Teachers Notes Body Image
Body Image Dictionary Definition
Body image is the perception that a person has of their physical self and feelings that result from
that perception. These feelings can be positive or negative or both and are influenced by individual
and environmental factors.
Question Time
What are some of the things that you think contribute
to a positive body image? What are some of the things that you think
contribute to a negative body image?
(teacher to prompt students to come up with most of the answers listed below)
POSITIVE IMPACT
NEGATIVE IMPACT
Appreciate all your body can do.
Negative self talk.
Eat healthy food.
Comparing your body to images youve seen
in the media and advertising.
Exercise regularly, but make sure its something
you enjoy doing and not a chore.
Look at the whole person rather than focusing on
specific body parts
Surround yourself with positive people.
Shut down the voices in your head that tell you
that your body is not right or that you are a bad
person.
Wear clothes that you are comfortable in and that
help you feel good about your body.
Become a critical viewer of social and media
messages.
Remind yourself that true beauty comes from
within and is not just about how you look.
Write a list of 10 things you like about yourself,
that arent related to how much you weigh or what
you look like.
Self love.
http://au.reachout.com/what-is-body-image
http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/body-image.html
The desire to be perfect.
Yo yo dieting.
Extreme exercise.
Valuing appearance over other important
personal attributes. Such as kindness, humour
etc.
Low self esteem.
Negative comments made by family or friends.
Bullying (targeted at persons appearance)
Unrealistic beauty & bodies types featured in
media and advertising.
Poor diet
Lack of excercise.
Unrealistic expectations.
Self blame and guilt.
VIDEO: Dove Campaign For
Real Beauty Evolution 1.16 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5qZedMTkkE
Body Image Ads
Body Image Advertising Example 1
http://originsmassagespa.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Perfect-Skin-AD-IMAGEOMS-600x400.jpg
Body Image Advertising Example 2
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8d/09/73/8d0973dc24
351ef264e71f1a261df41f.jpg
Body Image Advertising Example 3
https://mrclarke604.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/male-body-image-and-gender-stereotyping/
Body Image Advertising Example 4
https://lovelanguageloveliterature.com/2015/04/30/victorias-secret-ads-should-offendwomen/
Body Image Advertising Example 5
https://mrclarke604.wordpress.com/2014/04/30/male-body-image-and-gender-stereotyping/
Body Image Advertising Example 6
http://cdn2.thegloss.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/grapenuts2.jpg
Body Image Advertising Example 7
http://cdn2.blisstree.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Skinny-Water-Ad-Strut-YourSkinny1-640x778.jpg
Art History: The Perception of Beauty In Art
Ancient Chinese Women - 618-907 A.D
As the economy prospered, Ancient Chinese depictions of beautiful women also developed, as
people began to value larger women.
Contrary to the typical slender, pale, small-footed woman, the new image of a beautiful woman
that emerged in China at this time was plump and voluptuous. Artworks began to glorify women
who valued self-indulgence. More fat on a womans body symbolized her wealth, a quality that
became increasingly attractive during the Tang dynasty. As the society reached a cultural peak,
art began to reflect the carefree, luxurious life of aristocratic women (Chinese Folk Culture).
The painting of two Tang women and the sculpture, Tomb Figure of a Lady Holding a Pekinese,
exemplify womens beauty during the ninth century. In the sculpture, the womans stance causes
her stomach to thrust forward, immediately bringing the viewers attention to her stomach. Her
puffy cheeks and thick neck suggest that she is a healthy woman who can afford an excessive
amount of food. In the painting, the womens colorful, elegant clothing demonstrate the perks
of being an aristocratic woman. The golden, vibrant background only further emphasizes how
extravagant life was during the Tang dynasty.
http://perceptionoffemalebeauty.blogspot.com.au/
The Birth of Venus was painted by Sandro Botticelli in 1483, a time also known as the Renaissance.
This European movement marked the end of medieval values, and it stressed the importance of individualism, humanism, and the natural world. Because Renaissance literally means rebirth, in this
piece, Botticelli focuses on the birth of love in the world by depicting a beautiful nude woman coming to life in a tropical landscape (Britannica).
In the painting, a Greek-Roman goddess is emerging from the shore in a shell. Venus represents the
ideal Renaissance woman: thin, pale, and curvy. Botticelli exaggerates the lengths of her neck and
leg in order to bring the viewers attention to her beautiful features, which almost seem too perfect
to exist. In fact, based on the womans stance and position at the very tip of the shell, it is actually
impossible for her to be standing upright (Birth of Venus). Perhaps this is why the scene appears to
be that of a fantasy, making the woman seem even more desirable.
Thematically, the woman in the center represents the beauty of life. Because women are the bearers
of new life, Botecelli expresses Europes opinion of beautiful women as delicate, lovely givers of life.
Venus herself is literally being born out of the shell.
http://perceptionoffemalebeauty.blogspot.com.au/
The Kiss - Gustav Klimt 1907
In The Kiss, Klimt paints a golden-toned, intricate scene that depicts a man and women engaged
in a deep and passionate kiss. The man, composed of neutral-colored rectangles, appears as the
dominant figure, as he is completely draped over the woman. Both of his hands are placed on
her face, as he holds her head while he kisses her cheek. Based on the thickness of his neck, he
appears to be strong and protective of the woman, uninterested in anything except for her. The
woman, however, consists of various circles that construct the outline of her dress. The viewers
attention is immediately drawn to her pale face, which compliments her rosy cheeks and tiny,
delicate lips. The delicacy of her face and the way she seems to hang from the mans neck makes
her seem vulnerable, but it also highlights the fact that a woman has the capability to tempt a
man with her sexuality. Her small hands gently rest on top of his, demonstrating that they are
enjoying each others touch. Finally, the golden vines that hang from her legs and droop onto a
patch of multifarious flowers add to the overall sense of beauty that dominates the painting.
The womans calm expression and slim stature exemplify peoples definition of beauty in the
twentieth century. The two figures seem to blend together, as if they are literally lost within each
other. The bright tone of the picture represents the magnificence of love, both physically and
emotionally. Contrary to art prior to Art Nouveau, this work depicts beautiful women as thin,
gentle, and inferior to men. Beautiful women were not powerful or intelligent, but they were
romantic wives with desirable features. The golden, vibrant background only further emphasizes
how extravagant life was during the Tang dynasty.
http://perceptionoffemalebeauty.blogspot.com.au/
Inquiry Question- What is Beauty?
Discussion Starters:
1. Beauty Ideals.
Beauty is an idea. Everybodys idea of beauty is unique. Beauty is a function of culture also.
When ideas about beauty make powerful impacts, they can become beauty ideals. What is ideal
beauty? We see it everywhere, from paintings, to magazines to TV. Ideals evolve over time. It
seems like beauty is all about trying to live up to an ideal. Which is pretty much a hopeless pursuit, because...ideas and ideals are not real. You are!
2. Aesthetics.
Aesthetic refers to someones personal idea of what is beautiful. A lot of what we know about
beauty comes from art. Realistic art and media is the product of choices made by an artist or
media maker. While these images can give us a good idea of what people thought or think is
beautiful, the images dont necessarily give us a good idea of what people really look like. For
example, magazines and TV today do not really represent an accurate cross section of people in
the real world.
3. Money.
Another major factor that has influenced our idea of beauty is money. Historically, looks that
implied wealth and status were equated with beauty and looks that were identified with workingclass or poor people were thought to be less beautiful. As society has evolved, so have the
physical traits associated with richness and poorness. This results in a turnaround of beauty ideals. Example: About 80 years ago in Europe and the U.S., rich people kept their skin as white as
possible--because they could. Skin that was tanned and weathered was associated with menial
outdoor work. By the 1920s more people started spending their workdays indoors in factories,
offices etc. Rich people began taking vacations to the beaches, making a suntan the mark of the
lady leisure. The healthy suntanned look has remained something of an ideal.
4. Economic Conditions.
Historically, larger (well-fed) bodies types were the ideal. Now, the wealthy person can show their
status by their ability to spend time and money keeping themselves fit (e.g. Sarah Jessica Parker
6 months after having her baby)
5. Inner beauty.
As a society we tend to focus on other peoples outer appearance. Is there more to beauty than
the way a person looks on the outside? Consider what is meant by inner beauty.
http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=4527
Conduct online research for Task Two
Suggested websites:
http://seeme.org.au/
http://reach.org.au
http://p2cdn3static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_2879574/File/teacherdocuments/Performing_Visual_Arts/Middleton/2-D%20II/Elements%20and%20Principles%20Overview.jpg
5 minute video- History of Typography.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOgIkxAfJsk
