AMERICAN BEAUTY STANDARD IMPACT ON THE MAIN CHARACTER OF ISN'T IT ROMANTIC MOVIE

Ridha Ikhva Erviana; Linda Meylinda; Umi Hani

doi:10.32682/jeellv13i2.135

Authors

Ridha Ikhva Erviana Universitas Pamulang Author
Linda Meylinda Universitas Pamulang Author
Umi Hani Universitas Pamulang Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32682/jeellv13i2.135

Keywords:

beauty standard, film, impact of beauty standard

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the representation of American beauty standards in the film Isn’t It Romantic (2019) and examine their impact on the main character’s personal, social, and psychological experiences. The object of this research is the film directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, which is uniquely positioned as a romantic comedy that simultaneously critiques and reinforces conventional beauty ideals within American popular culture. This research employed a qualitative descriptive method, with data analysis presented in writing through interpretative and critical examinations of scenes, dialogues, and character interactions. Naomi Wolf’s concept of the beauty myth served as the primary theoretical framework for analysing how beauty standards function as a form of social control across various aspects of life, including gender relations, media representation, and workplace dynamics. The findings reveal that American beauty standards are prominently constructed and normalised in both societal and professional environments, particularly through media portrayal, social expectations, and institutional practices. Furthermore, the study identifies four major impacts of these beauty standards on the main character: psychological pressure, lowered self-esteem, appearance-based inequality, and a gradual process of self-acceptance.

References

Abrams, M. H. (1999). A glossary of literary terms (7th ed.). Heinle & Heinle.

Abrams, M. H., & Harpham, G. G. (2014). A glossary of literary terms (11th ed.). Cengage Learning. https://www.furkatingcollege.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ΝΕΟ-ΛΕΞΙΚΟ-ΦΙΛΟΛΟΓΙΚΩΝ-ΟΡΩΝ-ABRAMS-HARPHAM.pdf

Ary, D., Jacobs, L. C., & Sorensen, C. (2010). Introduction to research in education. 8th edition. Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.

Bhandari, P. (2020, June 19). An introduction to qualitative research. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/qualitative-research/

Bordwell, D., & Thompson, K. (2020). Film Art: An Introduction (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.

Brown, B. (2016). Cinematography: theory and practice: image making for cinematographers and directors. Routledge. https://booksite.elsevier.com/samplechapters/9780240805009/9780240805009.PDF

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mxied Method Approaches. Sage Publication, inc.

Gautier, W. (2021). Black beauty: womanist consciousness as a protective factor in black women’s body image satisfaction. Journal of Black Psychology, 47(8), 631-656. https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984211034960. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984211034960

Giannetti, L. 2013. Understanding Movies. Laurence King Publishing Ltd

Krozer, A., & Gómez, A. (2022). Not in the eye of the beholder: racialization, whiteness, and beauty standards in mexico. Latin American Research Review, 58(2), 422 – 439. https://doi.org/10.1017/lar.2022.104. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/lar.2022.104

Karakartal, D. (2021). Social effects of film and television. The online Journal of New Horizons in Education, 11(3), 114-118.

Lee, B., & Childs, M. (2019). Ideal beauty standards: a preliminary analysis of ethnicity and skin tone features. Social and Psychological Aspects, 76(1), 1-3. https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.8298. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.8298

Sekayi, D. (2016). Aesthetic resistance to commercial influences: the impact of the eurocentric beauty standard on black college women. The Journal of Negro Education, 72(4), 467-477. https://doi.org/10.2307/3211197. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3211197

Wahyudi, T. (2017). Membaca kemungkinan film sebagai obiek penelitian sastra. Film and Literature, 17(2), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.30996/parafrase.v17i2.1369 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30996/parafrase.v17i2.1369

Wolf, N. (2002). Beauty myth how images of beauty are used against women. HarperCollins Publisher.