Artist’s Statement: The subject of this performance is body maintenance, which is part of the beauty industry. The concept and aspects that guided me throughout the writing of this performance was the fact that when my mother and the media pressured me to maintain my healthy body image and possibly lose some weight, aka a few pounds, as well as fixing myself up from head to toe in order to become a beautiful young woman, that is when I start to worry about my body as well as the way I dress and look like right now at this moment. People everywhere spent lots of money on products that can help maintain or change their physical appearances, which leads me to the metaphoric concept, which is that we are treating our bodies like we are treating our cars or homes. The media has set the bar when it comes to healthy bodies. Women are skinny, sexy, hot, attractive, beautiful, and a little bit muscular from head to toe while the men are buff, strong, sexy, attractive, tall, and handsome with lots of muscle from head to toe. In short, the media is saying that “thin is in.” If you don’t meet the requirements that the media is giving you, then you become an easy target for them and the rest of the U.S. Society. I believe that we need to accept our bodies for the way they are right now and not change just because the media says that we have to. We need to take a stand and tell the world that we are beautiful just the way we are, which I am going to proclaim throughout the entire performance.
(Scene: An empty room. A chair is located at the center of the empty room. A young adult female in her early 20s walks into the empty room, solemnly but slowly, wearing a dark green sweatshirt hoodie (the hood is covering up her hair), a pair of dark blue jeans, and a pair of knee-high black leather boots. She is African-American. Her face is patient, content, but deep in thought. As soon as she gets to the center of the room, she takes a seat in the chair and faces directly toward the audience. She speaks in a calm but depressing voice, but her voice is also very strong and content.)
Young Adult Female:
There is something
that I wanted to tell you.
Earlier this month,
I was talking to my best friend
About a lot of important things
such as boys, dating,
and careers.
I came across a
very, touchy subject.
I asked my best friend
about my body image.
I asked her
“Does my image matter?”
My best friend
responded back with,
“Well, what do you think?”
To which
I start to think about it
for a very long time.
When I got back home
from my best friend’s house,
I went straight
to my bedroom and
changed out of my day clothes.
I was completely naked,
except I was wearing my bra
and my underwear.
I went to the mirror
and took a very, long look
at myself.
I turned to the left, right, and back
and did the exact
same thing.
All I see is a healthy, curvy,
Beautiful young woman looking
straight back at me.
I started to ask myself repeatedly,
“Does My Image Matter?”
While I was asking this question
repeatedly to myself,
All of the past memories
start to come back to me.
I kept thinking and
asking and thinking and asking,
until at one point, I gave up.
Does my image REALLY matter?
Does my image matter
when I watch TV, surf the web,
Read newspapers, magazines, ads,
and I came across
Some attracting people showcasing
their PERFECT bodies
And when I look at MY body,
realizing that it’s NOT
Perfect? That it’s NOT just like theirs?
Does my image matter
when my mother
keeps on pressuring
ME
and not ANYBODY else
in my family
to lose some weight?
Doesn’t she LIKE my body
the way it is right now?
Why does she want ME
to CHANGE it?
Does my image matter
when I FINALLY got a role
in a TV Show,
Feature Film,
or a theatrical production
that I have DREAMED of
For a LONG time,
only to find out the directors,
executive producers,
And my agent
wanted AND pressured ME
to lose a few pounds and
If I don’t do what they tell me to do,
they will REJECT me all because
I’m NOT following their standards?
That I’m NOT just like the
Other actors and actresses
With their PERFECT, fit, &
Attractive bodies?
Does my image matter
When I joined the
Bandwagon of
Millions and millions
Of people all
Across the country
Spending my hard-earned
Cash on
Products upon products of
Hair, make-up, skin, manicure/
Pedicure, weight-loss programs,
Diet pills/shakes, at-home gym
Equipment, gym memberships,
Diet plans, and all that jazz
Only to find out that
It NEVER works with my
Hectic daily schedule?!
Or it NEVER WORKS
AT ALL?!
Does my image matter
When I watch an episode of
“Glee” that is about
BODY IMAGE
ISSUES,
When Kitty, a cheerleader, told
Marley, a glee club member,
About how to lose weight by
Just sticking 2 fingers in
Her mouth and
Just VOMIT so that
Marley can fit into
The costume that
She is going to
Wear in order to
Portray the role of
Sandy Olson
In their school’s
Theatrical production
Of “Grease?”
What would I do if
I was in Marley’s
Shoes?
Does my image matter
When the professionals,
Scientists, and authors
From the University of
Washington
Explain that the
Media itself
Is responsible for
Holding up “a
Thinner & thinner
Body image as the
Ideal for women?”
That they also state that
Throughout their
Childhood,
Women are extremely
“unhappy with their
Bodies”
And the percentage
Representing that
Statement
Increases rapidly from
Age 13 to age 17?
Was I happy or
unhappy with
My body during that
Time?
Does my image matter
If I stopped worrying
About my body?
That I could just eat
Whatever the heck I
Want?
That I could just sit on
My butt
All day long
And not get enough
Physical activity
So that when I
Walk down the
Streets of my
Hometown
Proudly,
NOBODY would
Notice how big,
Fat, and ugly
I have become?
Would I just be a
Doormat?
Would I become
An easy
Target?
Does my image matter THEN?
Does my image matter NOW?
Would my image matter IN THE FUTURE?
Would my image matter ANYTIME SOON?!?!
(She stands up. She starts to take off her sweatshirt hoodie. She is now wearing a teal blouse underneath her sweatshirt hoodie.)
(Now standing, with her right finger pointing towards the audience.)
Now you listen to me.
Just take a very, long
Look at me.
What do you see?
What do you like &
Dislike about me?
Do you love
Or hate me?
And in your
Honest opinion,
Does my image MATTER TO YOU?
Let me tell you something.
As of right now,
MY IMAGE DOES MATTER.
IT MATTERS TO ME
AND ME ALONE.
Works Cited
“Teen Health and the Media: Body Image and Nutrition-Fast Facts.” University of Washington. Web. 12 Dec. 2012. http://depts.washington.edu/thmedia/view.cgi?section=bodyimage&page=fastfacts Website. (Professional)
“Glease.” Glee. FOX: 15 Nov. 2012. Television. 29 Nov. 2012. http://www.hulu.com/#!watch/424877#i0,p5,s4,d0 (Popular)
“The Role You Were Born To Play.” Glee. FOX: 8 Nov. 2012. Television. 29 Nov. 2012. http://www.hulu.com/#!watch/422803#i0,p0,s4,d0 (Popular)
L.C.O. “In My Dreams.” Found Poem. 14 Sept. 2012. (Personal)
L.C.O. “Lynette.” Poem. Cinquain Model. 14 Sept. 2012. (Personal)
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