Some research

So I've been doing some research on fashion super models with their elongated body and tiny waists. I've also been looking at Barbie dolls and how they are completely out of proportion. Here are some images I came across that were relevant to my project.

My Concept.

So I've decided to go with the concept of Body Image. Here is my proposal.

Statement of Intent Form

Name:  Emma Whyte

Year: 3^rd Year P. C. P.

Date: 19^th Sept 2013

The Concept / The Idea

                        My concept is about body image and identity. Basically what I am looking at is how women perceive themselves, how they are always trying to change themselves, trying to improve their self image for the hopes of becoming happy. I am looking at how in the public eye, the media, portrays being overweight as undesirable and, being an unhealthy skinny is beauty and how women 'should look'. I am also looking at the different eating disorders that accompanies the haunting lengths to try and change a certain body image, such as anorexia or bulimia. I'll be looking at how they affect women, and how they get to that stage of near no return. I'll also be looking at the media and their side of things and how it also affects women and their happiness through their image. Women view celebrities and models as the 'norm' when it comes to their body. Their self – esteems are automatically lowered to a point of hating what they see in the mirror. So obviously women will try to change to 'improve' themselves to try and become some one they are not, like these 'super models'. Unfortunately they are going to extreme, unnecessary lengths to become some one they are not and some one they shouldn't have to aspire to be, to be happy. I will be looking into different ways women try to change their looks like plastic surgery, botox, vampire botox, extreme dieting, extreme make up, etc. I also will be looking at the feminist out take on my concept. So I will be looking at different point of views to try and understand the importance of always looking thin and youthful to try and be happy. I want to also bring to attention how the media have been also aiming their products to adolescence and young adults who are too young to be worrying about looking beautiful. This concept is extremely important to me because I have been one to be influenced by the media and it's unnecessary products it has to offer women.

Visual Methodology / Primary Research

                        I wanted to begin looking at women's different body shapes and the different invasive and non – invasive procedures used to try and change themselves. I want to try and get mannequins and manipulate their bodies to how women think they want to look. I want to look at using different sculptural methods and materials such as plaster cast, ballistics gel and resin to try and get my message across. I will also be using a lot of photography and video to try and show the progression of plastic surgery and diet from, for example, overweight to anorexic in different extreme ways. I don't want to hold back and be conservative. I want to also take a lot of photos using myself and my own body to see how I would change it using all those different procedures through Photoshop and other media's. I will also be using woodblock as a method and will hopefully be able to combine with silkscreen.

 women think they want to look. I want to look at using different sculptural methods and materials such as plaster cast, ballistics gel and resin to try and get my message across. I will also be using a lot of photography and video to try and show the progression of plastic surgery and diet from, for example, overweight to anorexic in different extreme ways. I don't want to hold back and be conservative. I want to also take a lot of photos using myself and my own body to see how I would change it using all those different procedures through Photoshop and other media's. I will also be using woodblock as a method and will hopefully be able to combine with silkscreen.

Secondary Research Methodology

                   I have looked at different feminist books in relation to visual arts and concepts.

·Feminism and Youth Culture, Angela McRobbie

·Global Feminism, Myra Marx Ferree and Aili Mari

·Gender Trouble, Judith Butler

·The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader, Amelia Jones

·Art and Feminism,  Helena Reckitt

·Aesthetic Surgery, 

          I have also been looking at magazine covers and how they always have different celebrities showing off their 'bikini bodies' and telling the public readers how much weight they have lost. I want to also look at different model and fashions magazines such as Vogue, to show the great lengths and extreme diets models go through to try and look desirable yet looking sick, just to try and fit into their ridiculously tight dresses for runway. I have researched some fashion designers sketches and even when they are drawing their show stopper pieces, they are drawing models completely out of proportion being 7” tall with elongated legs. Some feminist artist I will be looking at are Guy Merill, Orlan, Susan Lacey and more. They are very relevant to this project because it is similar to their beliefs. 

Back to college, and into 3rd year.

Back to college and into third year Print and Contemporary Practice. Our brief is basically to create our own brief. So I have some thinking to do. :) Exciting.