes's life. Eventhough he was not mocked by many students in school; he was still constantly thinking how different he looked. Also, John found any way to avoid being around people i.e. not going swimming with the other children in the summer. He was ashamed of his body, and no one should have to feel that way about his/her self.

Free Union by Andre' Breton

After I finished the reading Free Union by Andre' Brenton I was not fully sure what I thought of it. The in depth description of his "wifes" body seemed was too much for me. I feel that when a man was writing about his superior other he should wright in a more: relaxed, loving, and romatic way; as opposed to someone being obssed with the female body. However, there were parts of the reading that I felt were unique and striking. For example: 'Whose thoughts are summer lightening'. From the authors use of words I was able to form an image of a rain storm in the warm sunny weather. It's powerful, but beautiful at the same time.

Alice Walker: Beauty: When the other dancer is the self..

The theme that I felt most powerful in this essay was Beauty. Alice grew up always being complemented on how cute she was and enjoyed hearing so from her many neighbors. However, one day while Alice was sitting on top of her garage she is accidently got shot in the eye by her brothers BB gun. Alice waited a week to visit her doctor and by that time her face was damaged. Her face no longer looked the same ,and she was no longer a cute little girl. She refused to raise her head in public in fear of what others will think of her. After the accident Alice claimed to feel as if she was a different person. She didnt think she was the same anymore after she got shot in the eye. Later on in life Alice received surgery to fix the damaged area around her eye. It didnt come out perfect, but Alice was no longer afraid to raise her head in public. Eventually, Alice was asked to be on the cover of a magazine in recognition of her wonderful writing skills. However, Alice was very fearful about having her face on the cover of a magazine. After having a child Alice fears for the day her child will notice her mom has a different eye than everyone else. But, one day when putting her child to sleep Alice's child looks her in the eye and says "Mommy, there's a world in your eye." Alice claims that her pain disappeared as soon as she heard those words come from her child. All children are harsh with facil differences, but to hear such loving words out of a childs mouth really changed Alice's persepective on true beauty.