Randi Higbie – Capstone Project Proposal

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The focus of my Capstone Project will be bringing awareness to and addressing body image issues as they relate to teens and pre-teens. I initially intended to focus solely on issues involving teen girls but quickly realized after speaking with friends and colleagues that teen boys are equally as influenced by societal pressures to conform to a certain standard of beauty and attractiveness. The questions that will shape my research are “What is normal?” “What is beautiful?” “What is healthy?” “Why are our differences not embraced instead of shunned?” I do not want this piece to be negative or depressing but hope it will encourage viewers to pause and think about how they contribute to and reinforce stereotypes and standards both consciously and subconsciously.

Some of the inspiration for my project came from the Dove beauty campaign, the “Play Like a Girl” campaign and the organization Girls on the Run. I was also inspired by stories from my friends of things their children have said, done or been affected by in regard to how they feel about their bodies.

My project will include an infographic or animation containing statistical data related to average height/weight ranges, healthy ranges of body fat, cholesterol etc., prevalence of eating disorders among different age ranges, quotes from teens discussing the pressures they feel and/or things they think and say about their bodies. I will also create a video mashup of positive images of different kinds of beauty and clips from other campaigns addressing positive body images and potential interviews with women in my circle. I want all of the elements of this piece to be empowering and positive.

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