From Mannequins to Animation: The Evolution of Women in Media
“Our ideas of what appears most real to us vary with the times, the technology available, and our recollections of realism….it is precisely the imperfections of realism and its relativism that make it a compelling aesthetic” (Schneider 5). For this project, I wanted to capture the impact of mannequins, not just on women but also in media. The creation of the mannequin set in stone an idealized body image for women that is almost impossible to achieve; it fabricated a female body that is very tall and thin. For years we have seen this image of women in the fashion industry, but the rise in popularity of dolls and breakthrough of animated films has increased its appearance in women’s lives. Not only women, however, but little girls as well. The exposure of this idealized body image, especially from such a young age, is likely to create a feeling of unfamiliarity between a girl and her body. It splits her into two versions: the version of herself as she is and the version of herself she sees portrayed in the media. If the dolls she plays with and the princesses she adores all look the same, why shouldn’t she look like them? The complex relationship between real girls and fabricated girls arises an uncanny feeling. This collage is meant to demonstrate that feeling. It is also meant to demonstrate the evolution from mannequin to animated women. I placed the mannequins at the bottom to symbolize precisely that, and also to demonstrate how present-day representations of women have more of an impact. The woman looking up at the animated characters rather than down at the mannequins shows that she is more affected by them. Also, that she used to look up to them. Many little girls see animated characters as idols and greatly admire them, but this feeling changes as the girls grow into women and into their bodies. The animated characters in the woman’s tear are meant to symbolize the torment they bring upon her, even if they used to comfort her in her childhood. Although mannequins also have an impact on woman they have become more of a foundation, hence their placement at the bottom. Going back to Schneider’s quote, our ideas of realism vary with time and technology. Back when mannequins were debuted they were the model of realism, but as time passed and technology advanced that idea changed. Now our ideas of what appears real to us lies within fictional woman and plastic dolls, because they exert more influence on today’s society. Overall, this collage is meant to demonstrate the impact of media on women, as well as the split identity it creates within them. The woman crying while looking up represents the physical self, while the fabricated woman around her represent the version of herself she wants to be.