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Apr
19
Written by:
Lainey Bancroft
Sunday, April 19, 2009 12:00 AM
And the impact it has on young women.
Recently a group of grade twelve students were asked to research current magazine campaigns and explore the how they affect body image.
The following picture was submitted by a creative student who felt opinions could be better expressed through art than through the required 500-700 words.
My thighs are too fat! My skin is the wrong shade! My arms are not toned! My hair is not blonde! I don't have bee-stung lips! I am imprisoned in a physical self that will never be the physical ideal!
Wow.
To bring this 'round to writing a little, I'll admit, I've been guilty of the odd heroine with unruly hair. Like, OMG, what a flaw! But I try very hard to write characters who have real issues. Bigger concerns than the size of their thighs.
How 'bout you? Ya keeping it real in your writing?
MOMMY BRAG ALERT: Artwork coutesy of Groovy Girl Bancroft, who scored an A+ in marketing as well as an honorable mention from the art department.
25 comment(s) so far...
Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
Your daughter's picture is BRILLIANT! So powerful and it gets across exactly what she intended. Bravo!
I try to write "flaws," if you want to call them that, into my heroines, because I want my characters to be real. Sh**, we all have flaws.
So, in answer to your question: I sure hope I'm keeping it real. :-)
By Sandy James on
Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:46 PM
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You're there, Sandy!
Three books in to you writing and I KNOW you write PEOPLE, not stereotypes. You're doing a great job of keeping it real!
(ps, thanks for the kind word to Groovy. I'd originally just posted the pic, not what she hoped to convey, from the caption she'd included, and she wasn't happy about that. She does not recognize her own talent and wanted me to spell it out with the 'fat thighs' etc. caption. I personally think most people--REAL people--would have gotten the message without, but hey, it's her pic and she is pretty cheap about sharing so I sent it out in a way to make her happy, lol)
By Lainey on
Sunday, April 19, 2009 7:53 PM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
I agree with Sandy. Groovy Girl's picture is amazing! The caption is perfect, too.
I almost never have gorgeous heroines -- except this last one. But the gorgeous women in my wipy have issues too. Like being aliens.
By Edie on
Monday, April 20, 2009 6:32 AM
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LOL, Edie
Yep, being an alien would rank in the 'major issue category'
By Lainey on
Monday, April 20, 2009 6:43 AM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
She's a talented girl, Mommy Lainey, and you've every right to brag.
By Monya on
Monday, April 20, 2009 9:12 AM
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Thanks, Monya!
I think she's pretty clever. =)
I keep trying to talk her into illustrating children's books or starting her own comic strip, but unfortunately she's not very good about going 'public' with what she thinks of as her 'hobby'.
By Lainey on
Monday, April 20, 2009 9:15 AM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
I think she did a terrific job and you as her mother have every right to brag. She has a real future with her artistic talent.
By Kathleen on
Monday, April 20, 2009 11:58 AM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
One of my heroines mentions having ten pounds she can't lose and plain hair and prefers baggy clothes that hide her shape and thinks a guy is out of his mind when he mentions she could be a model for his paintings. She has very real issues and looks are at the bottom of that list.
Another is a very pretty, thin girl but has trouble keeping enough weight on to be healthy and gets sick of guys hitting on her only for her build, shunning men because of it. She feels she has many more flaws than others see.
Yes, I like it real. It's important for young people to read about real women with real issues and be able to admire them for who they are inside.
The artwork is incredible and I didn't need the written explanation to know what she meant. Major Kudos to her!
By LK Hunsaker on
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:02 PM
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Hi Kathleen
and welcome!
I always thought she'd be an artist, from the time she picked up her first crayon. She's done some incredible paintings, tons of cartooning and can charcoal sketch a face accurately in minutes. Ironically, the better she got the less inclined she became to pursue it seriously. She claims she gets too much pleasure from it as a hobby and a distraction to want to make it a career she 'has' to do. Makes sense...but I still wish she'd get some of her terrific stuff out there in some form or another. Maybe someday.
By Lainey on
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:13 PM
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Hi, LK
and welcome. Sounds like you're doing a great job of keeping ti real. =)
Thanks for saying you didn't need the description to get the message. I'll tell Groovy Girl. I think she underestimates her abilities. She has great confidence in other areas but I think this one is too 'close to her heart' for her to view clearly.
By Lainey on
Monday, April 20, 2009 2:16 PM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
great blog Lainey! Hope to see ya soon!
By Jules on
Monday, April 20, 2009 3:19 PM
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Hey, Jules!
Most definitely! I need to email you. Your band gig is coming up quick. Whee! Night out with a Rock Star Author! =)
By Lainey on
Monday, April 20, 2009 3:21 PM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
That is an absolutely inspired picture! Wow--she nailed it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and her artwork...I'm really impressed!
By Marilyn Brant on
Monday, April 20, 2009 7:16 PM
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Thanks Marilyn...
Glad you liked it. I thought she did a good job. Good enough to have me going, "Honey, are you okay?" Because aside from the tape and stitches, this is fairly self-portrait--she is long and lean, black haired and olive skinned...
She laughed at me. What a relief. lol
By Lainey on
Monday, April 20, 2009 7:25 PM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
Hi, Lainey! I left a comment yesterday...guess it didn't go through. :( Groovy Girl totally rocks! She's really talented! And smart!
By Robin on
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:06 AM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
I love the picture...wow! Girls got talent! Brag away, mom...
By Debra Kayn on
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:06 AM
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Robin...
So sorry. :(
I love getting your 'Robin Ray' comments. No idea what 'rotten blog' has against you and Juliana (Jules) but it frequently misses you both???? Grr.
And thanks. :)
By Lainey on
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:09 AM
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Thanks Debra :)
I love bragging about my kids...much more than I enjoy mentioning my writing. lol
By Lainey on
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:10 AM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
You must be so proud of her--I am!
By Pamela Cayne on
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 2:31 PM
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Thanks, Pam!
What a cool thing to say.
I'll make her come read all the sweet comments. She'll probably get embarrassed and swear at me. =)
By Lainey on
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 2:34 PM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
Oh yeah, totally. The picture is a very strong message. I totally got the meaning without the comments. That's pretty awesome! Wow!
By Spy Scribbler on
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 7:18 AM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
Lainey, all I can say is WOW!!! Groovy Girl has got talent...
By Tracy on
Friday, April 24, 2009 6:43 AM
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Isn't it, Spy?
Sorta creepy/compelling.
And I'm so glad you've all said you 'got' the message. Now maybe she'll let me share more. =)
By Lainey on
Friday, April 24, 2009 6:45 AM
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Hi Tracy!
Yep. I think so, too.
And not just because I'm her mom ;-)
By Lainey on
Friday, April 24, 2009 6:49 AM
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Re: A Glimpse At Marketing...
It was a very nice. This really catches one's attention. It has a deeper meaning that wants to tell anybody. We have to be contented of what we have and if there is still a chance, we can correct and make things in order.
By Infusionsoft Expert on
Thursday, April 22, 2010 5:37 PM
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