NY Times Op-Ed: Sex, Lies and Photoshop
We are all aware that magazines and advertisers use photo retouching and airbrushing. But do you want to know when it happens?
Tell us what you think!
NY Times Op-Ed: Sex, Lies and Photoshop
We are all aware that magazines and advertisers use photo retouching and airbrushing. But do you want to know when it happens?
Tell us what you think!
Interesting question-Mostly because while we may argue one way or the other, it’s really upto the industry to make the change.
An airbrushed picture in a magazine is only as misleading as the viewer who takes it in, fails to realize that the picture has been altered, and then allows the picture to have a negative impact on himself/herself. In my opinion, I wouldn’t want to know (wholly) when airbrushing occurs, instead I would rather see a general disclaimer (on the magazine cover, or somewhere near the beginning of the mag) detailing that airbrushing is a part of this magazine.
Fashion mags are just a form of escapist entertainment. In and of itself, airbrushing is not ‘evil’. What is wrong are the negative impacts that arise from lack of empathy from the fashion/image industry. Don’t hate the tool, hate the ideology.
Education, communication and awareness are what will change people’s minds and drive the change we want to see. And, ultimately, it all starts with you. Actively open your mind to the possibility that things are not as they seem.
It breaks my heart to think about the fact that magazines and ads have set out this appeal that no one is good enough if they are themselves, It’s like being natural is a bad thing and the fact that people are paid to make others feel bad about themselves makes it even more upsetting.
Which is one reason why I love TMOOH because it’s about being beautiful for who you are not what people/magazines say you should be.
I agree with ‘J’ that magazines should come with a disclaimer about airbrushing but I think in the end it would just be better if it didn’t happen at all.
I don’t want to know.
I don’t open a magazine and become enchanted by ‘perfection’. I acknowledge that the people in the pictures have every flaw and pore covered up, and are decorated to entice a product.
I think the only time altering photos would bother me is if the magazine denied it.
thanks for your thoughts. I would love just a little empathy from the magazine industry. -Courtney