During the last months, many new hits were real eased with a single message: be yourself, love yourself. In this article, Jacob Bernstein give emphasis to the fact that many celebrities are addressing body image in their works. The first example that Bernstein gives is the music video for "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor. During the song, the artist transmits the message that she is not discouraged by not being thin, and she actually brags about it. She uses verses like “Yeah, it’s pretty clear, I ain’t no Size 2./But I can shake it, shake it, like I’m supposed to do." Another verse that completly disagrees with society over the last fifty years since Barbie was introduced to children is: “I won’t be no stick figure Barbie doll.” One of her dancers in the video is a 420 pound polynesian man from Orlando, Florida. Another music video that has caused the same impact is "Try" by Colbie Caillat. The main message being transmitted is for women to stop worrying about their image. During the video, many women and the star herself, wipe off their makeup providing the viewer with reality. The last example that Bernstein provides is "Brave" by Sara Bareilles. This song implies the message of: be who you really are without worrying about what others will think. The author puts stand to the point that all of these songs many been viewed by millions and reached goals in popularity terms. He even puts a quote from the editor of Cosmopolitan, Joanna Coles, it which she says her staff love these women because of their encouragement to be creative and have individuality. Th author takes the reader back to 2010 and teen when Katy Perry wrote "Firework" that also encouraged the youth and the time. However this counterculture idea is mostly being accepted by the people now. Bernstein says that: "...body-image issues are an endlessly renewable resource for pop stars and their teenage fans. Particularly in this Instagram and selfie-centered age." He then points out that social media does play a key role on the marketing of those music videos. Even male entertainers are signing up to this campaign. But the ironic part of this is that for example John Legend who tries to transmit those messages to women, is married to a model.
The main point of this New York Times' article is to inform the reader of how some of the media is now trying to transmit a message that goes against society ideals. What makes the article very credible to the author is that he uses many examples of the information is passing the reader. At one point he exemplifies how in Katy Perry`s music video she uses a metaphor to connect to the audience. He also shows various quotes from important people in the industry of how they believe this is either good or bad. The other himself does not really provide a side to the information presented. Overall I feel like this article leaves space for the reader to decide their opinion of the subject with the information provided.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/14/fashion/meghan-trainor-colbie-caillat-and-sara-bareilles-address-body-image-issues.html?ref=fashion
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