Summary literature Perfect Self(ie)
Katariina Kyrölä (2021) – Fat in the Media ........................................................................................2
Key concepts ........................................................................................................................................2
Short summary of the text ....................................................................................................................3
Summary of the text .............................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
“Factual” fat: news and reality television ........................................................................................4
Funny fat (suits): film and television comedy .................................................................................6
Sexy fat: pornography and gender ...................................................................................................7
Virtual fat: fat activism and online communities ............................................................................7
Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................8
, Katariina Kyrölä (2021) – Fat in the Media
Kyrölä, K. (2021). Fat in the Media. In: The Routledge International Handbook of Fat Studies
(pp. 105-116).
Key concepts
Media Representation Evolution:
- The portrayal of fatness in media has evolved across genres over time.
Negative Historical Portrayal:
- Historically, media depicted fatness negatively, often linking positivity with sexual
desirability, affecting how fat individuals viewed themselves.
Challenging Beauty Norms:
- Initiatives like the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty aimed to challenge conventional
beauty norms in media but often still reinforced certain ideals.
Fatness in Pornography:
- Fatness in pornography can be seen as subversive for challenging mainstream sexual
norms.
Online Communities:
- The "fatosphere" and similar online communities provide platforms for self-identified
fat individuals and activists to share content and experiences.
Body Positive Movement:
- Rooted in fat activism, the "body positive" movement has gained popularity but faces
criticism for depoliticization and its focus on normative or slightly larger-than-norm
bodies.
Shifts in Cultural Norms:
- Media representations of fatness reflect broader shifts in cultural norms, impacting not
just body size but also gender expression, race, and sexuality norms.
Visibility vs. Power:
- Increased visibility of diverse bodies does not necessarily equate to increased power
and can sometimes lead to complex forms of marginalization.
Challenging Established Norms:
- Media images of fat bodies compel audiences to confront the vulnerability and
malleability inherent in all bodies, challenging established norms.
Katariina Kyrölä (2021) – Fat in the Media ........................................................................................2
Key concepts ........................................................................................................................................2
Short summary of the text ....................................................................................................................3
Summary of the text .............................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
“Factual” fat: news and reality television ........................................................................................4
Funny fat (suits): film and television comedy .................................................................................6
Sexy fat: pornography and gender ...................................................................................................7
Virtual fat: fat activism and online communities ............................................................................7
Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................8
, Katariina Kyrölä (2021) – Fat in the Media
Kyrölä, K. (2021). Fat in the Media. In: The Routledge International Handbook of Fat Studies
(pp. 105-116).
Key concepts
Media Representation Evolution:
- The portrayal of fatness in media has evolved across genres over time.
Negative Historical Portrayal:
- Historically, media depicted fatness negatively, often linking positivity with sexual
desirability, affecting how fat individuals viewed themselves.
Challenging Beauty Norms:
- Initiatives like the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty aimed to challenge conventional
beauty norms in media but often still reinforced certain ideals.
Fatness in Pornography:
- Fatness in pornography can be seen as subversive for challenging mainstream sexual
norms.
Online Communities:
- The "fatosphere" and similar online communities provide platforms for self-identified
fat individuals and activists to share content and experiences.
Body Positive Movement:
- Rooted in fat activism, the "body positive" movement has gained popularity but faces
criticism for depoliticization and its focus on normative or slightly larger-than-norm
bodies.
Shifts in Cultural Norms:
- Media representations of fatness reflect broader shifts in cultural norms, impacting not
just body size but also gender expression, race, and sexuality norms.
Visibility vs. Power:
- Increased visibility of diverse bodies does not necessarily equate to increased power
and can sometimes lead to complex forms of marginalization.
Challenging Established Norms:
- Media images of fat bodies compel audiences to confront the vulnerability and
malleability inherent in all bodies, challenging established norms.
