Jean Kilbourne comments that the impossible, ideal image presented by advertiser

Question

Jean Kilbourne comments that the impossible, ideal image presented by advertisers "wouldn't matter so much if it didn't connect with the core belief of American culture that such transformation is possible; that we can look like this if we just try hard enough, buy the right products. If we're not beautiful, or thin, or rich, or successful, t's because we're just not trying hard enough.Explore this statement further. In what ways is transformation a central principle of American society? What is the connection between advertising's impossible image of ideal beauty and the American belief in transformation? In what ways does this belief affect the way you view your own body and/or people who are overweight?

Explanation / Answer

In American culture, there is a belief that body transformation is possible and one needs to try hard enough for it. The body transformations are often part of a makeover that presents bodies as beautiful, individual and improved. If Americans, feel that the bodily image portrayed in the advertisements is possible to achieve, it would connect to them, otherwise not. If the same is felt as achievable by an overweight person, but feels that he is not trying hard enough, then it may lead to internal attribution and negative feelings about oneself. Few may take it as a motivation, bounce back and work on it to remove the unpleasant image of overweight and achieve the body portrayed in advertisements.

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