THE BLUEST EYEUnit 3: Social Standards

Does Beauty Equal Happiness ?

Anticipation Guide American society, in general, places more value

on physical beauty than on any other aspect of a particular person.

agree___ disagree___

There is more than one way to be a beautiful person.

agree___ disagree___

The definition of beauty has changed in the past 100 years.

agree___ disagree___

In order for a person to be beautiful, s/he must be happy with her/himself as a person.

agree___ disagree___

“Without Commercials”Alice Walker

Listen,stop tanning yourselfand talking aboutfishbellywhite.The color whiteis not bad at all.There are white morningsthat bring us days.Or, if you must,tan only becauseit makes you happyto be brown,to be able to seefor a summerthe whole world'sdarkerfacereflectedin your own.

Stop unfoldingyour eyes.Your eyes arebeautiful.Sometimesseeing you in the streetthe fold zanyand unexpectedI want to kissthemand usuallyit is onlyoldgorgeousblack people's eyesI wantto kiss. 

Stop trimmingyour nose.When youdiminish

your noseyour songsbecome littletinny, mutedand snub.Better you shouldhave a noseimpertinentas a flower,sensitiveas a root;wise, elegant,serious and deep.A nose thatsniffsthe essenceof Earth. And knowsthe messageof everyleaf.

Stop bleachingyour skinand talkingabout so much blackis not beautifulThe color blackis not badat all.There are black nightsthat rockusin dreams.Or, if you must,bleach onlybecause it pleases youto be brown,to be able to seefor as longas you can bear itthe whole world'slighter facereflectedin your own.

 As for me,I have learnedto worshipthe sunagain.To affirmthe adventuresof hair.

For we are allsplendiddescendantsof Wilderness,Eden:needing onlyto seeeach otherwithoutcommercialsto believe.

Copied skillfullyas Adam.

Original

as Eve.

“Without Commercials”Alice Walker

Who are the ethnic groups that Walker names?

Why do you think Walker titled her poem “Without Commercials”?

American Media Images: Beauty of the Past

Welch Grape Juice Radio Commercial (1933)

Alice Walker's poem "Without Commercials" challenges the idea in many ads that being beautiful means having a flawless complexion, "perfect" hair, or a slender body. Listen to the following old-time radio commercial from 1930s

and 1040s to hear these perceptions .

How are these commercials like the commercials today? How are they different? Discuss your views with a partner.

Camay Mild-Soap Radio Commercial (1943)

American Media Images: Beauty of the Present

Star Magazine

Alice Walker's poem "Without Commercials" challenges the idea in many ads that being beautiful means having a flawless complexion, "perfect" hair, or a slender body. Look at the following media and compare Walker’s plea to a life “without

commercials” to the images portrayed in these ads .

Based on the above examples (yes there are only two examples), would you add anything to the previous discussion with your partner? Discuss your views with the same partner.

Covergirl Commerical (2009)

American Media Images: Beauty of the Future

The following commercial advertisement seems to echo some of Walker’s sentiments in “Without Commercials”.

Evolution - A Dove Film Video

What is your reaction Dove’s advertisement campaign strategy?

Dove Evolution Campaign

Discussion Question

Is our need to change drastically the way we look grounded in pleasing ourselves (which Walker considers acceptable) or is it a result of succumbing to cultural and societal influences, our flight away from who we are?

Do characters in The Bluest Eye succumb to cultural and societal influences to “fly away” from who they are? Who, why, and how?