The image of 'the runner' is always seen in society as people being healthy, or at least trying to be. This is seen especially in women, because women tend to run to create lean muscle, while men tend to do more weight lifting. This is all in terms of vanity because people are trying to make themselves look good based on how society views them: trim, fit, and sexy. Running seems to be the chosen form of exercise for women, hence the woman becomes the signifier of the activity. One of the reasons why women run is because they develop a 'pursuit without a terminus,' meaning that since clothing trends change, the appearance of the body is changed along with it. Women want to fit their bodies into these new styles to fit into society's view of what it means to 'look good.' Another reason is that women develop docile bodies through the regular practicing of running. It becomes habitual and they can't seem to stop...not a day goes by where they DON'T run. It's addicting to them now because they are, according to Bordo, making an "improvement" to their bodies. The feel their bodies NEED this improvement in order to fit in with how society views them. Running starts as a choice for them, and then it gradually becomes habitual, hence the docile body. The final reason women run is purely out of vanity and pride. They want to improve their self image by running, which will make their bodies more trim and fit....basically they are trying to look like the image of the super models in the magazine advertisements. Of course, women want to be healthy, who doesn't? Running IS a great activity to keep your body healthy, but it sometimes can be taken too far. The picture above clearly shows a VERY fit woman who is trying to keep her lean figure...it gives us the message that we need to run and that it's good for you...mainly because you'll look AMAZING eventually. We see this because the woman in the picture is very good looking and she has the body of the super models that we all see in the ads today, which promote looking good. Running is great, but let's take it in healthy moderation people! :)
Friday, October 1, 2010
Running...Is It REALLY Healthy???
The image of 'the runner' is always seen in society as people being healthy, or at least trying to be. This is seen especially in women, because women tend to run to create lean muscle, while men tend to do more weight lifting. This is all in terms of vanity because people are trying to make themselves look good based on how society views them: trim, fit, and sexy. Running seems to be the chosen form of exercise for women, hence the woman becomes the signifier of the activity. One of the reasons why women run is because they develop a 'pursuit without a terminus,' meaning that since clothing trends change, the appearance of the body is changed along with it. Women want to fit their bodies into these new styles to fit into society's view of what it means to 'look good.' Another reason is that women develop docile bodies through the regular practicing of running. It becomes habitual and they can't seem to stop...not a day goes by where they DON'T run. It's addicting to them now because they are, according to Bordo, making an "improvement" to their bodies. The feel their bodies NEED this improvement in order to fit in with how society views them. Running starts as a choice for them, and then it gradually becomes habitual, hence the docile body. The final reason women run is purely out of vanity and pride. They want to improve their self image by running, which will make their bodies more trim and fit....basically they are trying to look like the image of the super models in the magazine advertisements. Of course, women want to be healthy, who doesn't? Running IS a great activity to keep your body healthy, but it sometimes can be taken too far. The picture above clearly shows a VERY fit woman who is trying to keep her lean figure...it gives us the message that we need to run and that it's good for you...mainly because you'll look AMAZING eventually. We see this because the woman in the picture is very good looking and she has the body of the super models that we all see in the ads today, which promote looking good. Running is great, but let's take it in healthy moderation people! :)
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I totally agree with your evaluation of the docile body, but how would you take into account those who start running for health reasons? Does it transform from a medical reason to a cultural reason as one becomes situated to running? It's an interesting question since I don't think we've had enough discussion in class about how one assimilates to the docile body.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post. I am a runner myself and I do it to keep in shape and because I really do enjoy it. I know that's what most people who run or work out tend to say: "I do it because I enjoy it." But this got me thinking...if culture suddenly decided that being overweight was beautiful and sexy, would we have so many people running and working out? I think probably not. So while it is enjoyable, it is also partly done to fit a cultural demand for health and fitness.
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