MY CRAZY MEDIA LIFE
PROGRAMME 4: THE MAKING OF A TEENAGE GLAMOUR GIRL
ACTIVITIES
Guidance
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Before viewing
Discuss these questions in groups:
- Girls, would you consider glamour modelling?
- Have you or someone you know already tried it?
- Do you think there's anything wrong with it?
- Boys, would you be happy for your girlfriend to pose for the camera in her underwear?
- How would you react if you heard there was someone in your school or college who had appeared topless in a magazine?
Activities based on the clips
To view 4Learning video clips you will need Windows XP/2000 and Windows Media Player 9, 10 or 11. Unfortunately, the clips are not supported on Macintosh computers.
The video clips may contain a few seconds of extra material at the beginning and end. We have therefore included opening and closing descriptions to help identify the intended scene.
Haf discusses glamour modelling
Clip 1: 03:08 – 04:06
- In (Haf): 'My main motivation is money.'
- Out (Haf): '…lady-like femme fatale character as glamorous.'
Discuss what glamour really means – look in a dictionary if necessary. What does it mean in the context of 'glamour modelling'? Read this article about glamour modelling in Pakistan:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/
world/south_asia/3891321.stm
Discuss the difference between attitudes there and in the UK.
The requirements and pay for a career in glamour modelling
Clip 2: 05:48 – 07:43
- In (photographer): 'The Sun Page 3 girls are an elite...'
- Out (photographer): '…less than 10 grand a year.'
Read this information from the BBC Radio 1 website:
'Top glamour model agency and lads' mag, Nuts, have told us they're receiving a record number of enquiries from girls who want to get into the business. Sugarbabes, the agency that represents Page 3 girls, says it's getting twice the number of calls it was a year ago and turns away hundreds of girls a week. There's a warning though that hardly anyone makes big money out of it.'
Why do you think so many girls want to get into a career like this, if there's very little money in it? What do you think about the assets you need to be successful? Is the photographer's description of perfection the same as yours?
Michelle talks about the reality of glamour modelling
Clip 3: 11:00 – 12:00
- In (Michelle): 'People do think there's a lot of money to be made.'
- Out (Michelle): 'The more naïve girls might do things they didn't expect.'
Michelle says that your standards drop once you realise how competitive you have to be. Have you noticed Haf's standards or opinions changing throughout this documentary? Do you think she will change even more as her desire for more money takes over?
Haf's future is discussed
Clip 4: 21:40 – 23:35 (end of programme)
- In (father): 'Haf's gone to London...'
- Out (Haf): '…when I'm 28 have a baby.'
What do you think Haf's future will be? Do you think she'll be exploited? If the men who read the magazines want something different, will she be prepared to change again? Do you think you could keep strict rules about not being exploited in this kind of world?
After viewing
Read the following discussion about glamour modelling on the BBC Radio one website:
www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/
news/newsbeat/070222_glamour.shtml
What would you add to the discussion?
