The Role of Popular Culture in the Construction of Ideas of Beauty in a Globalized World
Overview
This paper examines how popular culture shapes beauty standards in a globalized society, with particular emphasis on filter culture and digital media's influence. The author argues that exposure to retouched media images, particularly through platforms like Zoom and social media filters, contributes to body dysmorphia and unrealistic beauty ideals that affect mental health.
What this essay covers
- Introduction - establishes Zoom Dysmorphia as a contemporary mental health concern
- Popular Culture and Body Image - defines popular culture as communicative practice and discusses media's role in shaping beauty standards
- Social Comparison Theory - explores how people use media as reference for ideal beauty standards
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The Role of Popular Culture in the Construction of Ideas of Beauty in a Globalized World
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Role of Popular Culture in the Construction of Ideas of Beauty in a Globalized World
Introduction
Today, in America, mental health experts are pondering whether Zoom Dysmorphia is a mental health crisis (Ramphul, 2022). This concern comes after the social distancing aspect of the pandemic in which people remained connected through technologies like Zoom, where, unlike never before, they were confronted by their images on the screen. As it turns out, a significant number of people do not like how they look and, therefore, are seeking ways to appear better through filters and plastic surgery. Dysmorphia involves one being highly preoccupied with a perceived flaw in their appearance. In this regard, the current paper aims to outline the role of popular culture in the construction of beauty in a globalized world by focusing on the influence of filter culture as part of today's popular culture.
Popular Culture and Body Image
O'Brien and Szeman (2018, p. 9) state that popular culture is the "communicative practice of everyday life ."In this definition, communicative practices encompass all activities concerned with producing meaning. These include talking, writing, and social rituals like eating, dancing, music, fashion, sports, and most importantly, the conceptualization of beauty.