Blog 2 I feel pretty
In the movie I feel pretty starring Amy Schmuer, we see how this women wants to fit into society gender representation norms so bad and be socially accepted into society. Amy does everything to fit her gender representation as a women such as her clothes, makeup, fitness, career, social groups, conversations, etc. Amy is very insecure until one day she has an accident which changes her perception of her body and image. She then again changes herself but to fit more into the feminine expression and is more confident doing so in her new found confidence. I picked this film because when I was watching it I felt I could relate in the way she saw how she had to fit into society norms to be a successful women. I myself sometimes feel this way and and do sometimes conform to some of society's norms of femininity but understand the layers behind that and know it has all been socially constructed to be a certain way. This film is placed into present day in New York around the fashion industry primarily since this is around Amy's career. The audience this is targeting is young female adults to middle age women. This is a major film that screened across the nation in 2018 produced by two american screenwriters. We see that the film was made primarily by women film makers, but it has been criticized that it hasn't come from original content. It is different to those of other genres because it mixes together self hatred and comedy at the same time. I think the choices that could have been different in the making of this film is less body shaming as it does throughout the film giving into the beauty standards women have instead a different plot where Amy doesn't care about the beauty standards females have put on them throughout their lives. I think the techniques used to grab audience attention is the actor first, she is a known comedian that has been in a lot of well known comedies before. Also they use emotional appeal by using most movie audience women and their weakness of self hatred, perception of body image, and insecurities to see this movie. What makes this film seem real is the close retentiveness to women's everyday lives of feeling insecure about their bodies. I think when it comes to the topics that come up in this movie, as I had mentioned previously I myself have gone through similar situations as the main character in the movie. This is close in the insecurities I have felt as a women growing up and is close to my experience. I think now though I have a different view point and can see other view points to this movie as some have criticized and seen as controversial. I thin the ideas and values being sold to use by using this message is not to conform to beauty standards and just be yourself, but this wasn't done so until the end of the movie and wasn't explicitly said as well as not in the right presentation. I thin the perspectives that are left out are why are women out on this high standard and what we can do to dismantle it. They are targeting big audience since they know most women, and women that can relate to this film would make this film do well in the box office which I feel is an exploitation to the insecurities women may have in their lives. Film makers and companies profit off of this film and make money off of women's insecurities and putting them into a film.
I have not seen this movie but have followed with Amy Schmuer watching interviews for the movie and not for the movie. I can understand where she is coming from when wanting to make this movie because in the industry that also pays her they also criticize her for her weight and looks. I don't think she wants acceptance from society but for society to understand that the body images that are in Hollywood are not real and do not in any way represent the daily hard working women. Being successful by making a positive impact in that industry is what she is striving for and breaking down walls even if it means getting harshly criticize. Although, I have not seen the movie I commence her in trying to make an important message known.
ReplyDeleteI like your cultural object and your analysis of the film. I have not seen the film but when the trailer came out it caught my attention because I like films that challenge societal norms. However I also recognize that the movie industry does not do a very good job at portraying all aspects of life so I understand the movie having flaws. It looks like the movies message of the importance of having self confidence no matter how you look is very clear to its audience and a powerful message to think more in depth about.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Brittany,
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the video once she lost weight her first words she said was “i’m beautiful” which makes us believe that being beautiful woman have to have long hair, being light skinned, colored eyes, and thin. Which affect young girls from a small age misunderstanding the actual image of beauty and self love. No matter how many times women try to loose weight to feel approved and not go through a judgement we are lowering our self esteem because we are trying to change in order for society to accept us. Insecurities begin because society presents us all these norms that women have to fit under. Which I do agree with Amy Schmuer society needs to comprehend that women do not always fit under all the criteria they want. We are being presented women who are not really themselves but being photo shopped or using so many images of different women to simply do one image for an advertisement.
Really enjoyed your post Brittney!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen this movie, but I felt like you described it well. I believe a lot of movies are this way in trying to make woman feel like they must be skinny to be pretty or to fit into society. I feel like movies, videos, imagines in general that prompt such things just increase the "perfect image" of a woman that is told to be. this creates self hate in younger girls and forces woman to believe they will never be perfect.