BODY MODIFICATION THROUGH
COSMETIC SURGERY
Society and Media’s Influences
SOSC 3930 / University and Society /
Presentation Agenda
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Part 1: Foucauldian Framework
 The Construction of Docile Bodies
Thesis
 Independent and Dependent Variables
Discourses in Popular Media
 The Attainment of Beauty and Perfection
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Personal Life Enhancement
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Medicalization of the Female Body
The Body as a Commodity
 A Complete Transformation
Overall Course Connections
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Minorities and Ethnic Cosmetic Surgery
Part 1: The Framework
Foucault’s Archaeology of Power: Construction of a Docile Body
1) Objectified Body:
 This is supported by the objectification theory, in which a person takes an external
perspective of their physical appearance. (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997)
 Self-objectifying individuals equate their identity and self-worth in terms of their
body as an object to be looked at by others. (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997)
 The media emphasizes isolated body parts such as buttocks, cleavage, stomach
(Kolbe & Albanese, 1996), therefore conveying the message of the body as an
important aspect of sexual desirability. (Aubrey, 2006)
 The objectified body learns to separate the mind from the body, thus supporting
the concept of body parts as a commodity.
Part 1: The Framework
Foucault’s Archaeology of Power: Construction of a Docile Body
2) Controlled Body:
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Inscribing the self : The gaze controls and punishes (Keller, 2005)
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The normalizing gaze controls what people do and how they see themselves-establishing a binary system (Normal vs. Abnormal)
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Normalization: Control mechanism causing individuals to be regulated by the
disciplinary gaze of the dominant culture
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Body Surveillance: Women are bound by idealized images and consequently feel
a desire to adhere to that standard. (Engeln-Maddox, 2005)
Part 1: The Framework
Foucault’s Archaeology of Power: Construction of a Docile Body
3) Disciplined Body:
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Techniques of Discipline: fear of becoming abnormal, fear of failing
expectations
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Foucault’s care of self drives people to work on self-improvement (docile
bodies to be used, transformed, and improved)
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Patients willingly turns into a docile body through the disciplinary gaze of
surgeons. (Martin, E. 1993)
Thesis
The consumerist culture of cosmetic surgery can be attributed to goals of
aspiration and emulation in which people are perceiving surgery to be more
accessible, less invasive and normalized by society. These messages are shaped
through popular media discourses. Media promotes the view that one can
enhance their personal life through changing their outer appearance. The
physical body is shown as a malleable object to be modified in order to match
their outer appearance with their inner character. This is further amplified by
the pressures to conform to idealized beauty norms as defined by media images.
Although the media frequently discusses the implications involved, the general
notion is that cosmetic surgery is risky but ultimately worthwhile.
Thesis – Independent vs. Dependent Variables
COSMETIC SURGERY
POPULAR MEDIA DISCOURSES
Removal of Social Stigma
Attaining Beauty & Perfection
Normalized
Personal Life Enhancement
Acceptable
The Complete Transformation
Desirable
Context of Analysis
Cosmetic Surgery Defined:
Refers to invasive surgical procedures (e.g. Breast implants, liposuction,
facelift). Cosmetic surgery is done for aesthetic purposes where surgery
is used to alter “normal” and physically healthy bodies.
Source: Canadian Society for Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery
Focus on the Female Perspective:
In 2003, over 302 000 surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic enhancement
procedures were performed in Canada, 85.4% of which were
performed on women.
Source: Medicard Finance, 2005
Discourse #1: Attainment of Beauty & Perfection
Course Kit Readings
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Even in instances where there is evidence of critical processing, it is
clear that women are still bound by idealized images and consequently
feel a desire to adhere to that standard. (Engeln-Maddox, 2005)
The finding show that social comparison is associated with body
dissatisfaction, as very few people are able to match the strict
definitions of beauty as constructed by the media. (Engeln-Maddox,
2005)
This is further explored by correlational studies in which a link has been
established between idealized media images and body image
disturbance. (Botta, 1999; Harrison & Cantor, 1997)
Discourse #1: Popular Media
Christian: “When you
stop striving for
perfection, you might
as well be dead.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpMit9aXi4
Discourse #1: Popular Media
Discourse #1: Popular Media
“I was never the prettiest
girl… I was more like the
frumpy sidekick to Lauren”
“I just love boobs. They
make me feel more
womanly.”
“… I plan to keep using
surgery to make me as
perfect as I can be...surgery
is always so rewarding.”
Discourse #1: Critical Media
Discourse #1: Attainment of Beauty & Perfection
Subtheme: Minorities and Ethnic Plastic Surgery
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Minorities are excluded from many popular media and are relegated to
secondary roles. (Eschholz, Bufkin & Long, 2002), this promotes the
view that individuals need to erase their ethnic traits in order to
succeed in a white dominated society
More than 1.3 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were
performed on ethnic patients in 2004, an increase of 44% since 2000:
14% of all cosmetic plastic surgery patients in the US were Asian, black,
or Hispanic. (Euromonitor, 2006)
Discourse #2: Personal Life Enhancement
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Individuals use the justification that cosmetic surgery will enhance
functioning, health and size. (Heyes, 2007)
Representations show cosmetic surgery as a liberating experience where
an individual is given the power to take control on their life (Davis, 2002)
Approximately one third of cosmetic surgery articles featured in popular
women’s magazines between 1980 and 1995 feature explicit claims of
positive mental health benefits in addition to physical changes. (Sullivan,
2001)
Belief that by conforming to beauty norms, one will be able to achieve
greater success and happiness
Discourse #2: Popular Media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NaVeO
Hhl00
Discourse #2: Popular Media
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Moe Szyslak from the Simpsons is portrayed as a
short tempered, suicidal, and unlucky bartender
Frequently described as ugly, and has an almost
nonexistent love life
In Season 11, Moe undergoes plastic surgery
which enables him to fulfil his dreams of
becoming a soap star, and to attract the
attentions of many women
Discourse #2: Critical Media
Discourse #2: Personal Life Enhancement
Subtheme: Medicalization of the Female Body
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The linkages between cosmetic surgery and enhanced emotional
wellbeing relies upon a framework of medicalization—seemingly
nonmedical issues become defined as a problem in need of medical
treatment
Medical professionals are portrayed as experts on beauty (Polonijo,
Carpiano, 2008)
Professional opinions are frequently quoted in magazine articles (57%)
in order to provide benefit and risk information, and reassure readers
that cosmetic surgery can be a safe and beneficial choice. (Sullivan,
2001)
Subtheme: Medicalization of the Female Body
Christian: “When you
stop striving for
perfection, you might
as well be dead.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpMit9aXi4
Discourse #3: The Complete Transformation
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Cosmetic surgery has led to a contemporary discourse in which one
desires to match their physical appearance with their inner self. (Heyes,
2007)
From the success of movies such as She’s All That, to the circulation rates
of People magazine, the idea of a fairy tale transformation is resonating
deeply with audiences. (Brooks, 2004)
Ignore the complexities associated with creating homogeneous bodies,
but instead deploys allusions of fairy tales. (Heyes, 2007)
The fairy tale metaphor is psychologically fulfilling as it emphasizes the
turmoil and unhappiness before culminating in a happy ever after. (Heyes,
2007)
Discourse #3: Popular Media
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4.29
Cosmetic surgery makeover shows use
before and after pictures use a narrative
of a fairy tale transformation
The objective of the show is to
completely revolutionize the physical
appearance of contestants through
makeup, wardrobe, hair and intensive
body modification through cosmetic
surgery.
Discourse #3: Popular Media
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Soaps often feature plot lines involving
characters undergoing plastic surgery to
become exact look-alikes of other
characters.
Social Cognitive Theory posits that
portions of an individual’s knowledge
acquisition can be related to observing
others. (Russell, 2005)
Gives an unrealistic view of the potential
outcome of cosmetic surgery as a
vehicle for transformation.
Discourse #3: Popular Media
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In January 2010, news outlets reported of a Chinese woman seeking
cosmetic surgery to look like Jessica Alba
Discourse #3: Critical Media
Discourse #3: The Complete Transformation
Subtheme: The Body as a Commodity
 Body has been transformed into a component that can be reformed and
sculpted to create a new and improved commodity to be purchased.
(Bordo, Class Lecture)
 Objectification Theory: Based on the premise that women in particular
are inclined to take on an external view of their physical selves which in
turn promotes that view of measuring one’s self worth in terms of the
body. (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997)
 There is a tendency for a focus to be put on isolated body parts such as
the stomach, buttocks, cleavage, legs, (Sommers-Flanagan & Davis, 1993)
which teaches individuals to view the physical body as a commodity.
Discourse #3: Popular Media
Hollywood’s Most Wanted Parts
Lips
Eyes
Body
Jawline
Conclusion
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Popular media is presenting cosmetic surgery as a normal practice for
attaining beauty and perfection, personal life enhancement and achieving
transformation
By presenting women of average and above-average appearance pursuing
surgical cosmetic enhancement, this impacts our perception of what is
considered beautiful and how to conform to beauty norms
Future research and greater public awareness is necessary to establish
link between media images and decisions to undergo cosmetic surgery
Widescreen Test Pattern (16:9)
Aspect Ratio Test
(Should appear
circular)
4x3
16x9