Now That I'm A Woman, Everything is Strange Response

Nothing in the character’s environment is alive. This isn’t too unsettling in itself as a narrative tool to illustrate the isolationism Cynthia is feeling and her desire to improve her situation. How she chooses to do this, however, can be baffling given the context and implications. The nose-strips in the video watched in class are meant to rid the nose of unsightly blackheads and polish your overall appearance but my question is, who is Cynthia doing this for? From what I can gather, there is no one else in her world, so the whole beautification process seems insignificant. That’s not to say women can’t do things for themselves. They can, though how much of this decision-making process is still influenced by society? Even devoid of a society in a video that reminds me more of an actor in front of a green screen interacting with a ping pong ball than Twin Peaks, there is still pressure to be a certain way. “You are your own voyeur.”

              I’m reminded of beauty campaigns that peddle a certain ‘ferocity’ that comes with their brand of lipstick. Lipstick as a form of empowerment can be harmless, I think, but there is something strange to me about the implication. These kinds of products being touted as a ‘salve’ to deeply rooted insecurities clearly are only a shallow attempt to delay addressing an underlying problem. This problem is way beyond the physicality of Moulton’s videos.