The Importance of Image in the Modern World

The Importance of Image in the Modern World

Image is defined as the physical outward appearance that people view

an individual or an object. Over the years, image has evolved from

mere vanity to being regarded as a great importance in the modern

world. It is not merely the vivid representation of a person or an

object; it is a powerful tool used by us to impress and “wow” people,

for self or even to make money. Image is also an important factor in

society nowadays, as it draws a line between the popular people and

the “fashion scum of society”; it separates the normal everyday

products from the high-end gadgets. Image is indeed everything in the

modern world today.

Image is everything in today’s society as women are increasingly

putting more emphasis on their appearance. Women today are growing

more conscious of how others perceive their outward appearance. Even

in a relatively Oriental society like Singapore, it does not come as a

surprise to see women going to Botox clinics during lunchtime hours to

receive their dosage of Botox, a chemical used to paralyse certain

muscles to prevent wrinkles. Furthermore, beauty advertisements

nowadays feature women models that are barely out of their teens. Even

with older models, they are usually models featuring in slimming

centres or skin improvement advertisements. Thus, the mass media

promotes an ideal image of what a beautiful and desirable woman should

look like, influencing women around the world to model after. An

example is the Glamour magazine survey: 75% of women aged 18-35 were

reported to feel that they were too fat; 45% of underweight women felt

they were too fat; almost 50% o...

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pursuing the best of everything. Desperate times that make image no

longer important do not prevail in the modern day. Image can also be

presented in ways other than how a person looks. For example, many

people who lose their jobs still strive to preserve their dignity by

picking themselves up through tough times, wanting to portray a image

of perseverance and determination. This shows that one’s image can be

portrayed through one’s actions and character, not appearances alone.

Thus, it can be argued that appearances may not be everything.

In a nutshell, the people living in modern society today are judged by

a host of factors. What one wears, drives, or stays in can instantly

change how other people perceive them. Image remains to be an

undeniable fact of a great importance in the modern world today.