During Week 4, I presented Selling the Fountain of Youth along with a few of my other classmates, and through the preparation of the presentation, I took away more from the book than I would have if I wasn’t expecting to present it. In all honesty, it is so easy as a student to read my assigned readings nonchalantly, not really digesting it. That’s why it is so easy for me to forget what I just read because I take away very little from it. However, this book was very informative and enlightening to me because although biosynthetic hormones are no longer a popular product being advertised in the anti-aging industry, other products are, and I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. For example, an anti-aging lotion or a face mask that is supposed to rejuvenate is a hot commodity for all ages for most females. Even if the product does prevent “aging”, why aging considered a bad thing when everyone goes through it. It is so easy to fall into wanting to make yourself look youthful when the environment is anti-aging. There are so many times where I’d become scared if I notice my skin starting to wrinkle and look into better skincare products or I will see ads for liposuction or botox where you keep everything “tight” because sagging is unappealing. Therefore, seeing the other side of the anti-aging industry was a very necessary perspective for me to see and am grateful for being exposed to such readings as Selling the Fountain of Youth.
Given that this is the first time LCS is working online and my first time as a LCS student, it really is hard to provide a fair reflection. I don't know how this program is supposed to be, but from Week 1 and 2, I can say just how appreciative I am of this program. The lessons, lectures, and readings we have are so informative and interesting. I am reading one of the books "Selling the Fountain of Youth" which expands on the crazed anti-aging marketing and history, mostly in the US. The fear of aging drove so many people to spend money and put their faith in unproven medical treatments from uncertified anti-aging doctors. I also learned how consuming a capitalistic society is because people were making outrageous claims just to gain more wealth and potentially more fame, but that's besides the point. Looking past the education and exposure I have been getting, I really am enjoying my synchronous lecture times. It is the closest I feel to being in an in-person lecture because of how interactive and gentle the professors are. Being in a breakout room and in a super small zoom session with my camera on is a bit intimidating, but I genuinely believe the professors and UIAs work hard to provide a safe and comfortable space. Therefore, I do feel more opened to putting myself out there, and it is making my experience with online learning better.
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Jenny KimJenny is a Human Developmental Sciences with a Specialization in Healthy Aging and Urban Studies & Planning double major from Cypress, CA. A fun fact about Jenny is that she likes her 'warm' foods to be SCALDING hot or else it doesn't taste as good. Archives
May 2021
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