Jenny McQuaile's documentary is an extension of Anastasia Garcia's Straight/Curve: Fashion Reimagined photo exhibit, using the photo shoot as a framing device to explore the fashion industry as a driver for the ways that people—especially teenage girls—think about body image. According to data provided by the Girl Scouts of America, 60% of American girls compare themselves to fashion models, which leads to self-esteem issues that increase sharply between the ages of 13 and 17. Claire Mysko, chief executive officer of the National Eating Disorders Association, notes that no direct correlation exists between ultra-thinness and health—or even happiness—but that is the message being sent by the fashion industry. Schools, the media, and other entities bolster that message through an excessive focus on weight and body mass index. Garcia's shoot takes place in the wake of New York's "Fashion Week" with models that are more diverse than the industry standard in terms of size and ethnicity. McQuaile interviews some, including Iskra Lawrence, who decided to stop dieting and embrace her shape, and Philomena Kwao, a British model of Ghanaian descent who must constantly explain to observers that she isn't African American (as if that is the only way to be black in the Western world). She also interviews students, nutritionists, marketing consultants, and fashion designers such as Christian Siriano, who is famed for his attentiveness to all body types. Of his celebrity clients—from Ariana Grande to Oprah—he says, "They're all beautiful in their own way." And that inclusive statement could also serve as the tagline for this encouraging documentary. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Fennessy)
Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image
(2017) 82 min. DVD: $95: high schools & public libraries; $350 w/PPR: colleges & universities (discussion guide included). DRA. Ro*co Films Educational. Closed captioned. Volume 33, Issue 5
Straight/Curve: Redefining Body Image
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