Ashley Kuttler

Artist Statement

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This photo shows how society influences the way people, especially teen girls, view themselves. Influence by definition means the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. Society’s expectations of body image have an influence over a girl's self image and this can lead her to feel unhappy or not good enough.

 

In taking this photo I wanted to capture the effect of society’s influence and how it leads girls to compare and question how they look. The girl in the photo is measuring her waist to see if she fits societies “ideal” size. The tape measure represents how society puts a number value for perfection. I chose not to have the girls face in the photo because my idea is focusing on the influence on body image issues.

 

Although I am sure many girls do not measure their waist like the picture shows, people can relate to the overall idea of this photo. The measuring aspect just over exaggerates what is going through a girl's head when she looks in the mirror. Overall, this photo fits with the word influence.  

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