2008 Woodie Awards
Hollywood creates an image obsessed society
Michael Hilal
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Opinion
With Burger King's release, that surprisingly made headlines on just about every newscast, of its 720-calorie breakfast burger, we were able to witness a massive media blitz towards "pro-health." Is it really just our health that not only just the media, but many American's are obsessed with, or is it more our image? Are we too "image" obsessed? It's debatable, some people would say yes and others would attempt to say that we are simply "health conscious"
Either way, the idea of "health" has been translated to "image." Some will take the stance that the idea of thin is what the media and Hollywood have portrayed as what is ideal.
Much more of what is considered ideal is the public's misconception as to what "healthy" actually is.
I won't deny there is a definite impact that Hollywood role models have on young viewers.
For most people between the ages of 16 and 30, the ideal person they want to be is a famous model or actor and the emphasis is very much on external appearance.
Perhaps this is part of the reason so many people today are unhappy with their appearance and are often on a diet.
One thing that, in definition, is lacking, is how these role models have achieved what is ideal.
For instance, R&B artist Usher claims to do 1,000 crunches a day as just part of his workout regiment and on top of that, follows a strict diet.
Other Hollywood stars workout for several hours a day with costly personal trainers. Often the work out and diet regimens are not adhered to when they are on a break. In fact, I found that many celebrities often crash diet and excessively exercise to get in top shape before their next project.
When people see that "ideal" image, they are not seeing the amount of exercise and dieting that went into that person, just a picture of envy.
Lack of health conscious education has led much of society into an image-obsessed tailspin.
People, younger and younger, now then ever before, have become more focused on what they look like than how it was achieved.
Either way, the idea of "health" has been translated to "image." Some will take the stance that the idea of thin is what the media and Hollywood have portrayed as what is ideal.
Much more of what is considered ideal is the public's misconception as to what "healthy" actually is.
I won't deny there is a definite impact that Hollywood role models have on young viewers.
For most people between the ages of 16 and 30, the ideal person they want to be is a famous model or actor and the emphasis is very much on external appearance.
Perhaps this is part of the reason so many people today are unhappy with their appearance and are often on a diet.
One thing that, in definition, is lacking, is how these role models have achieved what is ideal.
For instance, R&B artist Usher claims to do 1,000 crunches a day as just part of his workout regiment and on top of that, follows a strict diet.
Other Hollywood stars workout for several hours a day with costly personal trainers. Often the work out and diet regimens are not adhered to when they are on a break. In fact, I found that many celebrities often crash diet and excessively exercise to get in top shape before their next project.
When people see that "ideal" image, they are not seeing the amount of exercise and dieting that went into that person, just a picture of envy.
Lack of health conscious education has led much of society into an image-obsessed tailspin.
People, younger and younger, now then ever before, have become more focused on what they look like than how it was achieved.