RhetTech
Abstract
Popular media depictions of eating disorders, such as the portrayal of anorexia nervosa in Netflix’s 2017 film To the Bone, reinforce harmful stereotypes and build a culture that glorifies and fetishizes eating disorders. This article presents a review of eating disorder-focused films and argues that these dramatizations have created a false, sensationalized model of eating disorders that prevents access to proper diagnosis and care. To the Bone promised a raw, honest depiction of anorexia, but its use of graphic images of emaciated bodies and its inaccurate representations of eating disorder treatment made it a source of misinformation and a ubiquitous presence on dangerous online forums promoting eating disorder behaviors. The creators of To the Bone distorted the reality of eating disorders and defied guidelines established by medical professionals for the sake of shock factor and viewership. This article also discusses the extensive controversy surrounding the weight loss of the film’s starring actress and how casting choices framed her anorexic character as both a role model and a proverbial damsel in distress. In addition, the film incorporates perverse sexually connoted elements that insult the impact of sexual trauma in the development of eating disorders. I will also share how my own experiences as a survivor of anorexia contradict To the Bone’s portrayal of eating disorder treatment, and the dangers of presenting a mollified picture of inpatient care. Given that the media is greatly responsible for the public’s inaccurate perception of eating disorders, it is critical for viewers to spot misinformation and demand a more diverse, responsible picture of eating disorders in film.
Recommended Citation
Norris, Vivian
(2022)
"To the Bone: Starving for Accuracy,"
RhetTech: Vol. 4, Article 11.
Available at:
https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/rhettech/vol4/iss1/11
