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Bjerge, Krüger, Torp 1 Abstract in This Master's Thesis, We Examine Body

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Bjerge, Krüger, Torp 1 Abstract in This Master's Thesis, We Examine Body Bjerge, Krüger, Torp 1 Abstract In this Master’s thesis, we examine body manifestations within chosen TV-series from popular culture, namely Tales of the City (2019), Insatiable (2018-2019), and Dietland (2018), in order to uncover how they comment on contemporary beauty ideals in relation to gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and physical appearance. This is done in order to examine if these body representations reflect body positivity and gender activism within contemporary society. When doing so, we convey the meanings of the body iconographies within the series, since we consider the body as a sign that can be interpreted in order to identify the bodily communication. Essentially, the thesis has a post-structuralist approach, because the analysis is based on the principle that beauty ideals are not static but ever-evolving. Prior to the analysis, we briefly account for the historical development of Western body images and beauty ideals, as well as the complexity of the concept of beauty, in order to provide insight into the origin of contemporary beauty ideals and how they have historically been used to regulate human beings. In the analysis, we draw upon queer theory, narcissism theory, identity theory, the beauty myth as well as the notion of governmentality, in order to shed light on how the body is influenced by society’s body images and beauty ideals. The findings of the analysis reveal that the body manifestations within the series challenge body images and beauty ideals in contemporary society that are rooted within traditional masculinity and femininity, because these body iconographies are used to criticize contemporary beauty ideals and the lack of diversity within the media and the beauty industry. Therefore, these manifestations mirror contemporary body positivity and gender activism movements that encourage inclusivity by promoting diverse body representations. However, the three series also comment on the excessive focus on the body in society, suggesting that the strive for perfection has caused human beings to become self-righteous to such a degree that religious worship is frequently substituted with worship of the body. Ultimately, the shared message of the three series suggests that the immense focus on the body has negative effects on the individual, because it results in feelings of inadequacy and existential meaninglessness, since the strive for perfection is ultimately an unattainable fiction. Bjerge, Krüger, Torp 2 TABLES OF CONTENTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEAUTY IDEALS ....................................................................................... 5 Beauty & Aesthetics ................................................................................................................................ 5 Ancient beauty ideals .............................................................................................................................. 9 Beauty and fashion ............................................................................................................................... 13 A New Era: Introducing the slender beauty ideal ................................................................................. 19 Beauty ideals in contemporary society .................................................................................................. 23 The Beauty Myth................................................................................................................................... 29 THE STUDY OF THE HUMAN BODY ................................................................................................. 31 Queer theory ......................................................................................................................................... 40 THE BODY – AN EXTENSION OF THE SELF ................................................................................... 44 The self-reflexive process ...................................................................................................................... 46 THE NARCISSISTIC SELF ................................................................................................................... 49 Different types of narcissism ................................................................................................................. 53 Narcissism on social media ................................................................................................................... 55 ANALYSIS OF BODY MANIFESTATIONS IN CONTEMPORARY FICTION ................................ 56 Tales of the City .................................................................................................................................... 57 Anna Madrigal. ................................................................................................................................. 57 Mary Ann Singleton ........................................................................................................................... 64 Shawna Hawkins. .............................................................................................................................. 69 Jake Rodriguez. ................................................................................................................................. 74 Margot Park. ..................................................................................................................................... 79 Michael & Benjamin. ......................................................................................................................... 85 “Ani & Raven”. ................................................................................................................................. 90 The Queer Community ....................................................................................................................... 94 Insatiable .............................................................................................................................................. 96 Patty Bladell. ..................................................................................................................................... 97 Magnolia Barnard. .......................................................................................................................... 113 Stella Rose. ...................................................................................................................................... 116 Bob Armstrong. ............................................................................................................................... 117 Bob Barnard. ................................................................................................................................... 126 Coralee Armstrong .......................................................................................................................... 127 Angie Bladell. .................................................................................................................................. 132 Dietland .............................................................................................................................................. 133 THE COMPLEXITY OF CONTEMPORARY BEAUTY AND BODY IDEALS ............................... 147 CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................................... 155 Works Cited ........................................................................................................................................... 159 Illustrations ......................................................................................................................................... 164 Bjerge, Krüger, Torp 3 Angela Badalanovic Bjerge, Sine Dybdahl Krüger, Simon Henryk Torp Professor Mia Rendix Master’s Thesis, Engelsk Almen Aalborg University June 2nd 2020 The politics of beauty: How body manifestations within selected TV-series of popular culture challenge contemporary beauty ideals Throughout decades there have been various depictions of physical beauty that have been object for admiration and desire, expressed in portrayals of protagonists who exhibit innocence and high morals, rendering them beautiful and associating them with good. In contrast, evil is often depicted through characters with an ugly and unappealing physical appearance that mirror their immoral nature. This is a reoccurring theme within the fairytale genre, where the narrative revolves around the battle between these two opposing forces. Notably, this distinction between ugly and beautiful has transcended into contemporary, mainstream culture where the body is similarly judged based on its physical appearance, since it can create assumptions about an individual. As a result, contemporary society focuses heavily on physical appearance, which is particularly prominent on social media platforms where the body functions as a representation of the self, wherefore people seek to convey a socially desired self. Hence, the discourse on social media is centered around creating idealized presentations of the body, arguably fostering a culture that is obsessed with body images, wherefore people’s personal qualities can be overshadowed by the prominent focus on the body in postmodern society. In this connection, society promotes exclusive beauty that set an unrealistic standard of beauty through retouched advertising images, wherefore people are occupied with extensive self-contemplation
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