Distorted Ideals
2006/12/06
Even though one might say that in the end, the
Dove ads and surrounding campaigns are just advertising, but they sure take a different and praiseworthy approach by not only using "normal" women as their models, but also looking
behind the scenes of the media and the beauty industry. It's about time someone presents the truth about the beauty ideal that's omnipresent in our world. And a brand with a big range and an honest concept at their hands can in fact reach lots of people and open their eyes on things that most people who are not working in the industry cannot understand, because they usually don't see the inner workings.
But still, being the media worker and photo maniac that I am, I am taking part in a
Photoshop Beauty Retouching course in February. Just the digital part, not the photography itself. But yes, I know that people don't really look like they seem to on the cover of the magazines and advertising. But that doesn't stop me from learning the techniques.
Comments
Cathy D. – 2006-12-12 08:44:27
Hi Toby, I haven't check your site for a while...Anyway, I liked what you just posted about "Distorted Ideals". I have read an article about the same subject, how the market sells us an "idealistic beauty". We; women, are the target to seek "Beauty Perfection". It is not new about PhotoShop tricks (for anyone who has studied Media Design or Graphic Design) to make a model look with flawless skin and a perfect body. However, the psychological impact for a self-conscious teenager or young women is more than looking good. As we say "it is a skin deep problem". The video is pretty disturbing when it comes to "retouching". It like a Horror Movie of the Self-Conscious Mind. Thank a lot to post something that affects our world wide society.
Cathy D. – 2006-12-12 08:52:43
My keypad is pretty f***up so I missed some consonants :-)
Pablo – 2006-12-15 03:40:32
every time you say a bad word a baby angel dies. i hate you.
Karthik Abhiram – 2006-12-15 19:15:49
Nice post Toby... I know that magazine pictures & posters use professional airbrush artists or whatever to touch up photos, but I never realised the extent to which this is done... certainly an eye-opening video you've posted here.
Tobias – 2006-12-15 22:29:06
@Cathy: I sent you a mail with further thoughts on the matter.
@Pablo: Whatever. :-)
@Karthik: Yes, that's exactly why I think this campaign is a good thing. After all, how are people supposed to know what's going on if nobody tells them? I bet there are many people who really think that this is the beauty ideal to follow, when in fact it's all lies. Although I am familiar with Photoshop and image processing, the extent of manipulation shown in the video surprised me too.
Cathy D – 2006-12-18 10:08:11
Post comment: I like Dove commercials (not their products hehehe, I am more into Organic Beauty Products). They always show "normal" people. Although, I am a pretty vain girl, the capture of the model (in which she has a really bad skin) looks nice at the end. In conclusion, as I said to you Toby, This is the best post you have in your site so far.
