Tag Archives: Society

October 15, 2011 · 4:42 am

The Photo That Facebook Deleted

Early yesterday, I posted this photo on the Enchanted Zaftig Facebook page. My intent was to encourage a conversation about it ~ what do you see? what do you think? how do you feel? Occasionally, I post photos of social importance to stimulate responses from the Enchanted Zaftig community and to help us grow and learn as a society.

This particular photo received what was quite possibly the highest number of  responses I have yet to see on the Facebook profile. Approximately 11 new people joined the page yesterday, adding comments of sadness, disbelief, confusion, even positive reinforcement about how beautiful they think this woman really is.

Yes, it’s a simple photo ~ black and white, some words scribbled on the subject’s torso ~ and yet the symbolism is profound. She’s thanking someone, the world perhaps, for hating her body, for making her feel inferior, for causing her emotional pain. You can see it clearly in her eyes. In the heaviness of her shoulders. Across her forehead should be written: “Low self-esteem”.  

This photo drips with sarcasm and sorrow.

At some point in the night, Facebook decided that it needed to be deleted, due to violation of their Rights and Responsibilities code (*gasp* there are nipples showing!) Although I respect and understand Facebook’s policy, I wish that it could be focused more upon pornographic nudity rather than on such a poignant portrayal of one woman’s self-loathing that sadly mirrors a large majority of our population.

It is a photo meant to inspire a conversation, not masturbation.

So here I am… posting it on the Enchanted Zaftig blog, where it will (hopefully) not be censored or removed.

Please feel free to share your comments below:

9 Comments

Filed under A Touch of Inspiration, Musings and Thoughts

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

March 13, 2011 · 1:30 am

Female Perception and Visual Delights

Bottoms Up Reprised ~ Juan Alcantara

Possessing a creative spirit, I am constantly captivated by rich, evocative imagery. This exquisite painting by Juan Alcantara represents the essence of my blog ~ beauty, sensuality and an appreciation for the zaftig female form.
 
Tell me… when you viewed this painting on my header or in this post for the first time, what impression did it make upon you? Did you think to yourself…   
  • It’s stunning
  • It’s stunning but I’m uncomfortable with it
  • It’s erotic
  • It’s obscene
  • It’s disgusting
  • It’s beautiful
?
 
I read an interesting blog once about a full-figured woman who was on a quest to significantly lose weight. As a means to chronicle her journey, she volunteered to model for an art class. When she stood at the front of the class and disrobed, she anticipated shock or disgust from the roomful of students, but what she received was absolute exuberance. Immediately, the students began to draw her with enthusiasm and passion. Viewing the results of their work after, the woman was surprised to see her “overweight” body transformed into something curvaceous, vivacious and beautiful.
 
A time later, once shedding the weight, the woman returned to the class to model for the art students once more. This time, though, instead of exuberance, the students drew her to paper sluggishly, as though bored with their topic. Viewing the work afterwards, the now “skinny” woman was disheartened by the results: the drawings of her were lifeless, dull, her body portrayed as a stick figure with sharp lines and edges. The first drawings were beautiful… the latter ones felt empty.
 
An interesting thought, wouldn’t you agree? It’s a concept which leaves one questioning what is truly considered desirable ~ the woman with curves or the emaciated figure?
 
Why does society ~ the media ~ try to convince us it’s only one way?
 
Throughout my blog here, I intend to investigate and negate the argument that emaciated is better than full-figured, and also that, whether they are willing to admit it or not, deep down inside, men appreciate women who A.) are comfortable in their own skin and B.) possess curvaceous assets to hold onto.

4 Comments

Filed under Musings and Thoughts, Visual Delights

Tagged as , , , , , ,