My activist media project is a Tumblr blog (fitsposucks.tumblr.com) that uses the methods of reblogging and creating original posts in order to criticize the fitspo industry for the damaging effects that fitspo images have on women's self-esteem. Tumblr is a great medium to use to make an activist media statement because it allows for both images and words to be included in posts, so I can show fitspo images and add my own commentary to them.
Fitspo, short for "fitspiration," is a collection of images and quotes that are designed to motivate women to work out and get fit. It is clear through a large amount of anecdotal evidence present on the internet that fitspo images create pressure in the minds of women to look perfect and guilt in women when they don't fit the mold represented in the images.
In researching the topic, I learned that fitspo is centered mainly around the female gender and I found it interesting that there weren't many males featured in the images (Kneeland). Using Tumblr allowed me to participate in writing pop culture instead of simply reading it. In addition, it also allows me to demonstrate and develop media literacy by viewing pop culture and fitspo through a critical lens.
"Fitspo Sucks: 5 Reasons Photos of Hot Women, Catchy Slogans Are Awful." Jessi Kneeland. 2 Dec. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2015.
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