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!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Profit Driven Retouching?

One theory about retouching in advertisements is that it's done to create an aspirational concept of beauty that inspires women to buy more products. One may even say these perfectly retouches photos may make them feel bad about their own looks, and to compensate for this feeling they spend money on more and more beauty products. Is it fair that women are comparing themselves to pictures that don't even reflect what a real women looks like? 



1 comment:

  1. I think your theory is correct. Even the natural look today involves putting on loads of makeup its just in lighter colors. We revolve around this idea that we can't walk out of the house without our make-up on when this isn't true. Thanks advertising companies for warping our brains... assholes

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