My mashup video was created to show that society has this perception that our culture is considerably obese and at the same time young women (and men) are under so much pressure to become thinner and thinner. We view skinniness as being beautiful, but when are the limits pushed too far? We make skinny jeans, skinny food, and skinny drinks, popular items. We have been culturally constructed to be thin while being bombarded with advertisements for McDonalds and food that is supersized. It is a confusing downward spiral that is out of control.
This video suggests that we have contradicting ideas of what beautiful is, but questions why we let others determine that for us. The photos of the skinny women/models represents all those who have caved under America's pressure to be thin is in. Unfortunately they have warped their image to something that is hardly anything as a result of this photoshopped content we view on a daily basis. The song I Like Big Butts shows that even though these women have felt this pressure to be thin by some forms of media, other forms such as hip-hop songs, seem to value having a big round butt as being beautiful....however not to completely demote the thin factor, after all they want "them real thick and juicy" but also require a woman to have a "cute face, little waist, and big behind". The little girl represents innocence. She is asking the viewer why they want to look like someone else, and tries to explain that although she has not yet fallen victim to this overabundant message of being skinny, she definitely has the opportunity to in the future. And if we want that to stop before she begins this downward spiral we need to encourage beauty that comes in all shapes and sizes, not just a negative 0. Being happy and healthy is the most important thing, not conforming to society's idea of having the perfect (bone-revealing) body.
In regards to fair use, my video is taking a series of photos which show super skinny models in conjunction with a song that is saying that they have big butts. I am completely changing the meaning of both pieces of media and have created my very own message about how society values beauty in extreme measures and has suggested that our culture, which consumes mass quantities of fast food needs to still be skinny in order to be pretty....especially if you are a woman.
I just commented on another Mashup that this would be good to do too! I liked it. Some of the images almost made me sick. The only recommedation I can think of is to use a more demanding song instead of a calm song with soothing instrumentals. I think you are right, you have changed the song and images by combining them to make new meaning. I think fair use would hold up in court.
ReplyDeleteYou did a very good job at tackling such a sensitive topic. It is very true that these women are going to get so sick that they are going to end up dead if they don't take care of their body and the media needs to stop making such a big deal about females being thin. bigger can be beautiful and I wish that the media would promote more of that size. Luckily we have "You Tube" to be able to get our voice out and make the point known that this can not happen anymore. I have to say that Dove is doing a good job at promoting to younger girls that you be the way you are and don't let anyone else tell you different. Again good job at tackling such a hard issue.
ReplyDeleteWatching this video almost made me worried for the girls that were like that. You used very strong pictures to prove your point. As maybe a change I think you should have used the origianl song by Sir-Mix-Alot because it isn't soft and soothing like the video. But this video would hold up as fair use.
ReplyDeleteI think your video makes a very valid point that not everyone things about nowadays. Our society is SO caught up in obesity but at the same time we have people looking freakishly thin. I liked the song you used and I liked the version you used because it was really blatant about what the lyrics were talking about. However, I think it would have been good to go back and forth between the orginal song and the acoustic to contrast the vulgarness of the song with the really disturbing pictures. I think this video would hold up in court for fair use for sure. You definitely twisted the meaning of the song to prove a very important point.
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