In an effort to educate both women and men about positive body image, the Creighton University Kenefick Chair in the Humanities is sponsoring a four-part film series that focuses on the cultural pressure to identify “worth” with appearance. Wendy Wright, professor of theology and Kenefick Chair in Humanities said the films would bring these issues to light.
“The media, fashion industries, advertising and popular entertainment flood consciousness with the message that being thin, sexy, perfect, ‘a ten,’ hot and young is the ultimate goal for women,” Wright said. “This is such a pervasive message that it is sometimes hard to imagine any other way of being successful or happy. The films each capture a different aspect of this phenomenon.”
All programs will begin at 7 p.m. in room 3023 of the Harper Center. The series started with the showing of the documentary “Cover Girl Culture” by ex-fashion model Nicole Clark, which exposes how media advertising and the cult of celebrity negatively impacts teen and young women.
On monday “Arresting Ana,” a film by journalist and documentary filmmaker Lucie Schwartz, was shown. It explores the secret world of the pro-anorexia cyber-movement that poses questions about who controls women’s bodies.
Yesterday “Sexy Inc.: Our Children Under Influence,” a documentary by Sophie Bissonette, analyzes the hyper-sexualizing of our culture and its effects on young people.
Finally, next Tuesday, in “Make Me Young,” an age-obsessed daughter of a plastic surgeon takes a journey through America’s $60 billion anti-aging world.
All films are free and open to the public and will be followed by a panel discussion with invited faculty.
The films will not only educate students about the issue of body image, it will provide a forum for discussion. Wright said she hopes the films and discussions will inspire students to educate and empower others.
“I think simply naming the issues and providing a forum for discussion is important,” Wright said. “I think this in itself can provide an impetus for students, men and women especially, to empower themselves and educate each other. The issues presented in the films are ones that virtually every woman on campus has to confront.”
She also added that body image issues could ultimately affect how a person develops.
“If depression, lack of self-worth and an unending quest to focus on one’s appearance become the main focus in life, the whole person hardly has a chance to develop,” Wright said. “Feeling good, being healthy, enjoying fulfilling relationships, cultivating friendships are all crucial, but sometimes these goals become distorted and confused with appearing and acting in ways that do not really make one happy or successful.”
Nursing senior Audriana Talmadge said she hopes the film series promotes that everyone, especially young women should be healthy. She said the film series would point out just how unhealthy practices like anorexia are and will hopefully provoke change.
“As a young woman, I am affected by how much of the media portrays how young women should look, rather than the way we are,” Talmadge said. “I think it is important to realize that we are under constant pressure to be what the media defines as beautiful, and the series will take a look at that.”