Sarah Wills
Normal Extremes:
Cosmetic Surgery Television
The
article Normal Extremes: Cosmetic Surgery
Television discusses the
controversial topic of
plastic surgery. The rate of plastic surgery in America has significantly
increased over the past few decades. Although plastic surgery is still
disapproved by the majority of society, the author offers a new perspective.
Plastic surgery may seem only skin deep, but there are serious internal
conflicts surrounding the issue. For example, Luke, a formerly obese man,
completely transformed his way of living. He changed from a lethargic,
unmotivated person, to a health conscious, active new man. Despite the change
of lifestyle and major weight loss, Luke still had excess skin and flab as a
result of his weight loss. His body didn’t represent the new, transformed Luke.
Rather, it still portrayed a heavy, unmotivated person. Therefore, plastic
surgery helped Luke look and feel like a new man. One statement I found
interesting is that when Marilynda went through her physical transformation to
enhance her beauty, the author stated that she would probably never go back to
walmart. This statement makes is sound like just because Marilynda is now
“pretty”, she is over qualified to work at walmart. The article also details
the physical risks that come along with plastic surgery. The television program shows the painful
recoveries that the patients have. It demonstrates how it isn’t just easy to
have plastic surgery, but there is a whole process that the patients must go
through.
Why is plastic surgery not socially acceptable? Despite
the arguments that the author makes about the benefits of plastic surgery,
there are still negative aspects of transforming physical looks. Socioeconomics
is a factor when it comes to plastic surgery. Being able to modify physical
characteristics is not a necessity, therefore people who don’t have the means
to do so, cannot have the surgery. This causes a split between the upper class
and the lower class.
‘The poor have the right to be
beautiful’: cosmetic surgery in neoliberal Brazil
This article discusses the growing trend of plastic
surgery in Brazil. Also, how plastic surgery relates to the socio-economic
status of the people in Brazil. It is evident that plastic surgery is much more
socially acceptable in Brazil rather than in the United States. Brazilians view
plastic surgery as women taking control of their bodies and gaining power. For
example, a prettier woman is more likely to get a job, therefore plastic
surgery enhances employment possibilities. So, this is why is some places
plastic surgery is made feasible for people of a lower class. As the article
states, there is a split between two sectors of wealth and the health-care
system is divided within the country. This creates many problems amongst the
people of Brazil and causes inequalities. So, some people are given a better
shot at economic success with regards to cosmetic surgery.
Personally, I feel that the emphasis on physical
appearance in Brazil is creating a bigger split between the different social
classes. Ideally, a person who is best fit for a position would get the job
over some one that is more aesthetically pleasing. The article makes s clear
that this is not the case in Brazil, Therefore, rather than providing the funds
for plastic surgery, maybe a societal change would be more beneficial to the
economic growth of the country
I like how Sarah points out how big it is the focus on looking good in Brazil. People can be extremely superficial by giving preference to a person's looks rather than his or hers curriculum. But I'd also like to point out that this isn't only a problem in Brazil, but also in the US. For example, in the Extreme Makeover article the lady who worked at Walmart after her surgery she was told that she would be less likely to be working there now.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Sarah in that a “societal change would be more beneficial to the economic growth of the country”, but that is extremely unlikely. However, we must take into account that the job sphere in Brazil is extremely different that that of the US. The majority of the population is in poverty and has little education, so creating a résumé that would make one best fit for a job is extremely unlikely. Beauty could possibly be a way out of a bad economic and social situation in Brazil and if free plastic surgery is one way to get there then so be it.
ReplyDelete-Zeina
Annie Husted
ReplyDeleteIn Sarah’s discussion of the article “Normal Extremes,” she talked about how “Plastic surgery may only seem skin deep, but there are serious internal conflicts surrounding the issue.” As this became evident in the article, I wondered why more people are resorting to such drastic, painful surgeries to solve their problems, instead of seeking clinical help. I think that by the media displaying shows to the public such as Extreme Makeover, it is sending out a skewed message to American viewers everywhere. It is telling the viewers that if the contestants on the shows can go from being at their lowest to becoming a new, happy person through the body procedures they undergo, then anyone who is unhappy can undergo body procedures to change their life-satisfaction. In Sarah’s assessment of “The Poor Have the Right to be Beautiful,” she discusses the prevalence of cosmetic surgery in Brazil and the booming industry it thrives off of. It’s interesting how Sarah highlights the fundamental differences between cosmetic surgery in the United States versus in Brazil. In Brazil, you seem to attain a certain amount of power by having these cosmetic procedures done to you--helping you in the job market, etc. Where as in the United States, I think that more and more plastic surgery is associated with a different connotation, one that tells the world you are insecure.
Sarah points out an important issue that is discussed in both of these articles: that if women "fix" their beauty they will have better job opportunities. I like when Sarah says, "when Marilynda went through her physical transformation to enhance her beauty, the author stated that she would probably never go back to walmart. This statement makes is sound like just because Marilynda is now “pretty”, she is over qualified to work at walmart." This is sending the message that walmart employees are poor and ugly when in reality a work place should not determine your looks or social status. I also agree with Sarah's point that the rise in plastic surgery is increasing the gap between social classes. Last year I worked at a clothing store in a mall, does this mean that I am too ugly to be qualified to work anywhere else? In the United States plastic surgery isn't available to everyone. This, therefore, sends the message that if you do not have plastic surgery, you are not beautiful and you cannot succeed in life, which is completely untrue.
ReplyDeleteJill Dahrooge
sarah points out many good things, including the points about Brazil and the popularity of plastic surgery in Brazil. i learned from Aline in class that there was a high popularity of plastic surgery and this article really strengthens my belief. it is described, in Barzil, as a women taking care and taking charge of her body, this is the main reason in brazil. but also it is important to state the difference between brazil and america which sarah does well.
ReplyDelete-bobby
Jane Vinocur
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sarah that a societal change would be more beneficial to the economic growth of the country. If they instead focused on who does the better work rather than focusing on who looks better doing the work, then it would be more productive, more work would get done, and there would be less of an emphasis on things that don’t, in the grand scheme of things, matter in an office, like appearance.