The document describes a movie poster that was found dissatisfying because it prominently featured the main female character's large breasts, implying that to be a "perfect soldier" or heroine requires being sexually appealing above all else. This undermines the potential message of empowerment and sends the problematic implication that a woman's worth is defined by her breast size. The advice is to make the poster reflect the actual film and character more accurately without unnecessary sexualization that could impact young viewers.

1.  Find one SPECIFIC example of your own personal
dissatisfaction with the way in which women and/or men
and/or children and/or any cultural /ethnic /religious/etc.
group are represented in ONE of the following mass
media messages: magazine, song, book, movie,
television show, music video, video game, or any mass
media advertisement. Remember that your
dissatisfaction can come from seeing how others are
represented, not just people like yourself.
 Also, "dissatisfaction" does NOT have to mean the
portrayal is a "negative" one, but rather a portrayal which
you are personally dissatisfied with for whatever reason.
 CHOOSEA SPECIFIC EXAMPLEAND GIVE SPECIFIC
SUGGESTIONS!
REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:

2.  REPORT ONTHESE 5 AREAS:
 1.) TYPE OF MEDIA MESSAGE: What channel is it using? Is it aTV
commercial?A print ad? A movie? A song?
 2.) WHATTHE MESSAGE IS CONVEYING ONTHE SURFACE:
Describe the image in detail - if at all possible, please include a link
to the media in question and/or include still images in your
response.
 3.) WHAT ISTHE UNDERLYING MESSAGE BEING CONVEYED?
Go deeper than the surface of the message and tell us what it's
saying besides the obvious. If you don't see there is a deeper
message going on, why did you pick this specific message?
 4.) WHYYOU FINDTHE MESSAGETO BE DISSATISFYING? Why
did you choose this specific message for this project?
 5.) WHAT ADVICE DOYOU HAVE FORTHE MAKER OFTHE
MESSAGE? What should they do and why should they do it?
REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:

3. REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:
1.)TYPE OF
MEDIA
MESSAGE:
A large movie
poster at the
theater
(PRINT about
FILM) -
approximately
27″ x 40″

4. REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:
 2.)WHATTHE MESSAGE IS CONVEYING
ONTHE SURFACE:
 I was at the movies with friends and,
when we all saw this poster, the very
first thing we all said was “Wow – look
how huge her breasts are!” so that
becomes the first and dominant
message; not that she’s powerful and
the heroine of the film, not that it’s
about technology and the future, not
even that it stars Scarlett
Johansson…just that this woman has
very large breasts on display.

5.  This poster tells me this movie is about a
heroine with large breasts. Looking a little
closer at the image, GHOST INTHE SHELL
seems to be a sexy sci-fi film starring
Scarlett Johansson – note the futuristic
outfit and graphics – and she’s
conventionally attractive with tousled hair,
perfect make-up, and, again, large breasts
that dominate the poster, especially in
person.
 Looking deeper, I know the “SHELL” in
“GHOST INTHE SHELL” is the mechanical
body that serves as her vehicle/vessel to be
the “perfect soldier” but “perfect” to whom,
exactly?
REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:

6. REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:
 3.)WHAT ISTHE UNDERLYING MESSAGE
BEING CONVEYED?
 Now, to be fair, I’ve not seen the film (nor have I
seen the film it’s based on) but I know the
“SHELL” is the mechanical body that serves as her
vehicle/vessel to be the “perfect soldier” but
“perfect” to whom, exactly? Why would a
“perfect soldier” need to have super large
breasts? If anything, they would significantly
impact her ability to be effective and mobile. It
also more than slightly suggest that to be
“perfect” a woman needs to have super-large
breasts, no matter the situation. Again, perhaps
this is explained in the film but this image is
designed to get people to see the film in the first
place, so it’s the audience’s point of entry.

7. REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:
 4.)WHYYOU FINDTHE MESSAGETO BE
DISSATISFYING?
 I find it dissatisfying because we have a
long and shameful cultural history of
equating the value of a woman with her
breast size.
 And even though GITS is sci-fi fantasy and
very stylized, this PG-13 film and its ad
campaign could be sending the message
that the heroine has to be sexually
desirable above all else; a message that
young girls and boys will most likely take
very seriously, even if it’s not a message
they can fully understand.

8. REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:
 5.)WHAT ADVICE DOYOU HAVE FORTHE
MAKER OFTHE MESSAGE?
 I would recommend that the media maker
consult the actual film they’re selling and
have this poster reflect what the film
seems to actually feature – a heroine with
a more “normal” breast size.
 I’d also ask them if she HAS to be in a body
suit that’s white-flesh colored so she
appears to be completely nude in the film.
Couldn’t it have been white? Or silver? Or
black? Or at least not “nude” colored? I
have to wonder, “Would a man be
presented like this if the lead was a hero
and not a heroine?”

9. REFLECTIVE PROJECT #2:
 5.)WHAT ADVICE DOYOU HAVE FORTHE
MAKER OFTHE MESSAGE?
 As to “WHY” I give this advice it’s because
I believe Hollywood can make a great
movie about a kick-ass heroine who
doesn’t have huge breasts and look like
she’s nude; I have faith in filmmakers to
tell a great story in which the female lead
character doesn’t have to be needlessly
sexualized. I also think audiences would
support a good film because it’s exciting
and told well, not just because the poster
exaggerates the heroine’s chest…we can
do better.