Elizabeth Thoman Image Culture

Elizabeth Thoman, the author of, “Rise of the Image Culture: Re-imagining the American Dream,” takes the position that American lives, as a whole, are being consumed with images and the effect that have on us. Claims she uses that further support he position include that “consumer culture as we know it could have never emerged without the invention if the camera and the eventual mass production of media images…” (pp. 202-203). Thoman also claims that the “progress” that America has had over the last few decades has made America as a whole dependent on the concept of images and television, she also states that “We must recognize the trade-offs we have made and take responsibility for the society we have created” (p. 205). To provide evidence and research throughout her essay, Thoman uses quotes from a magazine to help further her explanation of American’s dependence on television. The most effective aspect of Thoman’s essay is her use of examples and scenarios that help the reader connect and realize exactly what “frozen images” has done to our population as a whole. At one point Thoman even quotes Ghandi, an extremely well-known speaker go help emphasize her point that American’s …show more content…
Ann Marie argues that Americans are surrounded by a culture that encourages obesity with outrageous portion sizes and thousands of fast food restaurants but it is ideal and greatly glorified to be thin. Throughout her essay Paulin reassures that reader that it is okay to be thin, however, she never specifically states a counterargument against being fat. The relationship between the two arguments is appropriate and would have been much more effective had Paulin expanded on the portrayal of thin people and the types of grief thin people are also put through