The body is a paradoxical organism, one we all have in common; yet, our experiences in our own bodies are distinct and particular. "Body Stories" is a short documentary built out of an ambitious storytelling project, and a vivid experimental exploration of life lived in a human body. "Body Stories" unites the bodies of 25 storytellers through a prismatic kaleidoscope of reflections on birth, death, and rebirth, vividly illustrating an interwoven collection of authentic anecdotes about bodily memories, fears, and desires. The narratives touch on deeply personal memories of families, religion, social media, sexuality, pleasure, food, medical conditions, tattoos, body size, and the struggle for self-acceptance.
​This transformative project creates a safe space that dissolves shame by speaking personal truths to the powerful external and internalized pressures we face to conform to unrealistic body standards.
Storyteller Topics
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Beauty Standards and Diet Culture
Family
Gender and Sexuality
Transformation
Self-Acceptance
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The Concept
Body Stories is a compilation of authentic anecdotes about diverse experiences of living in a human body. The project was born in June 2022, right after Roe V. Wade was overturned in the United States. Out of our indignation we wanted to express how bodies unite us in our diversity, so we devised this transformative project as a lever to free our bodies and minds from the grip of commodification and perfectionism.
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We are so proud of the 15-minute short documentary film we made…but in the editing process we were sorry to lose the rich and compelling narratives of all 25 of our storytellers who bared their souls to our cameras and let us into their most precious memories and realizations, some of them for the very first time.
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So we decided to post each of their stories on our YouTube channel, where you can go more in-depth and maybe even recognize a part of yourself in these stories of people from many different walks of life.
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We also made a Learning Guide full of discussion questions and suggestions for going deeper into your own reflections on the film and the stories that made it possible. Enjoy it in your classroom, community, book club, small group, or even alone.​
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Download the learning guide below for an enhanced viewing experience!
Watch it on YouTube
Body Stories - Module 1: Beauty Standards and Diet Culture - Episode 1: Arina
Body Stories - Module 1: Beauty Standards and Diet Culture - Episode 2: Giggs
Body Stories - Sizzle Reel
