Retouched Models: Because Real is Never Good Enough

By Jim F. on Dec 14, 2009

Just a few years ago, photoshopped images were something of a novelty. We published a list of sites where you could gaze at the multitude of ways that models were altered. The practice has now become so commonplace that there are websites devoted to pointing out all the mistakes made in the industry.

Beyond the hilarity, I believe the practice is not helpful. A recent post pointed to research showing that images of models do have an impact on a person's self-esteem.

Of particular note is the advertising of Ralph Lauren. The absurdly thin images of women are so outlandish that a backlash has begun. Blogs such as Dr Eye Candy, and documentary filmmaker Darryl Roberts (see America the Beautiful) have called for a boycott on Ralph Lauren products - and the call is gaining attention.

"We're going to pick three of Lauren's biggest stores and start boycotts--right at his stores," he says. "We're going to take young girls that feel that they're ugly, or have eating disorders, to his stores ... so that they can explain to people who are attempting to go in there and shop, how their advertising affects them."

As you can see, Lauren's "photos" are ridiculous. Heads are wider than hips, suggesting an inhuman skeleton.

With the amount of imagery we are surrounded with, few will have the mental fortuity to consistently tell themselves they are looking at fiction.

Bratz Anyone?

I'm sure I can't be the only person to notice this, but these models (particularly the first one) bear a striking resemblance to Bratz dolls. These popular dolls have lollipop heads and extra long legs, and look like Barbie's angrier and bitchier cousin. Bratz peaked a few years back but have since disappeared due to a copyright infringement filed by Mattel.

Disconnected

The French have looked at legislating against extensive altering, but the practice is so widespread that any law may well be unworkable.

The reality is that we are a culture that values outward appearance and youth over character and wisdom. This is what fuels "reality" TV and much of the entertainment that we consume. We cannot legislate against something that we desire so much. Perhaps our attachment to public figures (pun intended) is symptomatic of a deeply disconnected community. Recent research showed that celebrity-watching offered "low self-esteem people an opportunity to reduce their self-discrepancies and feel closer to their ideal selves." (via Truth Dealer). Where reality is lonely, we look to fantasy to fill the gap.

Fashion trends come and go, as they have done throughout history. However what sets this generation apart is the astonishing reach and omnipresence of media imagery. It saturates every avenue of our lives, bombarding us daily until our ability to think critically has all but evaporated.

It's a good bet that the next fashion picture you see will have been substantially altered. It's a piece of digital art - not a real person.

10 Comments

O. on 14 Dec 2009

Interesting side note....

Ralph Lauren's daughter Dylan's love of candy caused him to by her a candy store in New York City that she named Dylan's Candy Bar.

Dylan is a beautiful young lady with a nice figure. Though I don't know what her eating habits are.

cari from ditch diets on 14 Dec 2009

Don't get me started on my pet peeve, as a psychologist with a special passion for eating/body issues I've spent many hours discussing these type of media images with young victims of eating disorders.

This retouching is one of the reasons I stopped buying magazines. Not only do they take girls who are young, have legs as long as runways (In my book, Mind over Fatter, I quote research that shows: the average New York model is 9% taller than the average woman and 16% thinner than she should be to be medically healthy), but they then drape them in exotic locations with stylists and fashion guru's to pore over and 'perfect' them. Then as you point out, they take this already supposedly perfect picture and turn it into something flagrantly unrealistic.

I think this sentence really does hit the nail on the head: Perhaps our attachment to public figures (pun intended) is symptomatic of a deeply disconnected community.

BLS on 14 Dec 2009

The strangest thing about these Ralph Lauren photos is that they aren't good! I mean, you would never ever expect to see a human being who looked like either of these people. The first time I saw them, I thought it was a joke. They aren't just made to look super skinny - they look DEFORMED. The company is deplorable for putting these images out, but also anyone who approved them should be fired for not knowing really crappy Photoshopping when they see it!

Kellie - My Health Software on 14 Dec 2009

I agree BLS! The models do look a bit freaky and deformed to me too. It's not an attractive look.

Spectra on 14 Dec 2009

Photoshop is probably the worst invention ever in terms of self-esteem for women nowdays. They can just pare off 20 lbs by moving a mouse and women then think they must live up to those standards. I still can't figure out why RL chose to alter those pics THAT much. It's like he completely got rid of their hips and their legs are now attached to their torsos. It looks REALLY weird. If I were a model and saw pics of myself that looked like that, I would probably ask them not to use them because they just look SO ridiculous. I like my hipbones, thank you very much!

Jody - Fit at 52 on 14 Dec 2009

I think the pics are gross.. I am with you Spectra on your thoughts. Unfortunately this image things seems to be with us no matter what. There is all this press about how bad this all is & has been for a few years now but the media & entertainment industry still insist on thin & pretty models, actors, actresses & more. I wish it were not so but it is....

Lana on 14 Dec 2009

I get the opposite effect. I see these pictures and laugh. These RL images don't give me any issues with my body image because the models do obviously look photo shopped. It is obvious that this is not what any real human looks like or could physically look like even if they tried.
Other images that are subtly photo shopped, as Spectra says, to "pare off 20 lbs by moving a mouse" bother me. Those images are believable. These RL ones are not.

Melanie | Dietriffic on 15 Dec 2009

I agree with Lana, these images are so unbelievable they don't bother me, it's laughable in fact! Why don't they realize how distorted they've made these girls look?

lol Spectra, I like my hipbones too!!! :-)

Diana Keough on 22 Dec 2009

These are some great truths about the pressures that people are putting on women, and carrying them over into our children's dolls. I added a Weight Loss/Body Image community on my website, shareWIK (share What I Know) and would love your input! ShareWIK is an online community bringing together people of all areas of expertise so that they can share what they know. Keep up the great work, and we would love to hear from you!

Jcave on 13 Jan 2010

To be honest, pictures like this crack me up. The first thing I did when I saw it was laugh and show my boyfriend. But I definately agree that young girls may not be able to tell its a manipulated image and it can cause alot of problems.