Alina Yildirim
The Deadly Standard
The Deadly Standard critiques the pervasive influence of media in shaping and distorting societal beauty standards. These ideals, such as the measurements 36-24-36, are often unrealistic and impossible for most people to achieve. They are everywhere—in advertisements, movies, magazines, and social media—and they make many people feel like they are not good enough.
The project aims to show the dangerous effects of these beauty standards on individuals’ mental health and self-esteem, create a visual comparison between the “perfect body” ideal and the real emotions people feel when trying to meet these impossible expectations, and encourage viewers to question the media’s influence and think about how we can celebrate individuality and diversity instead. By addressing these issues, the project highlights the need for change in how society views and talks about beauty.
In my project, I created a two-sided visual display. On the left side, I represent the media’s portrayal of the “perfect body.” I used the measurements 36-24-36 in bold red text to symbolize this standard. These numbers are often advertised as the ideal proportions, especially for women, even though they are not realistic for most people. I paired these measurements with images of bodies that align with this ideal, often seen in media and advertisements.
On the right side, I show a much different picture. Here, individuals are looking at themselves in mirrors, but their reflections are filled with worry, sadness, and insecurity. These mirrors symbolize how people see themselves after being influenced by media standards. They feel like they don’t measure up, and this has a huge impact on their self-worth. By putting these two sides next to each other, I wanted to create a sharp contrast. The left side feels cold and artificial, while the right side is emotional and real. This comparison makes it clear how harmful and unrealistic these standards are.
The project critiques media manipulation by presenting a visual dichotomy. Instead of celebrating the “perfect body,” the project highlights how these ideals hurt people. The left side of the project directly copies the language of the media, using the same numbers and visuals that are often promoted. However, the right side flips the message. It shows how these standards lead to real pain and insecurity. This remixing technique allows the project to challenge the audience. It asks them to think about the damage these ideals cause and whether we should continue to accept them.
Remixing plays a key role in this project because it takes something we all recognize—images of the “perfect body”—and transforms it into a critique. By reimagining these familiar visuals, the project becomes both original and deeply personal. Identity is a central theme. The mirrors on the right side reflect the diverse experiences of real people. Unlike the left side, which tries to fit everyone into the same mold, the right side celebrates individuality. It reminds us that beauty is not about fitting into a narrow standard but about being confident and authentic.
This remix shows that originality can come from challenging what already exists. By taking something harmful and reworking it to include different perspectives, we can create something new that feels more honest and inclusive. Remix is a powerful way to critique because it uses the same tools as the original source but for a completely different purpose. In this project, the red text and idealized images are tools the media uses to sell beauty standards. By reusing these tools and placing them next to the emotional images on the right side, the project exposes the harmful effects of these standards.
The mirrors are especially important because they make the critique personal. Everyone can relate to looking in a mirror and feeling self-doubt. By showing this universal experience, the project connects with the audience on an emotional level. It invites them to think about how these beauty standards have affected their own lives and the lives of people they know.
This project builds on ideas we’ve discussed in class, especially about how identity and representation are shaped by media. It also allowed me to use the concept of remixing in a way that felt creative and meaningful. I started by researching the history of beauty standards and how they are presented in different forms of media. I looked at advertisements, social media trends, and the language used to describe the “perfect body.” My goal was to make the project visually striking and easy to understand. The bold red text on the left side grabs attention and represents the pressure of fitting into these standards. The mirrors on the right side show the emotional consequences of this pressure.
I wanted the audience to feel both discomfort and empathy. Discomfort when they see how limiting the beauty standards are and empathy when they see the struggles of the individuals on the right side. This mix of emotions is meant to inspire reflection and, hopefully, change. Working on this project has taught me that remixing is not just about changing an image or an idea; it’s about giving it new meaning. It’s a way to challenge what exists and propose something better.
The Deadly Standard is a critique of how the media shapes and manipulates our ideas of beauty, often in harmful ways. It focuses on the unrealistic “perfect” measurements of 36-24-36, which have been promoted for decades as the ideal body type. These numbers are everywhere in advertisements, movies, and on social media, making people believe this is the only way to look beautiful. However, this standard is not achievable for most people and causes many to feel insecure about their bodies. In the project, the perfect measurements are shown on one side, while the other side shows people looking into mirrors, struggling with feelings of doubt, sadness, and worry about their appearance. This contrast highlights how these beauty standards deeply affect mental health, making people feel like they aren’t good enough. The project encourages viewers to think critically about where these ideas of beauty come from and how they impact society. It asks why we allow the media to control how we define beauty and whether we can change this narrative. By celebrating diversity and accepting all body types, we can create a more compassionate and inclusive understanding of beauty, one that empowers people instead of making them feel ashamed. This project is a call to action to move away from harmful stereotypes and embrace the beauty in individuality.
Works Cited
Bordo, Susan. Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body. University of California Press, 2003.
Bordo’s work provides an in-depth critique of Western beauty standards and their impact on women’s lives. She examines how cultural ideals around the “perfect body” create harmful expectations, linking these to media portrayals. This source is highly relevant as it supports the idea that societal pressures harm individual self-esteem and perpetuate inequality, which aligns with the themes of The Deadly Standard.
Kilbourne, Jean. Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Image of Women. Cambridge Documentary Films, 2010.
This documentary explores how advertisements reinforce unrealistic beauty ideals and contribute to body dissatisfaction. Kilbourne highlights the repetitive nature of media messages that equate beauty with worth. This work is crucial to understanding how the media manipulates perceptions of beauty, a central theme in your project.
Pinterest. www.pinterest.com. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
This platform was the source for all images used in this project. Pinterest provided a wide variety of visuals related to body image, beauty standards, and self-perception.