On a day to day basis, images tend to go through an editing process before hitting the pages of magazines and advertisements publicly. This stage can have a big impact on readers and cause them to have a false perception of the “perfect” body. Usually the images are of female celebrities allowing us to think that they are the real expectations of a good body, when in reality photoshop has played a big part. Not only will they make celebrities look slimmer but gossip magazines will also make them look worse to help back up their shaming column about them.
Thomas and John Knoll founded Photoshop founded in 1988 as they decided they wanted to edit image afterwards. Ever since this moment, the media and graphic industries and taken over and have produced millions of images using this software. There have been multiple debates on whether or not photoshop should be banned as it has an effect on today’s society and their beauty standards.
Photoshop was there to show greyscale images on a monochrome display and then later on upgraded to an editing programme. Photoshops original purpose was to edit images by cropping or adding colour effects. However, this has changed dramatically as photoshop’s use is to now alter someones body figure and facial features completely.
It is to people’s knowledge that Photoshop is commonly used within magazines, advertisements, television etc. Once a “perfect” “Flawless” looking body has been presented publicly it is assumed that photoshop was used. Despite this, some people can’t quite come to grips with the behind the scenes type of editing that takes place before post production. The amount of different jobs that go into editing a single images takes effort and time, especially when having to make something so fake look realistic at the same time.
“A UK survey showed that 15 percent of the 18 to 24 year olds surveyed in a 2000 people poll, believed that the models who are used in mass communication, accurately depict what the human body looks like. According to the same survey, over 650 of the survey’s participants were “unconfident or extremely unconfident with their body.””
This survey that was taken shows how much impact a single model that is being publicised can have on an audience. 15 percent of the 2000 people that they surveyed believe that models that take part in the publicity accurately depict the human body meaning that what you see on the front of a magazine or in an advertisement poster etc is edited correctly and portray the body in a positive, accurate light. However, over 650 people who took the survey felt unconfident with their body when comparing themselves to what they saw. As a teenage girl I feel insecure about myself when looking at magazines filled with society’s perception of the perfect body that they have taken time to retouch and adjust on an editing software. They problem of people not being able to be happy with themselves has lead both men and women to health officials as they are dissatisfied with their own bodies. Licensed Phycologist Dr. Sarah ravin believes that photoshop has been over used to the extent that people are left feeling bad about themselves. Certain features of the human body have been focused on and overly edited to ensure it is ‘perfect’ looking.
When I carried out a questionnaire to determine what was good or bad about my overall project and idea, I had asked “Is body image an issue to you when looking at magazines? Yes/No (If Yes, why/how?)” I received back multiple pieces of feedback telling me that they are affected by what they see on the front covers of magazines as they don’t have a figure like that. A few responses that stood out to me were one that mentioned about setting a beauty standard for young women and that they’re isn’t a large variety when it comes to models as they are near enough the same size, caked in makeup and hair done.
Despite Photoshop making many people feel insecure, different companies have also messed up in the process of publishing images that have been overly edited. They have posted flukes within existing photoshoots such as having elongated arms, overly airbrushed limbs, or non proportional body parts. This is all down to illusion and what people think society want to see. I feel that a photoshopped image is not realistic in the slightest, as magazine companies and industries want to portray the models in a good light as what they publish is what the audience will see and will change the way we see them via the media. The photographs create false portrayals and may effect the visual world that surrounds us.
“Seventeen magazine believe that discontinuing the use of the program will actually allow them to better connect with their audience. Emily J Legleitner, The Michigan Time Assistant Layout Editor, believes that companies who are starting to eliminate the use of Photoshop are leading an important movement.”
Movements such as the one stated above proves that there are certain magazine companies that do not believe in the necessary photoshopping process, especially coming from Seventeen magazine who targets a younger ranged audience. If girls are seeing photoshopped bodies that they think are the realistic portrayal of the human body then they could face issues of insecurity from a young age.
““Companies should absolutely stand up against Photoshop, especially those that once endorsed it and now see the damage it has caused,” Legleitner said.”
All companies can see the damage that they have previously made by publishing different campaigns and advertisements. Despite this, what ever gets the public talking is a plus for them and their profits. No matter how big the mistake or damage that was made, the companies will still continue to use photoshop, I feel they rely on it way too much for unnecessary reasons.
Dove released a “Real Beauty” campaign that expressed about the photoshop being a problem and how women should be made to feel uncomfortable and insecure due to what they see in published ads etc. Dove show the audience something realistic than an edited model, something other companies wouldn’t do due to keeping a perfect looking reputation.
“Dove’s “Real Beauty” campaign also aims to celebrate women and their natural bodies by raising awareness and fundraising for women empowerment. In the early 2000s, Dove’s managing team was looking for ways to revive their brand after being overshadowed by other companies.”
I think this campaign was a good idea and shows people the secrets behind an edited image and the work that goes into each detail within it.
The video below is a good example of a companies use of photoshop, something that Dove is proving to be a problem in today’s society.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYhCn0jf46U&feature=youtu.be
As a whole, photoshop creates a false and unrealistic exception of what people see as being pretty and flawless. People think that there is only one specific way to look and base it off of that when in reality, everyone comes in different shapes and sizes and no two people will ever look the same.
Rachel Jacob 