Every day millions of bone thin models are plastered upon magazines, in television and within movies for the average public to idolize. Kate Moss, Lara Flynn Boyle, Calista Flockhardt are just a few extreme cases of caving in not only their bodies but to the pressure of the media to be thin. There are very few jobs for the overweight, and an abundance of modeling and acting jobs for the severely thin. Then the question arises, for what impact do these images have on the millions of women and young girls viewing these images? The very simplified answer is the media's influence results in a very poor self image for millions of women and young girls. People are not born with negative opinions of themselves, for that comes after interaction with society, trends, pop culture, and all of these are determined by the media. A new trend comes to light and suddenly it has an immense following such as the recent trend to be thin. Smoking certain cigarettes such as Virginia Slims gives the consumer a sense that this product will keep them thin and in turn desirable. Magazines are covered with the hottest models that look breathtaking, yet they fail to disclose under their "look like Brittney Spears" column that Brittney's thighs are airbrushed, breast are enhanced along with accentuating her favorable curves. The media has gone too far, and has greatly impacted the self portrayal of millions due to their advertisement tactics of encouraging unattainable bodies. Who crates these messages, what techniques are used to attract attention, how different people decode the medias message, the values and views that are represented, and the main question of why this message was ever sent are the questions that need to be answered in order to divulge into this media frenzy of demolishing body image.
             Who creates these distorted images? Look around. The Pepsi on the desk is endorsed by Brittney Spears. The clothes worn on...