Illustrating sexualization in pop culture

[Erika Jane]

Greetings. I am teaching at the college level for the first time, and am developing my materials for the Pop Culture: Sexualization unit for an intro level Women's Studies course... I was thinking I would show the Onslaught ad from the Dove Campaign to spark some dialog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei6JvK0W60I

Questions for you:
I am worried students may have seen Onslaught before and will not be as affected by it. Is it possibly a tired example already?

Other ideas for short video clips or illustrations from pop culture that could spark discussion on sexualization (I know there are hundreds of examples, just looking for ideas)?

[Erika Jane]

Oh NO! So sad! I didn't see that!

...yeah, keep 'em comin'-- I dont know where you find this stuff, but it is really interesting. Thanks again for sharing.

[Ryan Goble]

Check this new lesson plan

TODAY'S LESSON PLAN:
TOY STORIES: Exploring the Cultural Significance of Favorite Playthings

BASED ON THE ARTICLE:
Barbie at 50: Unwrinkled and None the Wiser, By MARY JO MURPHY,March 6, 2009
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20090306...

RRG:)

[Diane D]

It's interesting that this article traces Barbie through the years and compares her to the social happenings of women at the time. While for a time (late 60s I'd say) Barbie changed from her more 50s curly ponytail look to a pin-straight-haired girl, same basic shape, to whatever she is today, the idea of "fashion" and the ideal shape still carries through (funny that the model was a pornographic doll for German men). Young girls today more so than in my 1960s childhood seem to have several Barbie dolls -- even women my own age collect Barbie theme dolls. How has Barbie's fashion and figure affected us? How has it affected our brothers and their expectations of women, if at all? I think that "ideal type" persists through our lives as the goal to aspire to -- personal character aside-- the Barbie body is still the ideal body -- in fashion, in diet ads, in online dating preferences -- you name it.

[Megan Lucas]

Hi Erika,
I am coming from the perspective of an art educator, so it might be interesting to see how different visual artists approach this concept of gender and sexualization in America. There is one artist, Collier Schorr, who focuses on this in her work. In her photographs she concentrates on the artists gaze and how men and women pose accordingly. The website, Art21.org offers very user-friendly videos and bios of artists and Schorr is highlighted in one of their segments. http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/schorr/index.html
You can also find lesson plans and responses from other educators about this artist on the Art21 site. I hope that might be helpful!
Best,
Megan