Thanks so much for sharing this. I don't think "we can" draw a line on deceit. I believe the media has distorted the publics perception of "beautiful" and "realistic" to the point that there would be no place in the North American fashion and beauty market to ban altering or posting information label's on such unrealistic photo's. I also don't think the media or corporations should market "fake" or "ugly" images to promote their "idea's" of fashion and beauty.
Two or three years ago, Dove launched its Campaign For Real Beauty, in an endeavor to boost girls and young women's self-esteem, and influence them to accept a broader definition of beauty. The campaign was a real success. This video Dove Evolution is one example of where the line should be drawn because it showcases fake at its best.
I think as journalists that we need to influences companies to create a market for leveraging healthy people, not necessarily skinny or fat people. I believe the line of deceit should be drawn where unhealthy habits and related issues are considered the definition of beauty. People can be bigger than a size 2 and still be beautiful... I also know people can be a size zero and healthy... Any thoughts?
8 comments:
It is nothing new that beauty sells,in every aspect of the media.Does anybody really want to see what is considered an unattractive person on a wide screen or in an ad for a designer outfit?The reality is that regardless of whether the photo is additionally altered digitally or not, the negative effect all these images have on the sensitive emotions of our youth, don't matter to the people that are using these venues to promote their products.Profitability is the only thing that matters.
The best tool we have is to be able to exercise the ability to make decisions for ourselves and know what works for us individually, regardless of what we see in front of us.If we teach our children to respect and love who they are and what they are ,rather than trying to emulate the fantasy world that has been created by the media.Then we can give them a powerful tool against such propaganda.
Digitally altering photos ,to further enhance the skeletal models portrayed in these ads, won't change,it's part of the addiction we have to technology,and putting a disclaimer on them won't alter the physical perception you get.The solution lies within ourselves to be able to distinguish between reality and fantasy.
I agree with everything that is being said here regarding positive and healthy body representation in the media. The impact on youth is immense. And yes, it is our responsibility as journalists to be accurate, fair, and considerate of these things.
But there is one thing that is bugging me about this. Companies like Ralph Lauren & Dove, aren't journalists, they are manufacturers making money - irregardless of their ad campaigns and what body image they promote. I don't think this is a journalism issue but an issue that has to do with our society.
As journalists, we should equip readers with correct information to make their own educated decisions. Journalists aren't the PMRC - Warning labels aren't our jurisdiction, the truth is.
I have experience writing about fashion, beauty and modeling.
I beg to differ... I think components of marketing and advertising campaign's are sometimes incorporated into journalism. After the marketing and ad people design the campaign. Then, Dove and Ralph Lauren's PR agencies or people pitch the fashion, lifestyle and beauty journalists to leverage the campaign in the marketplace- to generate public interest on the companies latest trends hitting the market via print, online, and broadcast media. Journalists are the gatekeepers since we choose what campaigns we want to write about. And the most unrealistic trends are usually much more newsworthy.
For example, when Dove launched their Campaign For Real Beauty... The marketing and ad people designed and maintained its market. And the PR agency simultaneously distributed press kits to the media, emphasizing the importance of the campaign and its key messages. Then the journalists wrote about the campaign.
Pictures and journalism go hand in hand now. People like visuals with their stories because it brings the words to life better. Therefore, whether we are talking about a Ralph Lauren model(fashion) or Dick Cheney (politics) w/ a butchering knife, it has to do w/ journalism on some level.
The real question is if we photoshop a picture that is supposed to represent something/tell a story, should there be a disclaimer statement? Does it matter? In the case of fashion mags and articles/pictures, I think there should be bc of the young girls that can be easily influenced when reading/seeing something awful and unreal. As for politics, I think it depends on the viewership. Although, a disclaimer never hurt anyone.
Although writing about a fashion show or about a beauty campaign is definitely journalism, the marketing and PR surrounding a specific brand seems to go specifically against the many of the principles of good journalism from the SPJ Code of Ethics(truth, objectivity, acting independently.) The same skill set of good writing might be present, but the writing and photos are meant to influence and persuade.
Fashion and beauty, from the aspect, are no more intertwined with journalism than are the government, military, technology or other industries.
Even though companies should be socially responsible, they are still businesses with a product to sell and a goal to generate income. So I don't think it is the place of journalists to influence companies to behave in any certain way - only to report what the behaviors are objectively and allow consumers and, if necessary, watchdog agencies to step in the case of harm. Otherwise, we are infringing on freedoms of creativity and speech based on our opinions.
I agree, it's not a journalist's job to police ads. That that these ads represent a company's desire to persuade individuals should be widely understood. However, it is the job of journalists to speak up when important stories need to be written and to bring as much reality to those issues as possible.
Body image issues have contributd to disorders, low self-esteem, and unrealistic expectations in young girls in particular. While this is not an issue of national security, it is important nontheless. Solutions to these problems may complex, but the first step may be to call attention to the fact that many of these images are fake. And this is a job for journalists.
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