Barbie Meets Fulla

Barbie is the doll that everyone knows, the doll with the best sense of fashion and style, the oh so curvacious, big chested doll. She's "perfect" in every way, perfect hair, and makeup, perfect face, and perfect body. But, what if that's not good enough, what if people want a more realistic, more modest doll, well, that's what Fulla's for. Fulla is the Muslim Barbie, the one with the prayer mat, the one with a head scarf, the one who always has her shoulders covered and always has a skirt that goes below her knees.

Barbie and Fulla are in fact very similar, they are very much so alike in size, height and popularity, they only differ with their appearance and lifestyle. Barbie has blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes, Barbie has the curves, large chest and skinny legs, while Fulla has black hair, brown eyes and olive skin, a smaller chest, and is skinnier. Both dolls are criticized for representing and unrealistic idea of beauty.

Fulla was designed to promote Muslim values and be a role model for Muslim girls worldwide, whereas Barbie is targeted more towards Americans. Fulla is honest, doesn't lie, loves reading, she's caring, and loving, and respects her parents. Fulla has two friends along with a little brother and sister while, Barbie has many friends and Ken. Barbie along with Fulla want to promote the idea that women can do anything men can, therefore Barbie has been a doctor, astronaut and a Nascar driver and Fulla is coming out with a doctor and a teacher. Fulla's activities mainly include shopping, spending time with her friends, cooking, reading, and praying while Barbie has come out with a number of hobbies and careers. Fulla is sold mainly in the Middle-East where Barbie was banned for being too revealing.

They are so similar, but so different, with very different values and a very different audience. Fulla happens to be more modest while Barbie is more outgoing.

Works Cited:

Wikipedia. .. . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie.

Wikipedia. .. . http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulla_(doll).

Your New Fragrance. .. . http://www.yournewfragrance.com/Barbie-s/1915.htm.

Talking About Britney

Britney's figure is slightly different than what it used to be, but that's no reason to gossip about her and constantly say that she's overweight. If she's overweight or fat then what about the rest of the population, the majority of the female population is heavier than her and yet they have the nerve to say that she's fat. Britney has had two kids and multiple addictions which would surely alter your body shape. People have no right to judge others, yet, naturally they do, saying that Britney Spears is fat, after all she's been through - she is far from fat, she's just not what she used to be. Britney has been seen in the public eye at her best and worst, and now that she is closer to her worst the general audience is criticizing her for it. She doesn't have the body she used to, but that's OK, that doesn't necessarily mean that she's fat, she may not be as thin as she used to be, but people change. Since she is in fact in the worst shape she's been in in a while people are talking, it's different, it's not normal for her, but if gives people something to talk about. People feed off celebrities, anything about them they eat up in anticipation. It's easier to point out a popular figures flaws rather than realize your own. It gives them something to talk about; they don't care if they have all the facts about her. People need things to talk about and celebrities are always available, making them the targets of gossip.

Works Cited:

California Rumor. .. . http://www.californiarumor.com/files/images/import/Britney%20Spears%20mtv%20performance.jpg.

Influential Media

Many media products are used daily, such as the computer, television, phone, and ipod. There are also many commercials advertising such things, there are more phones and computers being advertised on television and on billboards than toothpaste, or necessary hygiene products. Many commercials are filmed in such a way that you are unsure of what exactly is being advertised. For example, in a kinder chocolate commercial the actors break the kinder in half and zoom in on a relatively attractive woman biting into it. As she bites into to it some man on the cover of what's obviously a romance novel is surprised, or interested by the fact that she is eating such a delectable type of chocolate.The previously mentioned woman biting into the chocolate is relatively thin as well, which would lead you to believe that this particular type of chocolate won't influence body weight. Of course advertisers wouldn't dare use an overweight woman to advertise their product, it would never work, not in today's society where overweight people are shunned. It would appear to be a good commercial, though I wasn't exactly sure what was being advertised, I thought the novel was being advertised at first, it was all I noticed. Of course, it is slightly foolish to assume a book is actually being advertised on television.

For every hour of television, phones and computers are advertised more than eight times, toothpaste and hygiene products are advertised under three times, while chocolate and candy products are advertised between four and six times. These statistics prove that our society cares more about electronic devices than hygiene products, of course hygiene products are necessary and people can't live without them whereas electronic devices aren't necessary and therefore have to be brought to the publics attention.






Works Cited:

Prweb. .. . http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2006/07/27/0000417675/ExampleofCellPhones.jpg.

Living In A Post 9-11 World

On September 11, 2001 I was in Sydney, Australia, and as the planes hit the World Trade Centers it was just past 11pm and being that I was only 9 years of age I was neatly tucked in bed. I remember waking up just after 8 the next morning and my Aunt, Mom, and Dad were sitting on the couch watching the news with the greatest interest. There was a great deal of smoke and fire on the television and I saw people running in fear, so I knew something awful had happened. My parents were in shock, my dad was yelling, he claimed it was outrageous, and I kept asking, "what, what happened" though, of course no one told me until we got back to Canada. My family thought it was fake, they were in disbelief, I on the other hand thought nothing of it considering I didn't know what had happened. When I did find out what had happened I was surprised, very surprised, though I still didn't know how bad it really was, and how fast the world could change because of something like that, and oh it did, it changed very fast. The world is much more protective and protected, no thing's safe, and no thing's trusted. Fear has taken over.

In Alan Jackson's song, "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning" he mentions a fair amount of things that only relate to certain people, such as " Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer?" Well, let's face it, not everyone believes in heaven, nor does everyone believe in God, or a higher being. Sure, a lot do, in fact, the majority of the earth's population does, but that doesn't mean that they were the only ones affected on "that September day." Obviously Alan Jackson was only referring to Christian, adults, but he could have been more vague. Then again, the majority of people who enjoy country music are Christian adults, so it fit perfectly. It came from his heart, it's what he felt, and sure, it may be tacky, but it's hard not to be when Hollywood becomes reality.

United 93 and World Trade Center both came out 5 years after 9/11 in 2006. Both movies are based on true events, they're to make you more aware of what really happened that day, to show that people actually risked their lives, and people died doing it. They're to make that day seem more real for people who weren't there and to show younger generations, who don't understand what happened and who possibly weren't even alive. Producers created these movies to make people feel for the people who lost their families. Sympathy and empathy are the emotions producers want their audience to feel. They're horrific, heroic and the opposite of tacky, more touching, and they're aimed towards everyone, to inform them of what September 11, 2001 really was.

September 11, 2001 was a horrible day, 2,752 people died, and it's really unforgettable. It was like a movie, it didn't seem real, but it was, it was very real, and very devastating. People, in general are used to seeing things like that in movies, and on television, but suddenly it wasn't just a movie, it wasn't just television, it was real, it was actually happening. History was being made and Hollywood and reality didn't seem so different anymore.

Works Cited:

911research. .. . http://911research.wtc7.net/wtc/info/docs/twin_towers1.jpg.

Gwen's Harajuku Madness

Harajuku, what a descriptive word, it’s used to describe an area, a style, and people. In definition Harajuku means one of many districts in Japan. A popular hang-out for teens who are into Street Fashion or Gothic Lolita style clothing. Gwen Stefani has a clothing line inspired by them, she compliments their style, she’s their biggest fan, yet people still criticize the use of Gwen’s Harajuku Girls. Gwen simply seems to like the culture, no harm done right?

Love, Angel, Music, and Baby are Gwen Stefani’s back-up dancers, they accompany her wherever she goes, well most places. They’re a figment of her imagination; the public can’t see them, but, this also means that they aren’t allowed to speak in interviews, or in public, well, they can speak, just not English, which for most of them is their native language. This is totally logical on Stefani’s part; she wanted to adapt the Harajuku fashion, and style or a part of it at least and incorporate it into her clothing line and music. Well, maybe not totally logical, but it’s fair. Love, Angel, Music, and Baby seem genuinely happy, and Stefani seems to really respect them, I mean she did write an entire song about them and their style and she values their style, she uses it in her clothing line, L.A.M.B (Love. Angel. Music. Baby.). They inspire her, she wants their style, and she wants their look as proven when Gwen comments on it, “Lamb’ is anything cute, it’s basically the clothes I wear. I want it to be my style, so I can wear them. I don’t know what it will evolve into. I don’t know if people will like it or not. I don’t know anything about fashion. I’m still learning. It’s just another creative thing for me to do, and it’s exciting.” Love, Angel, Music, and Baby did sign a contract, Gwen is legally allowed to tell them what to do, they are getting paid, and the extra respect and value from Gwen is a bonus.

Asians may very well be offended, and some are, by what Gwen is doing, some may even go as far as saying the Harajuku Girls are being treated as slaves, but that’s only what the public can see, and as you should very well know, the public doesn’t see the half of it, the Harajuku girls are doing what they want, and they’re in the public eye, which is what most people want. Many people may not know what Harajuku is, or what it means and many may not even research it, but it’s still in the public eye, which means it’s more likely to be looked up and researched online or in books than it would be if it weren’t brought to the media’s attention. OK, so Stefani may be changing things up a bit, fashion-wise with her Harajuku Girls compared to the Harajuku community, but the basic concept seems to be there, it’s Stefani’s interpretation of the Harajuku style. Gwen is bringing Asians into the spotlight, and although it may not be the way they want to be seen they are being seen and they’re alright with that, well some, of course there is always praise and criticism.

People, of any ethnic group or culture now-a-days are commenting on Gwen’s choice of her particular back-up dancers claiming that they’re a “modern-day geisha” or that Gwen shouldn’t hire four Asian girls to parade after her day after day. Gwen states, “The truth is that I basically was saying how great that culture is.” as well as, “Everybody’s making jokes about Japanese girls and the stereotypes. I had no idea [I’d be] walking into that.”

Stefani is simply using the Asian, in particularly the Harajuku culture to influence her music, and clothing line, ultimately trying to make money, as Chris mentions in a certain article, "The point is, Ms. Stefani has started using Asian culture as a way to make money. Specifically, as I understand, Japanese Harajuku style clothing in her upcoming clothing line.” It’s all reasonable enough, Gwen is simply more original in her ways to make money, and rather that following the North American fashion trends she’s using her back-up dancers as inspiration, the Harajuku Girls. “The all-Asian Harajuku Girls were inspired by Stefani’s fascination with the Harajuku girls of Japan, young club kids who have a flippant and fun attitude toward fashion.”

Works Cited:

Tian. .. . http://www.tian.cc/2005/04/gwenihana-harajuku-girls.html.

Racialicious....
http://www.racialicious.com/2006/11/30/gwen-stefani-everyone-else-is-racist-not-me/.

Hyphen Magazine. .. . http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archives/2005/04/gwen_stefani_pl.html.