Challenge of the Week #58: You are a victim of injustice, write a story about it. The most masterfully written piece, as voted and determined by the Prose team, will be crowned winner and receive $150. Quality beats quantity, always, but numbers make things easier for our judges, so share, share, share with friends, family, and connections. #ProseChallenge #getlit #itslit

The All-Encompassing Corruption

A media mirage

Convincing us to crave the quintessential

And aspire to the carbon copy ideals

Of painted perfection and aesthetic facades.

And this poisoning perfection sells.

Our desires are indoctrinated

And they look like flawless skin and size 2 jeans.

Brainwashed beauty.

A propaganda pandemic.

Find your perfect hair and your perfect size

With this new cream and diet pill!

Sold to our blinded eyes and closed minds

With exquisite designs and photo-shopped lies

As we pursue this superficial perfection.

Unparalleled.

And unattainable.

Because no one really looks like this.

But we have to try!

Embrace the incomparable and compare yourself!

Covet the exterior allure.

And when the results reflected

In our tunnel vision fixation

Are still lacking,

We will cut ourselves down as a failure

Before buying into the next fad.

Please disregard our intellect and understanding,

And, instead, fixate on our flowing hair and flat abs.

Because, in this story, indoctrination is fully installed.

In this story, corruption coats our skin with empty promises of perfection.

And, in this story, beauty is everything.

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lainiejaime

Beautiful write! So powerful. I don't think I have every seen a better use of exclamation marks. I can tell they were strategically placed.

JessicaJohnson

@lainiejaime Thank you! The exclamation marks were rather strategically placed. As I was proofreading, I stopped at several places thinking, "That needs more emphasis." So exclamation point here, bold lettering there, etc. Glad to know I placed them well. :)

sandflea68

I, too, love this honest write about our indoctrination by advertising.

JessicaJohnson

@sandflea68 Thank you, my friend. I always appreciate your comments and support. :)

honey010203

So true. Great piece! Perfect for entry for this challenge.

JessicaJohnson

@Mel Thank you so much! :)

JessicaJohnson

@Confusheyusss Your comments always offer so much praise. Thank you! :) I'm glad you see the inspiration in my words. And deadly is a compliment! Thank you again. :)

JessicaJohnson

@RubyPond Thank you so much! :)