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CON-SUM-US are views and opinons on the way people have created false perceptions of what they must be and need in present society. Heavy advertisement, the latest diet trends, the constant bombardment of images of perfect, physically developed people and the overall need of to transform one's self is the main inspiration for the development of CON-SUM-US. The main focus of CON-SUM-US is the pursuit of physical perfection. Physical perfection and the perfect self-image is the pinnacle of utlimate happiness in America.

But what is it worth? Your identity? Health?...

View the video to watch an abstract view of perfection.

If an individual is happy with who they are and what they look like, how many consumer products would they buy? Not as many as someone who is insecure about themself. So advertisers have to make people feel like they need what they're selling by using unrealistic images. As a society we have become obsessed with obtaining perfection, no matter at what cost. Young girls see advertisements of thin, beautiful looking models and actresses and think that is what they must look like. So they go to great lengths to obtain that sense of "perfection" they think society is telling them to achieve. These great lengths include, but are not limited to, eating disorders such as anorexia, having plastic surgery done or young men injecting drugs like steriods into their bodies.

People start to lose focus of what is real in life and the blend of commercialism and the pressures of being perfect and perceived well socially combine into loosing one’s identity. This is especially true of young adults and teens. What is reality? Is it trying to look like model Kate Moss and starving yourself to probable death? Is it normal to try to transform one's self into a Barbie doll? People need to become aware of how they create false perceptions of who they must be, and how they are driven by perfection.

CON-SUM-US is a vehicle for people to learn and be presented with select topics that relate to the pursuit of perfection and false perceptions that are created, discuss the topics on the discussion board and hopefully think about the message that is being presented to them through the information and video.

REFERENCES
1. http://www.aafp.org/afp/991015ap/1738.html. Pursuit of Perfection: A Primary Care Physician's Guide to Body Dysmorphic Disorder. JAMES R. SLAUGHTER, M.D., 1999.

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This interactive media project was created by a student for educational purposes at The Art Institute of Atlanta
and is in no way intended for c ommercial gain or as a source of public information.