Advertisement for The 21st Century Life | Teen Ink

Advertisement for The 21st Century Life

February 16, 2012
By Ahlia_Bethea BRONZE, Roselle, New Jersey
Ahlia_Bethea BRONZE, Roselle, New Jersey
3 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves and, of course, each other. If girls dressed for boys they'd just walk around naked at all times"


Staring in the mirror
Disproportional
A giant stares back at me
Is this what boys see when I flirt with them?
Disgusting
So many zits on this pale face
Connect the dots and color me in.

What was the website Lucy told me about?
It made all her dreams come true.
Scrolling Scrolling
Found It!

The answer to my prayers
flashes onto the screen.
Supermodel Janice Dickinson's
sensational words fill my ears:

"LISTEN ALL TEENAGE GIRLS!
Look! See what the media has to say about beauty

"The body of a model...the face of an actress"
Won't it all be worth it
when you pass out at the end of the catwalk?
Furthermore:
"The boys will love the way you look."
Your image of beauty will gain you a spot on the cover of Vogue
Depending on the price you are willing to pay

DISCLAIMER:
There are chances that these methods won't work
You could go through all of this trouble for nothing
Take this special pill
at your own risk
Of course!
Try this tight shirt, short skirt, and see-through bra
with discretion
Of course!

BOOB JOB
FACE LIFT
NOSE JOB
NO CARBS
NO SUGAR
ONLY WATER
ARE YOU THIN ENOUGH?

Spend five hours in the gym
burning off 2000 calories
When you only ate 700
Why not?
Everyone else is doing it
Hang out with girls that encourage this behavior
Taking turns sharing weight loss tips
Have parties with the photographers who say
your skin-and-bones look is
So chic"

A pill, a skirt, and the gym
Is that all?
This is going to be easier than I thought!
Scrolling Scrolling
On wait, she's not done:

"Don't forget to tell all of your friends about my system!
Invite them over and together you can decide:
What will make you perfect.

Flip through the magazines again tonight
rip out the legs
the arms
the stomach
the breasts
the nose
the cheekbones
and the smile you want.
Take them to the doctor tomorrow
Tell him I sent you!
He'll know what to do."

The author's comments:
I was inspired to write this piece after reading "Advertisement for the Waldorf-Astoria" by Langston Hughes. I was intrigued by the style of the poem and decided to emulate it. I believe Hughes' poem is a social commentary and I decided to make the subject matter more relevant to today's society.

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