Exploring Media Messages in Visual Culture:
How Media Affects Gender Ideals and Sexuality
![Picture](/uploads/7/9/3/2/7932760/1330730853.jpg)
Photograph; Sharif Hamza 2010
from Vogue Paris
Dec. 10- Jan 11 Issue
This research project focuses on exploring media messages in visual culture and how media affects gender ideals and sexuality, especially amongst school age children and adolescents. Society's interpretations of masculine and feminine behavior change with time and gender roles have been distinctly defined within given periods in history. Media messages from visual images in fashion advertisements and magazines, movies and television, and even music have indicated what society deemed acceptable in terms of gender and have also caused changes in this regard. The media is used to reinforce societies ideas on gender roles while adding emphasis on the aspects that may benefit a specific enterprise. In order to benefit their cause, the media escalates to an extreme of gender ideals by increasing the use of sexuality. My research illustrates that results of an increased use of sexuality to imply accepted gender ideals has a negative affect on society such as a decrease in over-exposed girls cognitive and emotional development, increasing cases of eating disorders, low self-esteem and depression, increased incidences of sexual harassment and violence, and even an increased demand for child pornography. As an art educator, my objective is to educate my students on the concept of visual literacy. Students who are aware of the affects of media messages will be better equipped to process the messages and maintain their own beliefs about gender ideals and sexuality.
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