Coleman 1

Tyanna Coleman

Nisbett

EN 102

March 3rd, 2018

Annotated Bibliography

Statement of Scope:

In relation to digital culture, I will be addressing the realm of social media and how our

inability to keep up with it affects our self image, whether that includes the clothes we wear, how

we see our bodies, or overall envy. After many recent tweets from Kim Kardashian regarding

fast fashion brands and the overall envy many young women feel regarding her body, clothes,

and money, I have developed an interest in how social media not only impacts our personal

insecurities, but how many people in third world countries risk their lives so that we may have a

knockoff version of a dress worn by a celebrity just hours before. In highschool, my AP English

IV class had dove deep into many social issues. When it comes to brands like Fashion Nova,

Zaful and many more, brands pay workers in third world countries, fractions of a dollar to work

in poor conditions where efficiency is more important that the workers’ health and safety.

Regarding personal self image, everyone feels as there is something in their life that they’re

missing and instead of using social media as a tool of encouragement, many, look on with envy.

Not only does this drive people to become insecure with their physical appearance, but it fuels

fast fashion brands to compete even faster. My potential audience for this paper will likely be my

peers, youths that are new to social media, and overall adults.
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Sources:
1.
a. Fares, Naila, et al. “Quick Response in Fast Fashion Retail: An
Optimization Supply Chain Responsiveness Model.” ​An Introduction to
Biometric Recognition - IEEE Journals & Magazine,​ Wiley-IEEE Press

b. Summary-​ Fast fashion, a highly competitive field where brands,

typically online, rush to keep up with frequent trends and customer
demand. Various equations allow fashion to remain up to speed and to
keep up with popular demand. Those in charge must be flexible and
responsive. In this context, the main goal of the article is to showcase the
business model in which Fashion may remain up to speed. Through
mathematical operation, international retailers are able to use data
regarding consumerism, to continually replenish and respond to the needs
of the people.

c. Explanation- ​As somewhat of a counter argument, this article depicts fast

fashion as nothing more than a mathematical equation that works to keep
up with consumerism. Fast fashion is a supposed result of responsiveness,
when popular social media accounts of those like Kim Kardashian or etc
are seen wearing something or promoting a trend, fast fashion brands such
as Fashion Nova or etc. are forced to keep up with the popular demand
that is soon to follow. However, as proof of a counter argument, this
source does not reference the conditions of the factories where the
previously stated clothes are made, and reduces the struggles of third
world countries to a simple mathematical equation.
2.
a. Fardouly, Jasmine, and Elise Holland. “Social Media Is Not Real Life:
The Effect of Attaching Disclaimer-Type Labels to Idealized Social Media
Images on Women’s Body Image and Mood.” ​New Media & Society​, vol.
20, no. 11, 2018, pp. 4311–4328., doi:10.1177/1461444818771083.

b. Summary- ​This online study examined the impact idealized of social

media images in relation to viewer disclaimer comments. This experiment
focused , specifically, on 18 to 25 year old American women and their
mood, body dissatisfaction, and perceptions of the image. The experiment
was meant to test whether or not internalization or comparison played a
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role. After viewing the ideal photo, most of the women had a negative
view of their own body image regardless of the disclaimers. Although
their general perceptions were affected, disclaimers in relation to the
photos had not reduced women’s body dissatisfaction.

c. Explanation- ​This essay may be used to depict that feelings of

dissatisfaction when it comes to body image may be unavoidable. The
desire to be more like someone else or of the popular faces you see on
social media is very relevant to my essay. The inability to catch up with
your peers or overall envy is what drives many, to have body image issues
as well as feelings of insecurities. All of this, in turn, allows for a
competition to persist where we either strive to outdo others by keeping up
with the next big trends, or we overcompensate with material items such
as clothes and etcetera.
3.
a. Dowden, Elese. “Othered Body, Obscene Self(Ie): A Sartrean Reading of
Kim Kardashian-West.” ​Hecate​, May 2017,
doi:10.1107/s0108768107031758/bs5044sup1.cif.

b. Summary- ​In response to Kim Kardashian’s 2017, Women’s Day post,

the essay focuses on the rise of selfies and the lack of public acceptance
when it comes to women’s bodies. The risque post among many other
risque things that she has done in the past, have resulted in public
speculation. For many, Kim Kardashian has a body that is often envied by
the general public and the essay further addresses her sense of control over
gaze and assertion.

c. Explanation- ​This source is relevant to my essay for many reasons as it

portrays Kim Kardashian as one of the many trend starters that social
media has to offer. In addition to that, and more importantly, the essay
critiques her use of her own body as something to be celebrated, a notion
not commonly held but one that is on the rise through “body posi” posts.
The lack of acceptance around this solidifies social media as a place that
will never truly be accepting of body image even when it is on trend.
Although this specific essay does no address the current posts made about
her dislike for fast fashion brands, it does address how body image is
perceived. By addressing feminism and bodily subjectivetity, Kim is
portrayed as using her body in a way that she feels is confident therefore
promoting security.
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Synthesis:

Regarding various perspectives, my first source pertaining to fast fashion held a different

perspective than what I had initially hoped to use the source for. As use for a counter argument,

the source simplifies Fast Fashion and although this creates a gap in my research, on that will be

filled with evidence of mistreatment in third world countries, it does give me something to

critique in the way that many things are excused as just ways to keep up with consumerism. I

will most likely have to modify my question going forward in order to make sure my claims are

clearly exemplified and so that my sources may flow together in a way that is more effortless. In

relation to my own perspective in relation to this essay, Social media will be portrayed in

somewhat of a negative light as I will be using it as the cause for destroyed body image among

young girls and the destruction of third world countries whose main export is textiles and

clothing as desired by Fast Fashion brands. I am finding answers to my research question

however, more context and personal accounts are needed when it comes to my own experience

with social media as a member of my general audience.