Exercise 33: Anna’s mother begs for change
“Technique Spotting” (See Checklist for Technique Identification).
- Personal experience and observations: of her own daughter:
- Depictions of daughter: she was too skinny; cared more about appearance, wealth, fame and fashion than her own welfare; the daughter is depicted as someone who is psychologically unstable and confused; because she appears to be manipulated by the media and the standards of the fashion parades
- Attack/criticism of mothers, the media, and the fashion industry for not regulating minimum weight standards: Ms Reston implies that parents are more focussed on fame and money than on the health of their children: parents may be encouraging potentially disastrous behaviour
- Attacks the fashion industry because they fail to protect minimum BMI standards
- Repetition: = skinny – dangerously skinny
- Comparative use of statistics between her daughter and a “normal” child
- Emotions: Emotional appeals: encourages us to feel sympathy for her daughter; encourages parents to be fearful of their children’s welfare and weight; directs reader’s anger towards the industry
Extension activities:
View: Ms Reston contends that the industry should have stricter guidelines for models to prevent anorexia and death.
Tone: She adopts a desperate tone to share the experience of her daughter’s death with readers.
Technique/impact: Ms Reston uses the real-life example of her daughter to show the consequences of a lack of regulations in the fashion industry. (Purpose) Ms Reston depicts her daughter as disturbed because of her mind-set that she had to be skinny to get work. She quotes her daughter and uses emotive language to show the daughter’s attitude. The story of her painful relationship with her daughter and the fact that she could not change her mind tugs at readers’ heartstrings and makes people realize that it could happen to anyone. This is also likely to shock readers because they can see how innocent and vulnerable these girls are.
Technique: By using the first person pronoun, the author conveys the depth of her sorrow. She also uses her real-life experience to build trust among her readers – parents and models.
Technique/impact: Ms Reston also appeals to the readers’ sympathy by stating that Anna was mentally unstable.
Technique: Ms Reston also uses facts and figures and statistical evidence (and some jargon) to show that the risk to the daughter’s health. Firstly the daughter was only 40 kilograms which was unhealthy and secondly the fashion industry lacks strict regulations. She states that only Spain had a minimum BMI level for models. (Attack on the industry) In order to show the daughter’s dangerous weight levels, she compares her BMI (13.5) to a normal/ healthy BMI which should be 18. Purpose: These statements and her assertive tone, “it is critical that”, reinforce her view that the fashion industry is exploiting the young girls.
Tone: Ms Reston adopts a caring and candid tone when she reminds parents: “please remember”.
Technique/language: The alliterative phrase “famous fashion brand” reinforces the negative impact of a model’s obsession with fame and fortune.
Sample paragraphs: putting it together:
(View) Ms Reston contends that the industry should have stricter guidelines for models to prevent anorexia and death. (Tone/technique) She adopts a desperate tone to share the experience of her daughter’s death with readers. Ms Reston depicts her daughter as disturbed because of her mind-set that she had to be skinny to get work. This personal reference is used to shame the industry because of its lack of regulations. She quotes her daughter (“…”) and uses emotive language to show the daughter’s attitude. (Purpose) The story of her painful relationship with her daughter and the fact that she could not change her mind tugs at readers’ heartstrings and makes people realize that it could happen to anyone. This is also likely to shock readers because they can see how innocent and vulnerable these girls are.
(View) Mrs Reston discredits the fashion industry because it appears to be irresponsible and careless. (Technique) As the basis for her argument, Ms Reston uses facts, figures and statistical evidence (including some jargon) to encourage parents to recognise the risks to their daughter’s health. Firstly, her daughter was only 40 kilograms which was an unhealthy weight and, secondly, the fashion industry lacks strict regulations. She commends the Spain fashion show because it had a minimum BMI level for models and makes all models aware that it is possible to have decent standards. Purpose: These statements and her assertive tone (“it is critical that”) reinforce her view that the fashion industry is exploiting young girls. Such comments are likely to provide anger from concerned parents.
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