Wet Dreams, False Images...Reality Check

A blog entry from days gone by *first posted in May 2009:

One of the most renowned and emulated photographers of our times, Peter Lindbergh aka "the poet of glamour", slams the usage of Photoshop.

As the New York Times reports this week, Lindbergh says, “My feeling is that for years now it has taken a much too big part in how women are being visually defined today, heartless retouching should not be the chosen tool to represent women in the beginning of this century.”
I personally can't agree more...hurray!

Relax male readers...I am aware that the dreamy model on my favourite GQ cover may certainly have been Photoshop 'enhanced' and 'improved' as well...it's not just us girls being crushed by the pressure of living up to media suggested beauty ideals.

I mean we've all seen the brilliant Dove evolution spot, but have you seen this? Wet dreams and false images (check out the trailer) is a Sundance award-winning documentary that is a humorous approach to the whole 'digital post production' trend. The film raises some critical questions about the marketplace of commercial illusion and unattainable beauty standards of physical perfection. I think the approach is pure genius and 'dude with wall of porn' in the trailer is a true comic.

Rightfully so, a debate has been set off in France that challenges magazines and advertisers to publicise whether or not an image has been 'digitally improved'.

WARNING: Acne, wrinkles and scars erased; boobs enlarged; legs infinitely stretched; eye colour changed from grey to emerald green; digital lipo on thighs, arms, love handles, belly, tush and chin; vaginal lobes perfected to look like 'designer vagina' (America the Beautiful)...you get the idea! Not sure that advertisers will see eye to eye on this issue...yikes.

Now here's another picture that shows you just how far the 'retouching' trend has taken us.
Am I rightfully scared? Even babies are feeling the pressure...I think my 3 year old neighbour nicked my false lashes when she came to see me yesterday. Pretty Please!!!


And as if we didn't have enough to worry about with the current dilemma at hand...and I hate to do this to you...there is also CGI.

You may scream whhhaaaat???? while covering your ears and eyes.

But I started so I gotta finish this...CGI is short for Computer generated images...the new kid on the block when it comes to ultimate image creation. Forget fixing flaws...let's just create perfection from scratch. Las Vegas based (no surprises here) CGI expert Andy Flessas generates mouth watering and yummy looking burgers...that wait a minute...are not real...aaagghh. All images are created from scratch using 3D animation programs such as Maya (shout out to all my fellow robot creators in our 3D animation class at McMaster. Oh weren't they lovely those cute little robots. We gave them life). 3D software used by the right creative minds can generate anything starting from the Audis and BMWs you see on telly ads, delicious burgers, chilled beer bottles and even girls, boys, men and women that are hotter than Vici's combined angel crew. Scary isn't it.

On that note have yourself a real weekend...and try to look a little closer at whether or not reality has anything to do with the images media flashes at you 5000 times a day.

Thanks for reading...dr eye candy