Our Purpose
The purpose of this blog is to educate our viewers about the widespread use of retouching in print publications. Retouching implies making minor changes to photographs. However, modern advances in photo editing software allow photographs of individuals to be transformed into manufactured projections of reality.
Mostly commonly, retouching is used to enhance positive characteristics of an individual, although sometimes negative aspects are emphasized. Unlike a Barbie doll or animated character, these retouched images are portrayed as living, unimagined, portrayals of individuals in society. The truth is that most of the images we see in print publications, as well as online, are just as fake as cartoons. When looking at these blog posts, try to think about the effects these images have on yourself and others, especially younger generations.We are not trying to judge the rightness or wrongness of retouching; rather, we want to increase awareness about the prevalence of retouching so that media consumers are able better construct meanings from the images they encounter.
Five Steps to Media Literacy
1. Describe - Describe media product(s) by indentifying noteworthy elements or characteristics.
2. Analyze - Look for patterns that call for closer attention. Categorize those words!
3. Interpret - Try to determine meanings of patterns. What is the connection between the categories?
4. Evaluate - Make an informed judgment about media product
5. Engage - Take some action!
After viewing our blog, we hope you feel better knowing the world often being sold to us is not as perfect as it seems. We encourage you to post comments. Thank you for visiting!
Faith Hill - Not Pretty Enough
This is a 2007 Rebook cover featuring then 39 year old Faith Hill. Spot all of the edits:
- Extra hair.
- Smoothed eyes.
- Smaller, smoother, cheeks.
- Smaller arm
- Smaller shoulder.
- Back perfected.
- Skin tone changed.
- Dress line changed.
- Right hand removed.
Is this too much editing or should we simply accept that ALL magazine covers are highly retouched?
This is scary. I like Faith "before". She is such a beauty without the retouching.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cathy's comment - I can relate to "before" Faith. She is a working mother. "After" Faith makes me feel like I'm not "working" hard enough to maintain myself. I know in my head that this is unrealistic, but when my grown son comments about how "hot" she is, I feel like I have really let myself go.
ReplyDeleteno retouching needed
ReplyDeleteBonded lenses. One of the earliest methods for adding vision correction into dive masks was bonding, which is still used today.
ReplyDeletephoto retouches