In the 21st century no
celebrity would be caught dead in a magazine without looking close to perfect. When
flipping through a magazine most pictures of these celebrities may be deceiving.
With the incredible advancements of technology today, a whole arm, ten pounds,
or messy hair can easily disappear in a matter of seconds. Photoshop allows
artists to ameliorate their photos, pleasing their clients so that the clients
are in mint condition. But is fixing these celebrities a good thing? Maybe it
is good for the celebrities themselves but what about for the people viewing
these photos?
Photoshop is an excellent way to improve
photos but not if it’s for altering body parts or changing anything facial. When
a photographer Photoshops their picture of a celebrity, it is basically training
young kids to have a negative outlook on self-worth and self-image. In an
article from www.beautyredefined.net,
the author describes Photoshop as being “un-human and unrealistic ideals that we view over
and over”. They explain how “our perceptions of normal, healthy, beautiful and
attainable” are being altered. The changed photos are causing the viewers to
attempt at looking like these models when really the models don’t even look
like that.
For example, on the cover of Seventeen Magazine, Troian Bellisario
strikes a pose, as she shines a simile at the camera where the caption below reads
“Troian! How she beat the eating disorder that ripped her life apart.” The
photo is unphotoshopped, showing Bellisario’s confidence with herself. Then
with even larger, white bolded writing the caption below that reads “Get an
insane body, it’s hard but you’ll look hot.” Viewers were appalled and outraged
by this magazine cover. A celebrity opens up about a personal issue and
promotes it but then the company prioritizes the fact that young girls should
do the same? This is beyond disgusting.
Almost all magazine businesses use Photoshop.
To change a background or alter the lighting in the photo is a completely
acceptable change in a photo. The editor is improving the look of their model
without actually changing the model. However, altering body parts and making
the model look slender is unacceptable. Editing like that should be banned worldwide,
teaching viewers to love themselves and to be comfortable in their own bodies.
Thanks Ava. This is definitely an interesting and important issue. As I wrote to Hope, at least once each year, a student in my AP class will write her research paper on this topic. These students always write good papers.
ReplyDeleteThere are several issues with the writing that I want to share. First, look at this sentence, "When flipping through a magazine most pictures of these celebrities may be deceiving." This is called a "dangling participle." You begin the sentence with the present participle "flipping." It is dangling, because no where in the sentence do you explain who or what is doing the "flipping." According to this sentence, "most pictures" are doing the "flipping." Obviously this can't happen, and therefore, this is a dangling participle. Second, you have a bad habit of confusing your pronouns and antecedents. You do this several times in this post. Here is one example: "When a photographer Photoshops their picture..." You use the plural pronoun "their" to replace the singular antecedent "photographer." These are important issues, because they will detract from your credibility as a writer.
Regardless, I thank you for addressing this important issue.