The Colour Of Beauty Film Analysis

Great Essays
Despite the fact that the world is made up of people of different colours and cultures, there is a alarming lack of minority representation in the realm of entertainment and fashion. The individuals portrayed in media and fashion follow a Caucasian template that has become the norm, and they therefore seldom reflect the mosaic that makes up present-day society. However, this Caucasian template has become so ingrained in society that it has become the standard for beauty for all to strive for. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult for minorities to prosper in these industries. In the documentary "The Colour of Beauty" by Elizabeth St. Philip, the prevalence of racism in the Fashion Industry is examined through the experiences of Renee Thompson, …show more content…
Philip’s "The Colour of Beauty" effectively highlights the systematic racism running rampant throughout the Fashion Industry. Through the utilization of emotional appeal, logical reasoning, and credibility, St. Philips was effective in her persuasion that racism is a blatant problem in the system. Emotional appeal was exhibited through camera angles, which allowed the audience to get to know the subject of the piece intimately. Logical reasoning was effective in emphasizing the effects of racism on the industry, and credibility was insinuated through garnering the experiences of individuals involved in the Fashion Industry. In adopting the position that racism is an integral part of the fashion industry, individuals can move towards eradicating racism by enticing clients to include minorities through pressure (which can be accomplished through a vigorous social media campaign), and integrate minorities throughout all levels of the fashion industry. Though these actions may not seem impactful, it is the first step in extinguishing the racism that has become integral to the industry; with these actions, there lies a promise of an industry that can be reflective of society in the modern

Related Documents

  • Great Essays

    In the psychology field, specifically race and racism it is an “opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of multiple oppression and the intricate lives of individuals predicated upon race.” A specific issue, which I would like to address would be ebony individuals living in a predominately white society. Furthermore, expressing the racial (intentional /unintentional) judgments made on African-Americans. Specifically, African-American physiques, skin tones, hair textures, and significant other attributes. In addition too, explaining how judgments are racially impacted.…

    • 1599 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Lindsay Kite’s article titled “Beauty Whitewashed” is one that explains that women of color are changing how they look to fill in a standard of beauty that tries to bring down how they are shown to the world. To elaborate, women of color are forced to become “white washed” in order to make themselves feel beautiful rather than letting their natural beauty shine. Kite begins her article by stating that “one-third” of the population is of a colored background. With doing so, she explains that there is a large amount of the population that is “underrepresented” when it comes to the standard of beauty.…

    • 300 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Janelle Monae has been taking steps toward becoming one of the most influential recording artists of our time. Monae's video "Q.U.E.E.N." from her second album titled The Electric lady exemplifies her influence on the society where you can be judged for your appearance. This video was a statement declaring her happiness with who she is despite the judgment from others in a society where your image, your cultural values, and what is viewed as acceptable and appropriate behavior is looked down upon. This video gives a clear idea on how people pass judgment on someone just because of their image.…

    • 731 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The Impact of Pervasive Beauty Images on Black and White Girls' Self-concepts”.…

    • 1407 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the past Benetton, a fashion company, aired an ad with models whose skin tones ranged from milky white to chocolate brown. The company and photographer, Oliviero Toscani, faced many legal actions and boycotts. A similar situation occurred when Cheerios aired an advertisement featuring a biracial family. We now live in a world Holmes calls a “post-Barbie” world. For example, the standard of beauty is no longer being skinny, white, and blonde.…

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Color Purple, by Alice Walker has a variety of characters that, not only develop, but change throughout the movie as well. Characters, such as Celie, progress as the movie goes on and drastically works up the nerve to make a change women at this time struggle with. Celie makes a considerable amount of growth by the end of the movie, as compared to the beginning of the movie. To begin with, Celie is a fourteen year old girl who experiences rape and abuse by her father, as well as having her two children taken away from her. At a young age, she is subjected to undergo a life style no one should ever go through, so she becomes quiet and insecure as a woman.…

    • 726 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Bluest Eye: Socratic Seminar further analyzed interesting parts of Morrison’s chapter, autumn. First, I thought it was an interesting that white standards of beauty today are not as prominent as it was in the past, but as society evolved these issues plaguing our society has also evolved into different forms. For example, in the modeling career there is diversity among campaigns like Aerie and as Emily experienced first-hand, beauty touches today are with physical makeup instead of edits for a perfect beauty image. However, the pressure for beauty is still a problem, as Jamie said, when you search Google the first images that show up are white women and as Christina said, actors like Beyonce, a confident black female, have edits making them lighter, showing that there is…

    • 684 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Is TV Too White? Most, if not all characters featured on television programs are white. On the off chance that there are Asians, Blacks, or Latinos, they all usually have one thing in common. Asians are depicted as quiet, sexless, geniuses.…

    • 1213 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    In Michaels Omi’s article, “In Living Color,” he discusses the deeply rooted structures behind race in popular culture. In his quote “Concepts of race and racial images are both overt and implicit…stereotypes and myths can change, but the presence of a system of racial meaning” (548). Omi highlights a very realistic conflict in society: Racism. According to Omi, racial discrimination based on gender, color, race and ethnicity are categories that decipher individuals in a systematic way. The present day world is embedded with stereotypes, evolving racial ideologies and judgements.…

    • 1669 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    When the two talk about the ways race, class, and gender “inform preferences for lighter skin” (Kenway and Bullen 281), it is now understood to mean that they are meant to be smaller pieces of a bigger puzzle that affect how beauty and identity intermingle. Within the context of the beauty industry, this new understanding provides new insight as to how those who fall within similar communities—in terms of race, class, and gender—are differently targeted by companies. These communities can be singled out as separate and generalized entities, or can be combined and interwoven to create more complex and specific…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    In Criteria of Negro Art, Du Bois makes the argument that all art is propaganda and should serve the purpose of bettering and uplifting African Americans. Du Bois believed that black artists should use their work to advocate for their race and to help foster understanding between blacks and whites. Du Bois’ stance on black art being politicized is supported by the depiction of black life and female sexuality in Hurston’s novel; Their Eyes Were Watching God. In Du Bois’ essay, Criteria of Negro Art, the idea of beauty is discussed.…

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Scarlet and the Black is a 1983 film that follows the efforts of Vatican priest, Monsignor O’Flaherty, as he hides Jews and escaped POWs in Germany occupied Rome in 1943 during World War II. Priest O’Flaherty’s main adversary is SS Head of Police for Rome, Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Kappler. Hundreds of Allied POW soldiers are stealing into the city in hopes of finding refuge within the Vatican walls. When Germany entered Rome, the Vatican declared it’s neutrality in the war with the promise that it would remain untouched and unharmed by the SS Police and German army. This led the church to be unaccepting of escapees and refugees, except for Priest O’Flaherty.…

    • 707 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Globalization of beauty is upon us and has been making a negative impact on our world today. “We’re losing bodies as fast as we’re losing languages,” says prominent British psychotherapist Susie Orbach“(The illusionist) this quote was a big attention grabber for me. The fact that our world is losing the traditions having to do with beauty, that originated from different cultures, years before us are now becoming something people will only…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Women all around the world are well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of being a certain skin color. In Cell One by Chimamanda Adichie, the author touches on female beauty standards that are specific to the Nigerian culture. The reading reveals that women are favored when they are light skinned. Furthermore, America is known for its diversity among the female population. Though there is diversity in American society, there is not necessarily an equal preference for race for women.…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In the novel The Bluest Eye Morrison 's message of beauty is related to society 's perception and acceptance of white culture and its impact on African Americans that causes them to question their self worth in a racist society; the author demonstrates these concepts through, direct characterization, symbols, and various point of views that highlight the serious problem of psychological oppression on young African American children in which racism impacts their self perception of their beauty by society 's limited standard of white beauty. The first example of direct characterization in the novel is when the omniscient narrator describes the Breedlove family, the narrator describes how they viewed themselves as ugly: “They lived there because…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays

Related Topics