Information
This project, a collaboration between four team members, focused on challenging societal perceptions of bras and women's bodies. Through a combination of hand-drawn animation, stop-motion, and 3D modelling, we explored the discomfort and societal pressures related to wearing bras, questioning why such an uncomfortable garment is considered necessary. My contribution involved creating the hand-drawn animation, managing the audio and voiceover, and refining the storyboard, while my teammates each created individual videos to present various aspects of the theme. The project aimed to promote the idea that wearing or not wearing a bra should be a personal choice, just like wearing glasses, without societal judgment. It also helped me gain confidence in my leadership skills and expanded my creative direction, particularly in animation.
Inspiration
The aim of the project was to identify the "wrong" or problematic aspects of bras and present them in a fun and engaging way to raise awareness about the cultural perceptions and social pressures surrounding bras and women's bodies. Additionally, the project sought to explore how these perceptions have been influenced by advertising and cultural attitudes, particularly the objectification of women's bodies.
Research
In 20th-century American advertisements, women were often depicted in an "invisible" form, with their bodies outlined by lingerie, but their actual bodies were not fully presented. This advertising technique objectified the female body, turning it into an object for the male gaze, diminishing its significance as a three-dimensional entity. Such portrayals of the female body made it difficult to recognize their subjective experience, ultimately reducing women's bodies and gender characteristics to a singular aesthetic and sexual expression.
Through my research, I found that society widely promotes an idealized female body, particularly focusing on the size and shape of the breasts. When searching online for "perfect breasts," I discovered that some standards define the ideal size and shape of breasts, even down to specific measurements in centimetres.
These descriptions often use terms like "soft" and "elastic," which carry a male perspective, further reinforcing the objectification of women's breasts, turning them into tools for satisfying male desires rather than natural physical characteristics.
From a young age, we are told that not wearing a bra will cause uneven breasts or sagging, but my research shows that these claims are inaccurate. Studies indicate that wearing a bra does not prevent breast sagging, and conversely, not wearing a bra does not cause sagging either.
The primary function of a bra is to alleviate the pressure on the back muscles from the weight of the breasts, not to alter the shape of the breasts or prevent sagging.
Additionally, the rumours suggesting that wearing a bra increases the risk of breast cancer are also scientifically unfounded—whether you wear a bra or not has no impact on the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
In interviews with women, many expressed that they dislike wearing bras and find them uncomfortable, preferring the freedom and comfort of not wearing one. However, some feel societal pressure and believe that not wearing a bra will attract unwanted attention, so they only choose to go without in private settings.
For women with larger breasts, wearing a bra helps alleviate physical discomfort, but they may choose not to wear one at home. Some also mentioned buying beautiful bras to please themselves. This suggests that bras function as both practical tools and decorative items and should not be viewed simply as a negative design.
On the other hand, the attitudes of men toward this topic are more complex. Although many verbally support women’s freedom to choose whether to wear a bra, their attitudes can change when it concerns their girlfriends. This shift reflects the gendered perspective that many men hold toward women’s bodies, particularly their breasts. It reveals a deeper issue of the objectification and sexualization of the female body.
In conclusion, the design of the bra is not inherently flawed; it has both functional and decorative purposes. However, more importantly, we must reassess the societal attitudes toward bras and the female body. Historically, male perspectives and advertising have shaped these perceptions, turning the female breast into a "sexual organ" rather than a natural part of the body.
Through this project, I hope to help others recognize that there is no shame in bras or women's breasts. Whether to wear or not wear a bra should be a personal choice, just like wearing glasses, and it should not be constrained by societal bias.
Process
I came across an educational video on the internet that explained the concept of consent by comparing it to drinking tea. This approach transformed an abstract and complex topic into a relatable, story-driven format, making it easier for people to understand and engage with the information. I believe this metaphorical storytelling aligns well with our theme—comparing bras to glasses—to present this somewhat controversial topic in a lighthearted and accessible way.
Furthermore, I was particularly drawn to the simplicity of the animation in the video. It felt approachable and effective, which inspired me to use hand-drawn animation to create the final piece for our project. The storytelling approach helped simplify complex content, making it engaging and easier to comprehend.
I structured the storyboard by beginning with a narrative about glasses, dividing the video into distinct scenes, each paired with a specific type of glasses. Gradually, the theme transitions back to bras, drawing parallels between the two. The recurring imagery of eyes and glasses serves as a subtle reference to the concept of the male gaze, weaving this perspective into the visual narrative.
The animation portion of the project was primarily completed by Anki and me, with Yujie contributing to specific scenes. Anki worked on the dating scene, different types of glasses (such as those for dating, contact lenses, and work), and parts of the bra scenes. Yujie handled the opening sequence with the changing glasses and the workplace scene. The remaining parts were completed by me, including the final touch-ups and additional frames for the animation.
I was responsible for the video editing, audio editing, and voiceover script writing. This was my first time writing a voiceover script and editing audio. Although I felt that my audio editing wasn't perfect—particularly in areas where overlapping sounds became a bit jarring—the overall result was still fairly smooth. For the voiceover, I decided to hire a professional voice actor to enhance the quality of the video, believing it would add a certain level of polish and professionalism to the final piece.