Demonstrate an advanced ability to formulate logical and coherent arguments.

Assignment Brief

Module Name:	The Body and Popular Culture
Module code:	MCLT33208/MCLT33218

Module learning outcomes assessed:

• Demonstrate an advanced critical understanding of the key theoretical approaches used to develop an analysis of the body in popular culture.
• Demonstrate an advanced critical understanding of the principal issues which arise from these forms of analysis.
• Demonstrate an advanced critical ability to explain, evaluate, apply and synthesise theoretical ideas.
• Demonstrate an advanced critical ability to analyse and interrogate representations of the body in an informed and sophisticated manner.

In addition, in terms of the skills and qualities you should acquire, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced ability to formulate logical and coherent arguments.
• Demonstrate an advanced ability to understand, explore and evaluate new arguments.
• Demonstrate confidence in the processes of discrimination and synthesis essential to successful interdisciplinary study in ways which demonstrate achievement of the module’s learning outcomes.
• Demonstrate high levels of written communication skills.
• Demonstrate competent IT skills appropriate to the module.
• Demonstrate resourcefulness, self-motivation and time-management.

Sample Answer

Constructed Bodies: A Critical Analysis of Beauty Ideals in Social Media through the Lens of Feminist and Postmodern Theory

Introduction

In today`s digital world, the human body has become a central image in popular culture, especially through the influence of social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. These platforms have transformed how we view, present, and judge bodies, creating new beauty ideals that affect how people feel about themselves. This essay will explore how social media contributes to shaping and controlling body image, using feminist and postmodern theories to understand how bodies are constructed, displayed, and consumed. It will focus on the issues that arise from these representations and offer a critical analysis of the power and problems behind them.

Theoretical Approaches to the Body in Popular Culture

Feminist and postmodern theories offer powerful tools to analyse how bodies are shown in popular media. Michel Foucault`s idea of "bio-power" explains how institutions and culture control our bodies through rules and norms. According to Foucault, power is not only held by governments but is also spread through society in subtle ways, such as beauty standards and health advice.

Judith Butler`s theory of gender performativity adds to this by showing that gender and identity are not fixed but created through repeated behaviours and social expectations. In popular culture, especially on social media, people often perform certain types of bodies to fit beauty standards and gain approval.

Naomi Wolf, in her book The Beauty Myth, argues that beauty is used as a way to control women by creating unrealistic ideals. This is supported by Susan Bordo`s idea of the "disciplined body," which suggests that women are taught to control and shape their bodies to fit social norms, often through dieting, exercise, and cosmetic changes.

Representation of the Body on Social Media

Social media plays a huge role in shaping how we view our bodies. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are filled with images and videos of people showing off slim, toned, and filtered bodies. These images create a narrow definition of beauty that many feel pressured to follow. Influencers and celebrities often post edited photos, setting unrealistic goals for ordinary users.

For example, Instagram filters can make skin look clearer, lips fuller, and bodies thinner. These altered images promote a specific body type that becomes the "ideal". People, especially young women, compare themselves to these images and may feel unhappy with their own appearance. This can lead to issues like low self-esteem, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders.

TikTok trends, such as "What I eat in a day" or workout videos, also promote a certain body type. These trends can be helpful for some but harmful for others, especially when they suggest that only thin or fit bodies are desirable. The repetition of these trends shows Judith Butler`s idea of performativity, as people keep repeating actions to fit into expected gender or beauty roles.

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