The growing number of people blogging about various "special" experiments and projects is ballooning into such a cacophony, that it's becoming more challenging for the really interesting and unique ones to catch attention. But one young woman's recent efforts have caught my eye (and the eye of the media). Jamie Keiles, a high school senior (just graduated) from Pennsylvania, who'll be studying economics and gender studies in college, decided to "spend one month living according to the gospel of Seventeen Magazine." Here are the rules she chose to follow:- I will read the entire June/July issue of Seventeen magazine from cover to cover.
- Every day I will utilize at least one "beauty tip" (hair/makeup/skincare/whathaveyou) and one fashion tip.
- I will follow all diet and exercise tips provided in the issue to a T.
- I will participate in every activity recommended by the magazine (i.e. host a fright night, score your hottest summer hookup ever, be confident in a bikini, etc.)
- I will apply for every single "freebie" offered by the magazine, every day.
- I will consume all media recommended by the magazine at least once. (books/movies/music)
- I will hang all provided pictures/posters of "hot guys" in my living environment.
The experiment started with Jamie asking herself, as she posts in her first entry: "What would happen if an actual teenager were to apply all of these 'tips and tricks' to her life? Would it actually improve? Would she actually become cuter/hotter/thinner/fitter/healthier/more popular? Do embodying these traits even make one's life more fulfilling?"
Obviously, the answer is no. So why do so many teenage girls (and the women they become) continue to buy these magazines?
In addition to blogging about her experiences following the magazine's advice and sharing about teen culture, Jamie also includes her own commentary and analysis -- all of which makes this experiment an interesting and useful resource for parents, educators, and other teens.
A great tool for sparking discussion and critical thinking about a whole host of issues relevant to tweens (and especially) teens.
~ Marsha
Like our blog? Please share it with others, comment, and/or subscribe to our RSS feed.
0 comments:
Post a Comment