Throughout the semester, prompts based on class readings, screenings, lectures, and discussions will be posted on this blog. Responses will be graded on their level of critical thinking, pertinence, engagement with class texts, and grammar/spelling/proofing/
length. Be sure to read the prompt carefully and fully engage with the content of the class materials. At the bottom of your response, type your FIRST NAME and the FIRST INITIAL OF YOUR LAST NAME (e.g. Claudia Z.).
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Week Six: Response 6.1
Describe Pozner’s analysis of Tyra Banks and Banks’
mixed messages (including examples).
Tyra Banks, creator and host of America’s Next Top Model, has modeled since the young age of 15, and in many ways, the fashion industry has shaped Tyra Banks view of herself, and the way she approaches the world. On her show ANTM, Tyra often gives mixed messages to her model mentees; one message is filled with body positivity and self-love, and another, which is filled with self-hatred, white-washed ideal standards, and fat shaming. Tyra’s duality on the show ANTM is particularly detrimental to African-American women because the show reinforces the humiliating stereotypes of Black women in society. The best portrayal of Tyra Bank’s mixed messages is shown in her talk show titled, “The Tyra Show.” In one particular episode, Tyra was furious that the paparazzi fat shamed her after they photographed her in an unflattering way. Tyra famously states, “Kiss my fat ass,” to the media and the paparazzi. This message of body positively is extremely contradictory to the statements and ideas that she promotes on America’s Next Top Model, where she constantly humiliates the contestants. For example, ANTM forces the models to weight and measure themselves, and the show only allows women of a certain size to enter the competition. In fact, ANTM had never featured a plus size model, until Whitney Thompson, who was cast several seasons into the show. The show is also known for promoting the “ideal” model body type, which is often almost anorexic and extremely thin. In this way, Tyra is contradictory because she presents herself as body positive, yet she is always seen breaking down and humiliating the women on the show for their weight. When it comes to Tyra Banks portrayal of African-Americans, it can be extremely degrading, and often reinforces negative stereotypes. Pozner questions Tyra’s motives stating, “Why would a powerful black model who seems to really want the best for young women of color, subject them to such demeaning double standards.” Perhaps one of the most extreme forms of humiliation that Tyra subjects African-American women to is the model makeover. Pozner states that the makeovers extinguish the model’s individuality, and are often shown white-washing many of the black models. ANTM is known for giving black women long blonde hair, buzz cuts, or extreme weaves. If the girl has a weave before she gets makeover, the hosts are shown degrading her and calling her hair “ghetto,” if the weave isn’t properly installed. The show also shaved one model’s head, after they claimed her hair was too damaged to fix, which was extremely upsetting to the model. It seems that Tyra Banks has a form of Stockholm syndrome with the fashion industry because she became famous due to modeling, yet does not agree with all the practices of the fashion industry. This leads Tyra to give off many mixed messages, especially about black women, who are often treated terribly in the fashion industry and on her show. Tyra has a lot of internalized racism because she was in the fashion industry at such a young age, and unfortunately her show reinforces some of the unhealthy standards that the fashion industry has laid out.
In Pozner's analysis of Tyra Banks, he criticizes her projection of who she is and what she stands for within the lines of her modeling career, her race, and her position she holds not only in society but also in the modeling industry. Pozner in a way displays Tyra Banks as an influential icon who contradicts what she stands for through her actions in both her shows that she hosted, America’s Next Top Model and The Tyra Show. Being that she is an African American woman who grew up with no money, Tyra Banks became the representative for minority women all over the world who had dreams of becoming just as famous as her. In Pozner’s analysis of Tyra Banks, she became the stepping stool for these women with the same dream but at the same time she became the judgmental barrier that kept them from succeeding in different aspects of life. Being that one of Pozner’s titles of a certain section in Chapter 6 was called “Tyra Banks: Fahsion Victim Turned into Perpetrator”, says it all. In this section of the chapter, Pozner speaks about the many ways Banks contradicts her voiced opinion to society on how much she cares about girls and their self-esteem when in reality, on live national television, she becomes the perpetrator and executioner of her own beliefs. Pozner’s stated his theory: “I believe she has grown up mentally colonized by fashion and beauty advertisers, leaving her with something akin to Stockholm syndrome”. Principally, Pozner believes that Banks does have a great concern for girls and their self-esteem but her beliefs are suppressed by the modeling industry. Banks can have her own beliefs in what is right but she has to somehow round back to who she “really is” in the modeling industry and what is “right” in their eyes in order to “survive”.
Tyra Banks, creator and host of America’s Next Top Model, has modeled since the young age of 15, and in many ways, the fashion industry has shaped Tyra Banks view of herself, and the way she approaches the world. On her show ANTM, Tyra often gives mixed messages to her model mentees; one message is filled with body positivity and self-love, and another, which is filled with self-hatred, white-washed ideal standards, and fat shaming. Tyra’s duality on the show ANTM is particularly detrimental to African-American women because the show reinforces the humiliating stereotypes of Black women in society.
ReplyDeleteThe best portrayal of Tyra Bank’s mixed messages is shown in her talk show titled, “The Tyra Show.” In one particular episode, Tyra was furious that the paparazzi fat shamed her after they photographed her in an unflattering way. Tyra famously states, “Kiss my fat ass,” to the media and the paparazzi. This message of body positively is extremely contradictory to the statements and ideas that she promotes on America’s Next Top Model, where she constantly humiliates the contestants. For example, ANTM forces the models to weight and measure themselves, and the show only allows women of a certain size to enter the competition. In fact, ANTM had never featured a plus size model, until Whitney Thompson, who was cast several seasons into the show. The show is also known for promoting the “ideal” model body type, which is often almost anorexic and extremely thin. In this way, Tyra is contradictory because she presents herself as body positive, yet she is always seen breaking down and humiliating the women on the show for their weight.
When it comes to Tyra Banks portrayal of African-Americans, it can be extremely degrading, and often reinforces negative stereotypes. Pozner questions Tyra’s motives stating, “Why would a powerful black model who seems to really want the best for young women of color, subject them to such demeaning double standards.” Perhaps one of the most extreme forms of humiliation that Tyra subjects African-American women to is the model makeover. Pozner states that the makeovers extinguish the model’s individuality, and are often shown white-washing many of the black models. ANTM is known for giving black women long blonde hair, buzz cuts, or extreme weaves. If the girl has a weave before she gets makeover, the hosts are shown degrading her and calling her hair “ghetto,” if the weave isn’t properly installed. The show also shaved one model’s head, after they claimed her hair was too damaged to fix, which was extremely upsetting to the model.
It seems that Tyra Banks has a form of Stockholm syndrome with the fashion industry because she became famous due to modeling, yet does not agree with all the practices of the fashion industry. This leads Tyra to give off many mixed messages, especially about black women, who are often treated terribly in the fashion industry and on her show. Tyra has a lot of internalized racism because she was in the fashion industry at such a young age, and unfortunately her show reinforces some of the unhealthy standards that the fashion industry has laid out.
Anisa S
In Pozner's analysis of Tyra Banks, he criticizes her projection of who she is and what she stands for within the lines of her modeling career, her race, and her position she holds not only in society but also in the modeling industry. Pozner in a way displays Tyra Banks as an influential icon who contradicts what she stands for through her actions in both her shows that she hosted, America’s Next Top Model and The Tyra Show. Being that she is an African American woman who grew up with no money, Tyra Banks became the representative for minority women all over the world who had dreams of becoming just as famous as her. In Pozner’s analysis of Tyra Banks, she became the stepping stool for these women with the same dream but at the same time she became the judgmental barrier that kept them from succeeding in different aspects of life.
ReplyDeleteBeing that one of Pozner’s titles of a certain section in Chapter 6 was called “Tyra Banks: Fahsion Victim Turned into Perpetrator”, says it all. In this section of the chapter, Pozner speaks about the many ways Banks contradicts her voiced opinion to society on how much she cares about girls and their self-esteem when in reality, on live national television, she becomes the perpetrator and executioner of her own beliefs. Pozner’s stated his theory: “I believe she has grown up mentally colonized by fashion and beauty advertisers, leaving her with something akin to Stockholm syndrome”. Principally, Pozner believes that Banks does have a great concern for girls and their self-esteem but her beliefs are suppressed by the modeling industry. Banks can have her own beliefs in what is right but she has to somehow round back to who she “really is” in the modeling industry and what is “right” in their eyes in order to “survive”.
Brianna F.