Fashion Media Audience - Research Paper Example

Running head: Fashion Media Fashion Media Fashion is a very popular trend, especially with regards to dressing, accessories and behavior. Fashion adds glamour which adds sex appeal to a dress. Fashion includes, ages of users, designs of dresses, colors of dresses, the styles of dresses etc. Fashion is followed by a lot of people over the globe, but some may tend to ignore it as they think it is unnecessary. With regards to the fashion media, the audiences involved may be passive or manipulated. Passive audience tend to accept what is happening without giving much attention to the subject, whereas audiences who manipulate, tend to pin point, criticize and control what’s happening. They tend to rule the society and dominate the trends by competition and criticism. Magazines, blogs, TV commercials, TV shows etc are the ways through which an individual gets exposure to fashion media. Besides that, daily interaction with friends and family members also has a great impact on the change of fashion and trends. Fashion rules the society and influences each and every member directly or indirectly in a number of ways. Fashion can have certain negative and positive effects on the society. Media audiences, who are passive, react that way because they think that fashion is merely a waste of time, money and resources and should not be given much importance. They believe that fashion destroys children. When it comes to teenage girls, it pressurizes them to adapt what’s in the fashion industry even if it cost to jeopardize their health. When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty Woody Allen in [Jen]. Young overweighed girls face bullying due to which they simply stop eating to get really skinny just like magazine models and hence face eating disorder and depression. Self esteem issues and lack of confidences also occur We turn skeletons into goddesses, and look to them as if they might teach us how not to need (Anonymous). Since the new fashion of size zero has become popular, young girl starve them selves so much that doesn’t only makes them thin, but they also get rid of many essential vitamins and minerals. The famous ongoing quote, "it's in to be thin" does not only results in eating disorders, but also is very dangerous for the bones. Hence the passive audiences reject certain harmful fashion and pay much emphasis on their health by having all the essential food. A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic G.B. Shaw in[Fre94] Fashion media depicts glamour, luxury and expensive items. The other reason why a person just accept but don’t apply, is that they lack financial stability and thus prefer staying away from all the glamorous things exposed by the fashion media. They care less about the trends and styles and are for that reason even cut off the society. As most of the manipulated audience believe: Luxury is the opportunity to experience quality, be it a place, a person or an object [Kea10] Even some riches, deny spending money on fashion as they believe that it is ever changing, thus is a mere waste of money. They would rather prefer giving away money to charity and make God happy rather than spending money on worldly goods. Some people, by the fear of robbery or snatching of goods, don’t buy or get into expensive, fashionable jewelry as they believe that it is not safe enough to buy. So they don’t really care what jewelry is in, they simply stay away from it. People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile Lee Mildon in [Bar] People act passively towards the fashion industry and trends because they believe that it is not fair for a person to be judged by his looks rather than what lies inside. They highly believe that this is poisonous for the society as it just limits a person’s value to clothing and style, not on how a person is by nature. There are too many people, and too few human beings (Zend) People believe that fashion makes people materialistic and self obsessed. It destroys feelings and emotions. They act passively towards fashion trends as they find fashion unhealthy for health. Medical researched prove that, meralgia paresthetica, a condition, can occur by wearing skin tight jeans. It happens due to the pressure caused under the waist belt due to which a nerve under the hipbone is pinched. They would rather prefer to stay healthy than to endanger their health for fashion. Irritable bowel syndrome and constipation caused by wearing tight pushup bras, neck strain, and shoulder tendonitis, by heavy huge handbags are some of the unhealthy effects caused by fashion. Passive audiences also believe that fashion destroys the discipline of the society. Young girls wearing shirts and dresses with deep neck to intentionally expose their body parts are not the part of a well civilized society. Due to this, they get spoiled and start getting addicted to many other unhealthy things like dugs and alcohol. Parents who are against this trend, tend to keep their children conservative and under control and they don’t pay much attention to the different poisonous fashion trends. Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society Mark Twain in [Sta09]. The manipulated group tends to wear explosive clothes in order to impress boys and get in with them. They think that it is cool to wear short skirts and deep necks. The passive audience on the other hand thinks this act of exposing as a sin and trouble for the society. This group of people mainly belongs to the Islamic religion, to tend to cover their body parts. Passive people don’t wear fitted clothes as they are conscious about their safety and security. They believe that many rapist and kidnappers go after girls who are explosive it makes their work easier. Teenagers indulging in such unhealthy and poisonous activities of having drugs and alcohol are very dangerous to the society as they become an unwanted role model for the upcoming younger generations. Passive audiences for the sake of their societies and generations, tend to ignore fashion. They believe that by fashion, people adapt the styles of their opposite sex which is against the rule of society. Ear piercing, which was just for women, is now very commonly done by men and they find pleasure in doing it. Besides this, short hair, which was the identity of men, is no more to be found. Men let their hair grown and women cut their hair till their ears. Guys grow their hair long, by watching their favorite wrestlers like, riple H, Edge and Chris Jericho, on TV, who have their hair grown till their back. These TV icons have a great influence on young generations, as children and adults look up to them for fashion advice and trends. Children and teems also think that growing their hair will attract girls and they would have a stronger chance on relationships. A confidence problem exists on the part of the people of the region who desire democratic rule in principle, but remain suspicious of both the fashion with which democratization is presented and the purposes of the democratic world (Recep Tayyip Erdogan). Parents of passive group of people believe, that guys with long hair are bikers, gangsters , dirty and unclean, so that’s why, they keep their children away from this trends, as they think that it would have a negative affect on his personality. Manipulated audience believes that, “A man without hair is like a tree without leaves.” And hence, should be grown long. Apart from that, passive people think that growing hair s the symbol of a gay and should not be adopted at any case. For women, growing hair short is considered as a great trend, especially when it comes to women who are middle aged. They think it is easier to manage and give a sober and a clean look. If you are not in fashion, you are nobody Lord Chesterfield in [Ton05]. They find this trend to be extremely dangerous to the society and thus stay away from it Thus this group of passive audience tends to ignore all the trends and styles in order to save their generation from getting spoiled and out of hands. They prefer their own traditional styles of dressing rather than adopting other styles as they don’t see any thing positive in it. Do not trouble yourself much to get new things, whether clothes or friends... Sell your clothes and keep your thoughts Thoreau in [How93] When it comes to fashion, a group of people take the lead and highly appreciate to put forward their thought. This group of people is called manipulated audience. They love to rule the society and the fashion trends according to their own way and tend to brainwash other people’s mind according to their own comfort. They believe that fashion is a great way to express our individual style, social progress, social thoughts and social wealth. They believe that it is an excellent way to express our own personality and to interact with the society. Dressing is a way of life Yves Saint Laurent in [Ang] Most of the fashion media audiences are teenagers. They tend to adopt what’s in and trendy even if it’s unhealthy. They just don’t care but want to make them selves look gorgeous and for that, they could even be rude and criticizing. Fashion is a crucial part for men, women and children when it comes to the manipulated audience. Manipulated fashion audiences are self obsessed. They dress them selves to make themselves look good in front of their loved one’s and spouse. They do manly for their own person enjoyment and satisfaction. They consider fashion the way towards money, fame and respect. They believe that a person can get a job easily if that person is dressed according to the trends as; first impression is the last impression. Opposite of these people are the passive audiences, they believe that the best way to impress people is by humble nature and not by fashion. A person should be mentally strong and attentive rather than being physically attractive to get a job. Passive people hate the idea of self glamorizing and showing off in society as they strongly believe that this act leads to class difference in society. I don't believe in dressing up reality. I don't believe in using makeup to make things look smoother Lou Reed in [Gab98]. In contrast to the passive group of individuals, manipulated people find fashion as an asset to the society. Business men tend to dress up to show their status. They prefer suits for work and would wear belt, which would go well with their shoes. They also prefer light gold or silver jewelry and also stylish watch and goggles. The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize[Her89]. When it comes to teenagers, they can wear what ever they like. There are no major restrictions on their clothing and the colors they choose. They are most likely to adapt and accept changes in clothing and other accessories. They are the major ones to criticize their friends and teach them fashion, and like to rule the trends by exposing them to the society. Teenagers of passive and manipulated audiences are not likely to stay together as they have a whole different outlook towards fashion. The customs and fashions of men change like leaves on the bough, some of which go and others come - Dante Alighieri [Man07] Manipulated media audiences look up to celebrities and fashion icon. They tend to be like them and dress like them as they consider that by dressing like them, they could reach their status. Internet, magazines, TV, social networking play a major role in promoting fashion trends for the manipulated audiences. Teenagers, men, women read and watch about certain new trends that they could apply in their dressing. On one hand, teenagers of passive audiences are restricted and do not care much, whereas on the other hand, those manipulated think of fashion all the time. When it comes to elderly people, manipulated old audience show keen interest in dressing. They know what style would suite them and what colors would work best for them. They don’t choose teenage clothes or clothes with very bright colors, rather, would go for some sober lighter shades. They would prefer wearing full length clothes rather than mini skirts as it exposes their loose body skin. They prefer flat coat shoes rather than heels and would prefer carrying a graceful handbag. Tattoos and piercing is also an important part of manipulated fashion media audience’s life. They learned this trend through television when their favorite TV personalities started doing it. Male members usually get their tattoos on shoulders and arms, while the female members prefer on feet, back and shoulders. Romantic designs, religious designs, Natural pictures designs dragon design and butterflies picture are very common. Eyebrow and ear piercing are very common trend among them. Some teenagers wear jewelry in their eyebrows. Today, people with tattoos, body piercing, and brands are everywhere. They are shown in advertisements, on television shows, and in magazine and newspaper photographs. Even a glamorous toy icon, Barbie, comes with temporary tattoos[Kat]. Apart for just fun, many people get tattoos to show their passion for certain things. Like if a person loves music, he could possibly get certain music nodes printed on his body. Or if a person loves spot, he could get a symbol on his body. Besides certain symbols or pictures, certain people get quotations written on their body thought tattoos. These get quotations in order to inspire them selves and others. Certain audiences got the tattoo of ‘stay strong’ after an American actress, singer Demi Lovato got it. Apart from these people, certain people consider tattoos as sin. These people come under assertive audience. For them, tattoos result in changing God’s creation. Thus these people don’t care what tattoo styles are in or how cool a tattoo is shown on TV. Certain people in the assertive audiences believe that tattoos are highly dangerous for health. They can cause irritation, allergies and skin infection. It is not acceptable for minors to get a tattoo in certain states. Parents believe that children should not be given freedom to do this stuff as from then; they start taking decisions themselves and become impatient for something new. The passive and manipulated audiences have a completely opposite outlook on fashion and dressing up. Passive audiences are kicked out of the society in terms of fashion by the manipulated audiences. Passive audiences live in their own individual world which is far away from all the trends and different styles, whereas the manipulated audiences breadth fashion. Fashion means world to them and thus always find new ways to dress up and dress down. They like to criticize styles they don’t like, and highly rule their society. I do love shoes that make my legs longer. I have the upper body of someone who's 5ft 8in, so high heels help me even out the discrepancy - Amy Adams[Sea10]. Women of passive group of people don’t really enjoy gorgeous high heels. They don’t like wearing it as it has certain negative affects on your health. Leg and back pain are some of the most common affects caused by high heels. Besides that, it increases the pressure on your fore-foot as the direction of your feet goes down while wearing heels. They also think that for being beautiful, it is not important to wear heels I used to wear heels because I wanted to show people I wasn't ashamed of being tall. But I don't wear them any more because you don't have to wear heels to be beautiful. I can't even remember the last time I wore heels (Elle Macpherson) To overcome that, lower part of your body leans forward and the upper part backwards, hence destroys the normal posture of your body. On contrary to that, manipulated group of audience, think that wearing high heels is cool and give you confidence as it makes you look taller and slim. References Jen: , (Gardiner), Fre94: , (Davis, 1994, p. 109), Kea10: , (Reeves, 2010), Bar: , (Bartel, 2006, p. 15), Sta09: , (LoAlbo, 2009, p. 239), Ton05: , (Bennett, Grossberg, Morris, & Williams, 2005, p. 126), How93: , (Mansfield, 1993, p. 219), Ang: , (Marshall, 2008, p. 111), Gab98: , (Gabriella, 1998), Her89: , (Harling, 1989), Man07: , (Manford's magazine, 2007, p. 111), Kat: , (Gay & Whittington, 2002, p. 1772), Sea10: , (Macaulay, 2010), Read More