‘Low Self-esteem’: We Have To Admit that No One is 100% Perfect
Introduction
“I think I should get surgery for double eyelids. What do you think?” Influenced by entertainment,
film and television culture further aided by the development of medical technology, the
generalization of cosmetic surgery has even permeated the millennial generation. People deny
their true selves to pursue a better and even perfect version of themselves. What I am really
interested in is to understand their mentality, their dissatisfaction with themselves, their lack of
confidence that have turned them into persons with low self-esteem. The core of the collection will
be a focus on those with low-self-esteem, the concept being “imperfections attract, therefore
they’re true”. I want society to perceive and understand this group of people and to truly convey my
inner state.
Programme of study
I chose this theme because I have also experienced low self-esteem. I wanted to express the concept of self-healing through fashion, and reflect upon myself as I mature emotionally. I have scoured through books, online articles, exhibitions, film and television to find relevant information on low self-esteem which are then analysed. I wanted to explore the ways to express these unpredictable mental states through clothing. The significance of this topic is the emphasis on the inner thoughts/the other side of the fabrics, representing the hidden meanings of the garments. The right and wrong side of the fabrics shall be one part of the exploration process. I noticed that people tend to show the side with a more distinct pattern and one that is more comfortable to the touch. For example, silk commonly preferred for sleepwear, disregards the smooth and comfortable side to come in contact with skin, instead opting for the rough side as the inner lining.
Evaluation
In my past studies, I was awarded “The Most Improved” in my first ever show and it dawned on me
that I had a knack in visualising the best materials to suit my needs. However, under my lecturer’s
suggestion, I wanted to challenge myself by diverging from previous styles. Instead of using a
monochromatic colour scheme, I expanded by using contrasting and vibrantly rich multi-colours. It
was an invaluable experimental experience but I did not make full use of the time to conduct a
more in-depth research into it, hence, the concept not reaching its fullest potential to be something
truly powerful. To be the most efficient and independent designer, I believe that we must never
forget to shape our true personal style and create a distinctive personal voice despite multiple
attempts in experimenting.
Research sources
In Overcoming Low Self-esteem, Melanie Fennell defines self-esteem as: “The way we look at ourselves, the way we think of ourselves, and the value we give ourselves”. (1999, p. 1) She pointed out that self-esteem is our central belief and low self-esteem indicates our negative core beliefs in regards to the quality and value of our selves. For example, we may feel that we are weak, not good enough, undeserving of good things and people, etc.
Some people are used to “labeling” themselves. These labels generally start with “I am __”, for example, a low self-esteem person would say to himself: “I am a loser.” Psychologists define these labels as “conceptived self.” Those with low self-esteem do not realise that human beings are complex and variable, and may behave differently from their “conceptived selves” in different situations. They doubtsss that they are capable of change, but use the notion of “conceptived self” to limit themselves, limiting themselves to only act and think in accordance with these rigid templates (p. 107).
The concept of body image was first proposed by Austrian psychoanalyst Paul Schilder, referring to the mental image of our physical selves, that is, how our bodies appear to ourselves. Moreover, people will always have a specific view of their bodies, be it positive or negative. Therefore, body image contains people’s perceptions of their own physical beauty and sexual attraction.
The feeling of inferiority comes from “comparison”, whether consciously or subconsciously done. It may be a kind of “inadequate” or “weak” feeling when compared with others in the outside world. Similarly, one can also feel “incapable” or having “insufficient ability” when held to their own idealised standards. These feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness may threaten the values of our beliefs and our own existence. Many will suppress this inferiority to the subconscious level (Moritz, et al., 2006; Warta, 2008).Bibliography
Keep a full record of all original and documentary material consulted. List appropriate material using the Harvard Referencing System.
Bibliography
Book:
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J.V. Fennell, M. (1999). Overcoming low self-esteem. Robinson PublishingLtd. Online Version: vk.com
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Bentall, R. (2006). Inferiority complex. In G. Davey, EncyclopaedicDictionary of psychology. London, United Kingdom: Routledge.
Warta, T. (2008). Understanding the inferiority complex. LifeScript
Films:
Tetsuya Nakashima. (2006) Memories of Matsuko, Japan Films,130 minutes.
Appendices
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