Low-Fat Love Stories is a collection of short stories and visual portraits based on interview research with women about a dissatisfying relationship with a romantic partner or relative, or their body image. The stories focus on settling in relationships, the gap between fantasies and realities, relationship patterns, divorce, abuse, childhood pain, spirituality, feeling like a fraud, growing older, and daily struggles looking in the mirror. Once upon a time and happily ever after take on new meaning as the women's stories reveal the underside of fairytales and toxic popular culture. Written in the first-person with language taken directly from each woman's interview, the stories are raw, visceral, and inspirational. As a collection, the stories and art set you on an emotional rollercoaster and illustrate the different forms low-fat love may take, and the quest for self-worth in the context of popular culture that tells women they are never enough. The authors developed an original method of textual visual snapshots for this book. Low-Fat Love Stories can be used in a range of courses in art education, gender/women's studies, popular culture, psychology, relational communication, sociology and social work; or as an exemplar in research or qualitative methods, narrative inquiry, arts-based research or creative writing courses; or it can be read entirely for pleasure by individuals or in book clubs.An important addition to the fields of gender and media studies that is certain to stimulate self-reflection and lively discussion. - Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., author, feminist activist, and creator of the Killing Us Softly: Advertising's Image of Women film seriesBreathtaking! The images are glorious - emotionally compelling - those eyes, the pain, the fragility; the stories are captivating. - Laurel Richardson, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University and Cooley Book Award winner A powerful book that challenges the representations of women that dominate popular culture, offering alternative narratives and images grounded in women's real experiences. - Sut Jhally, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Founder & Executive Director, Media Education FoundationA wonderful model of the infinite possibilities for art as research. An inspirational affirmation of life for all people. - Shaun McNiff, University Professor, Lesley University and author of Art as Research, Art Heals, and Imagination in ActionPatricia Leavy, Ph.D., is an award-winning independent sociologist and author.Victoria Scotti, Ph.D., is an art therapist and artist.
