Fit and Happy

motivationforfitness:

First: The original picture is NOT defaced and remains attached and as the main picture with all the original posts and reblogs and sources available.

Second: I made no attempt to hide original credit, remove the signature or make it impossible (or even difficult) to see the original art. I even used a transparent brush to make the red X.

Third: So what? I may have never been an impressive artist, but if 3 years as an art/music major taught me anything, it’s that the point of art is to evoke some emotion from the viewer/listener. The original interpretation doesn’t exist to anyone but the artist. Unless there are words expressing exactly what the artist meant by their work, no one will ever know what it means except what it means to them. To me, this picture shows gross stereotyping of the female form. The kind that is so ingrained in the minds of women that we fail to see it for what it is: a marketing scheme. Buy this type of clothes, do this type of workout, eat this type of food if you’re this type of body.

Fourth: Why be so rude and angry about it? I took something I disagreed with and that I saw as a negative and I turned it into something positive and empowering. You took something you didn’t agree with and let it remain negative. “Maybe they just wanted to draw women with fruit as bodies” Maybe I just wanted to use it as a prime example to show how women’s bodies are depicted as inanimate objects? More examples here:

None of these things are acceptable to me. They ALL display women as objects to use and to tempt. That our bodies are to be used as a reward. That we are consumable and disposable. I’m not what I would call a feminist, but to put it simply… one quick Google search will offer you a plethora of examples like this with the female body and only a small amount for the male body. And the ones using the male body are usually depicting it in a way to make them appear strong, powerful, fast and dominant.

Maybe you don’t mind artists depicting you as a common household item, but I’m not a fan. And even more so, I’m not a fan of the effect this has on females less likely to reverse the thinking than I am. On women who are sick, abused, neglected, who struggle with self-hate and self-harm. Did I hurt the artists feelings? Maybe? But more than likely, they will never even see this. But the people who will? The fitness community that I choose to be a part of. The community I choose to empower, enlighten, help and support. I appreciate that artists make their work available online for everyone in the world to use… and I used it how I saw fit.

My message empowered many females to look at themselves in a positive light. If only one person would choose ignore that message, then I suppose the old adage of “you can’t please everyone” is all that’s left to say. 

*Note to new followers: drama is not commonplace on this blog. Actually, this may be the first instance of it. The post will be removed within 24 hours. I would also like to make note that I’m not pointing out the person this is directed at. If you are curious, you’ll have to do a search in the notes of the picture on your own.