Soo many books...

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So university has began, (third and final year to be precise.) I've always felt this course was lacking in social media skills (like promoting yourself, getting your name out there as a photographer) and preparing you for the real industrial world of fashion and commercial photography. Well, the prayers have been answered! However saying this, I'm already starting to moan and whine over how much work we now have, but deep down I know it's going to help me in the long run!

Now, to talk about the picture above. These are the 6 out of the 8 books i've bought on beauty, fashion, and the portrayal of women / models. (Which I will have to have read by at least December....blimey!) I've always been rather passionate about the way we as a society see and analyse the woman's body. One day women are too thin, the next they are too fat, beauty is this, beauty is that. And for someone who has been battling weight issues since god-knows when, the way women have been represented though media is such a topsy-turvy and controversial topic I just had to learn more and write my dissertation on the subject.

I've currently started reading Hungry by Crystal Renn with (Marjorie Ingall) mainly because the font size was bigger than the others....and so far so good! She starts by explaining how she first got into the modelling industry by being scouted at the age of 14 and her struggles with her weight through-out her career. Although this read is for my dissertation, it's such an interested and well written book I could easily read it for fun!

So what are your opinions on the way woman's bodies are presented in the fashion / media world? Do you think it's fair that controversy is just directed towards 'plus size' models? Do you really think there will be 'real' women gracing the covers of Vogue and Elle? I'd love to know your views on this topic!