THE FUTURE OF UNREALISTIC WORLD - DIGITAL MANIPULATION

CAN YOU STILL BELIEVE ON WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE MEDIA?

source : www.hemmy.net

I have read an interesting article on The Australian news (click open the article), that is written by Nicola Berkovic on October 2009 with the title “Realism in models to get tick of approval”. Mainly this article is talk about the encouragement that must be done for the industry to start using natural and realistic image for their publication. Editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, Mia Freedman and Sarah Murdoch, well-known the models and television producer has show their severe support on this issue. Murdoch did appear on the cover of week’s Woman’s Weekly Magazine with an untouched photograph. 

source : http://www.news.com.au

A serious respond showed from Kate Ellis, Federal Youth Minister on this “unhealthy epidemic” of negative body image issue.

“It’s a serious issue which is affecting the health, the confidence, the productivity of thousands of Australians” Ms Ellis said.

From my experience, looking every single stop of along the street there is no way we cant find  "advertisement billboard". especially clothing, fashion, beauty related ads, the models face  are perfectly shining like no one i ever met. the shape of their body, face are totally lovely. However i know that all of that are about PHOTOSHOPPED, ILLUSIONS!, their face and body are being manipulated perfectly including their shadow. Talking about the art of photo manipulation, It has been used for propaganda as early as 1930s, which has been existing long before digital era (studiopix, 2010). In Entertainment industry, to publish a un-retouch picture is so ‘uncommon and bizarre’. It can be argued most entertainment company (magazine, advertising, fashion, beauty, etc) has make use of some attractive models and celebrities, the use of computer-manipulated features imagery, edited on their skin-toned, Their hips, waists, tights and arms are shaved into inches are believed will make the subject seems to be more “appealing” and as desirable as possible (Lim, 2010).

My opinion regarding this issue, I am strongly agreed for the legalizing of the guidelines that will be a mandatory for all industry. Ethical consideration must be precedence in terms of their product publication, the use of image and the message that the industry try to deliver so that it would not harm society health.

A research also has been done regarding on the history of digital imagery technology that written in a book by William Mitchell (1992), which explanation on the technology that actually raise the misinformation and visual falsehood on the audiences. He labelled the very frequent digital retouching as a "change of physical appearance". (Messaris, 1997). There we around 90% of commercial were being retouched by digital effect. Research by Reaves, et al (2004), show that audiences do not often have opportunity to view image clearly as the results of digital manipulation. They also argued that Media has big impact on woman’s eating behaviours which had led to body dissatisfaction, and low self esteem. One of the most killing eating disorder disease is anorexia nervosa which resulting in death around 20% of its victims (Thomsen, McCoy & Williams, 2001).

For the conclusion on this issue, an interesting video below has actually received quiet a lot of good respond in the YouTube; it hits over 11 Millions views. The creative video was produced for Dove Self Esteem campaign with objective is change the perception of beauty from ultra-thin models with perfect features to making every girl and woman feel positive about her looks, no matter what they are. this might be consider as a good strategy for anti negative body image campaign.

source : YouTube.com

References

Berkovic, N, 2009, Realism in models to get tick of approval, retrieved June 15 2010, from

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/executive-lifestyle/realism-in-models-to-get-tick-of-approval/story-e6frg8k6-1225791914269

The Australian News, 2009, Model Sarah Murdoch in non-airbrushed image on Australian Women's Weekly, retrieved June 15 2010, from

http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/model-sarah-murdoch-in-non-airbrushed-image-on-australian-womens-weekly/story-e6frfmqi-1225791726642

Lim, S.S, 2010, A Mysterious World – Fashion Photography,retrieved June 16 2010, from http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Mysterious-World---Fashion-Photography&id=4440100

Messaris, P, (1997), Visual Persuasion; The Role of Images in Advertising, Sage Publication, California.

Reaves, et al, (2009), If looks could kill: Digital Manipulation of Fashion Model, retrieved  June 16 2010, from http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t775653682

Studiopix, 2010, Photo Manipulation Was Around Long Before Photoshop, retrieved June 16 2010, from http://www.studiophix.com/blog/?p=1

Thomsen, S., McCoy, J., & Williams, M (2001). Internalizing the impossible:Anorexic outpatients’ experiences with women’s beauty and fashion magazines. Eating Disorders, 9, 49–64.