Dove's Campaign For Real Beauty - and a survey for women

Will Write For Chocolate has been updated. I'm going to be moving WWFC to a new server soon. Speaking of NaNoWriMo, my cartoons will start appearing on the NaNoWriMo site next month.

Worked on a new Urban Tapestry song last night. I used to do all my songwriting on the guitar but after my tendinitis episode, I changed my strategy. Now I compose in Garageband (soon Logic Express, when I learn how to use it properly).

This time I tried something different: I recorded myself playing a few guitar chord progressions that I knew I wanted in the song, using a click track. Then I split up the track sections so I could copy and move them around, and THEN recorded myself singing the melody over top as I wrote it.

The final version won't have me singing lead (I don't have a lead voice) but Allison and Jodi instead. Once I've finished writing their parts, I'll e-mail an MP3 along with the lyrics; that way they'll have a chance to practice ahead of time before they come over to my place and record. Hoping to finish writing the song tonight!



I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the Dove Campaign For Real Beauty. Not having cable tv, Jeff and I have been out of it when it comes current television commercials, so I only heard about this recently.



I saw the video above first. Most commercials these days (the ones I see when I do get tv access, like at the gym) strike me remarkably insipid, but found this one really hit home. So I checked out some of Dove's other Campaign For Real Beauty ads, like the very short but surprisingly moving "Amy":



And also the one below, which I had heard about but never seen:



Sort of frightening, really, which I guess is the point.

I went through the whole "I hate my body" phase ages ago, especially through adolescence. I still cringe at some photos of me now, especially ones which highlight flabby bits that didn't used to be flabby, but on the whole I no longer stress about not looking anything like the Gorgeous People in the media.

I exercise and try to eat healthy because it makes me feel better and gives me more energy to pour into my creative projects. I don't angst about not being in fashion or trying to cover up my facial blemishes with a cake of make-up. I'm also aware, however, that I have the luxury of working at home, and that unfortunately there are work environments where a woman who thinks this way might easily be passed over for promotion for someone else who DOES get those tummy tucks and augmented breasts and spends an hour each morning on her make-up and hair.

And I DO have self-indulgences. Occasionally wearing shoes with a bit of heel because I like the look, for example, even though they may not be super-comfortable for long periods. And sometimes colouring the grey out of my hair (ok, so there's not a lot of grey yet but I admit I don't like it).

So what about the rest of you women? How fashion-conscious and body-conscious are you? Be brave and speak out. And how important are these factors in your work environment?

LINK O' THE DAY

RealEstatePlus.ca: Hey, my cousin Daniel (who works for Bell Canada) recently launched a Toronto real estate site that has more info than the usual MLS listings with a user-friendly interface (uses neighbourhood names instead of confusing codes).



Livejournal comments