Media Image Analysis

In this advertisement released by the American Apparel clothing brand, we see a man dressed formally with his hands around the ankles of what appear to be a woman's legs. The woman doesn't seem to have pants on, and she is upside down with her legs spread apart. American Apparel probably chose to release this advertisement to make men feel like if they buy American Apparel clothing, they will be dominant and powerful, and women will do anything they want. This image is demeaning to women because it portrays them as objects that men can be dominant over if they are dressed nicely. It is also demeaning because the man is dressed nicely and the woman has no clothes on, which only further creates her to be a sexual object.

The Mask You Live In -- Film Blog

As children grow and mature, society teaches them what is and is not acceptable for their genders. We learn that pink is for girls, blue is for boys, dolls are for girls, and trucks are for boys. Before we even realize the differences between genders, we are told which one we are and how we are expected to act. The earliest memory I have of learning these unwritten rules begins when I was about 5 years old and my brother was 9. Being a boy, my brother loved pirates and enjoyed pretending our house was a pirate ship. I watched him put on pirate costumes, hold a hook in his hand, and pretend to fight enemies. He was my role model at the time, and I aspired to be like him. I would try to do exactly as he did and put a pirate costume on. Although I found nothing but joy in it, my brother thought it was weird. He would tell me that girls aren't supposed to be pirates, and that a princess was a better idea for me to be. I listened to my older brother because he knew better; I followed the gender stereotype because I thought it was the right thing to do.

My Favorite Book

When I was 15 years old, I read a book that made me look at the world and appreciate my life in a new and better way. This book was The Giver, written by Lois Lowry. The main character, Jonas, lives in a futuristic society they consider utopia, where people have no free choice, no memory of the past, and are unable to see any colors other than black and white. This does not bother him because they do not know any better, until one day Jonas is assigned with the job of the "receiver." He is the only person in society who will have memories of the past: everything from wars to birthday parties. When he receives the memories, he decides it is time for society to change and basically becomes a martyr in fighting for making life normal again.

This book changed how I perceived the world because I had a new appreciation for the freedom I have. I have the freedom to be who I am with no restrictions, the freedom to choose what I want to be when I grow up, and the freedom to see the world as it really is without filters. This book made me realize that in society, we have to accept the good with the bad because if we try to completely take away the bad, we will not appreciate the good.