Colonized Beauty: Beauty Standards in Indonesia

It is often to hear body image comments circulating around family group meetings. Born and raised under the influence of Indonesian culture, little did everyone know the standards we abide from is still under the influence of colonization. Understanding the ‘Eurocentric beauty standards’ stigma makes it a relevant topic to be discussed amongst Indonesian people as it gives beauty standards that affect physical and mental health. I feel obligated to address how the true beauty of our people is blinded by the stigma and how it has become a norm. Taking my enjoyment in film photography, I will be spreading the awareness through my images in a photobook.

The finalized goal statement is ‘To explore Indonesia's definition of beauty by interviewing women and developing my film photography skills. Then create a photobook containing portraits that share awareness on the toxicity of beauty standards’ I find this challenging and interesting. I will be conducting my research through interviews with 5 different women with questions regarding the stigma with anonymous questionnaires. Then I will take portraits of women using my developed film photography skills. Compiling all of my research and the images taken, I will create a photobook containing contents regarding the issue through written word pieces, thus giving a social awareness.

This project deems challenging as I dive in a sensitive topic. I lack professional experience in understanding photography components or film-photography components. I find it out of my comfort zone discussing such sensitive topics with my relatives. With the pandemic still occurring, the project might not be in favour of governmental-health protocols.

Global Context

The closest Global Context my project connects to is Identities and Relationships as my project revolves around the understanding of a societal-social stigma that has been spread through the culture from generations to generations through family and social interactions. This Global Context will guide me through the contents I will be providing in the photobook. My photobook will address the identity issues that individuals are facing. My project aims to spread awareness regarding this stigma as I will be exploring the issue through thorough research.

Product

The final product was made according to the goal statement which is to create a photobook addressing ‘Eurocentric Beauty Standards’. Connecting it back to the global context, Identities and Relationship, all the written content conveyed many parts regarding this issue. It conveyed the message that we are all victims of Eurocentrism and the presence of it being passed down, but note; it doesn’t determine your identity and it is nothing but toxicity. The pictures were to accentuate the understanding and were all styled and curated to depict a range of beauty in this mother land.

I’ve successfully implemented all my skills in creating this project. I’ve used all my research extracts for the written piece resulting in a total of 1576 words used to spread the awareness. I’ve asked three people to model for the photo book. In total, there are 24 pictures in the photo book all taken with a Nikon F2AS film camera using a Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400 film roll. The photo book was edited and designed using Canva. The budget mainly was around 1,550,000 IDR.

See my book below!

Reflection

The lessons learned in creating this photo book exceeded my expectations. I expanded my knowledge in terms of my photography skills. I’ve improved greatly in my film photography skills. As seen through test shots I did from the camera, I’ve improved from time to time, and learned through my mistakes which resulted in these pictures. I’ve come to continue and learn the beauty in film cameras; the thrill of not knowing what is to come. I’ve improved my design skills however, I believe the improvement does not end to the extent of this project. I’ve learned how to create a recurring design theme that is appropriate to the goal as well as a photo book. I’ve understood the means of designing a photo book with originality. I’ve also obtained the knowledge on creating a layout that would look good on a book. I’ve now understood the means of creating a book that would be good in the eyes of people.

I’m now much more aware of the global context ‘Identities and Relationships’. Preserving the identity of beauty in Indonesia, this is my way of educating people and it has been proved to help. I’ve successfully used pictures and written content to spread awareness regarding Eurocentric Beauty Standards. I’ve obtained the knowledge of the inter-relationship we all share as human beings and how it can result in a toxic domino effect if it isn’t addressed. I hope that this photo book will enlighten more young people to address these types of issues to break that toxic domino effect.

IB Learner Reflection

The IB learner profile has guided me throughout this whole project. The many skills implemented ensured me to keep my ground to create an outstanding output. I implemented my knowledgeable skills from my research to the content writing, my communication skills to the proofreading needed and printing purposes, being principled to the schedules I’ve made for myself and knowing the restrictions implemented during these days, being an inquirer through the questions I ask my peers so that I can constantly improve my product, and reflective to grasp the global context.

All served greatly in this project but there are two that stuck with me the most. Being open-minded is one of them. Being open-minded as an IB learner is being open to possibilities that could happen creating this project and being open to the possibilities. Especially during the pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty during the development of the product. One thing I lack as a person is the idea of digesting a criticism. I find criticism personal and hurtful at times, and it would lead to anxieties. But, through this project, I had to build myself against these critics. Being open-minded helped me look at critics in a manner that is professional and positive.

The next IB learner profile that stuck with me the most is being balanced. There is need for being balanced with normal school work, social life, family, and personal mindfulness. Which should not go in vain. Being balanced was never an easy task for me as there were a lot of sacrifices needed to be made to maintain momentum. One thing that I found hardest to maintain and being balanced with is my personal mindfulness from anxieties from the pandemic that haven’t left. But, I take this opportunity to be balanced by receiving enjoyment from doing this project.