tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3084640879422569374.post1781567437595513618..comments2023-06-06T07:51:08.777-07:00Comments on 5 Resolutions: Has the "No Anorexia" Ad Become Pro-Ana Thinspiration?Magali and Clairehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13315607889491741409noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3084640879422569374.post-44301721091627648582007-09-28T11:13:00.000-07:002007-09-28T11:13:00.000-07:00Thanks so much for the blog entry mentioning We Bi...Thanks so much for the blog entry mentioning <A HREF="http://www.webiteback.com" REL="nofollow">We Bite Back</A>!<BR/><BR/>The thing this ad really brings into focus is the way that pro-anas view thinspirational images. While the public at large will be disgusted by photos of severely emaciated women, those gripped in the mindset of the disorder will see the images as attractive. Appealing. (Regularly looking at severe thinspo is like staring at a car accident and being unable to look away, only doing so frequently numbs you to it and normalizes it, until it becomes beautiful, appealing and ideal.)<BR/><BR/>(Imagine if you will seeing emaciation as an ideal and collecting as many images as you can find that represent that twisted ideal, and looking at these images often enough to completely normalize what you see. Suddenly everything above the body type favored looks fat by comparison.<BR/><BR/>They've made a point of telling her weight in most of the news articles I've read... which would reinforce the trigger effect. There are an estimated one to two million anorexics and bulimics in Italy.<BR/><BR/>This ad also totally does not not take into account the demographic of men who are turned on by anorexic porn? (There's a whole genre of nude emaciated anorexic erotica out there... there's people who are turned on by the sickest elements of our society.)<BR/><BR/>The shock value works. I was stunned. I am very tempted to look at the whole thing as a work of art, for it certainly breaks the bounds and grabs your attention to listen to what they are saying. It sparks so many different responses and mixed emotions in me... and it's effective... It would never run in Canada... unless in an art gallery where people go to see images that push the bounds of their understanding. But since the common man or woman in the street isn't spending much time in art galleries these days, billboards grab the attention better. Stick anything on a billboard and people will see it. At least now people are talking about this phenomenon and questioning whether such images should be proliferated.<BR/><BR/>I don't know why objectifying women is suddenly acceptable just because her body type is not the mainstream ideal. Putting this woman up there and suggesting it's alright because he thinks her hideous is bizarre logic to say the least. Yet this is the same designer who brought us the sometimes visually shocking Benetton ads a few years ago. Here's an older article - note the designer name http://commercial-archive.com/node/137205<BR/><BR/>This designer is the same as here:<BR/>http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gY2QriMiIeUSoOmDSlcz3WzB9C9w<BR/><BR/>Why are there no media questions as to whether or not this ad campaign would give money to help those currently afflicted with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia? (Not that I expect there would be funds put towards this cause by this designer/fashion company, but it's nice to see people asking the question. If a woman is going to put her body out there for advertising, it would be nice to know it was for a good cause rather than merely for profit.)<BR/><BR/>This ad campaign is not at all out of place in this designer's portfolio. To quote him from an article in 2002, 'Why does reality make such a big controversy?' he said wearily. 'Traditional advertising pictures are a bunch of lies. What we show is the truth. If people want to censor it, I am sorry.' He went on, 'We are all in a business, and we all have to survive, we are not a charity.' (Would he say similar words about this campaign? That's what I'm wondering...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com