Another plus-sized model up in arms about photoshopped image. What else is new in the fashion world?
Seriously… what else is new in the fashion world? Anything?Crystal Renn is the first of many notable female figures who spoke against the “Photoshopping Phenomenon” (there isn’t one, which is explained below), in which “healthy-looking” (there isn’t one, mind you) models and other beautiful people are livid about their bodies being retouched to smaller proportions.
In the latest issue of Time Magazine, Renn was concerned that young women would receive the wrong messages at the sight of her altered image:
I was obviously upset and concerned. I don’t want some girl who’s recovering from anorexia to see the picture and think I don’t think that you can be any size and be beautiful. That’s completely not what I’m about.
Crystal Renn suffered from anorexia long ago; but had regained the weight and seemed to be doing well. Why anyone believes her well-being is optimal just because she gained back the body mass just goes to show you why we shouldn’t read so deeply into this body issue; most of us are wrong on the subject and very ill informed.
Just recently, Penelope Cruz and others have spoken out about the “unhealthy” messages that women’s magazines are teaching young girls; and of course the fashion industry has endured criticisms for memorable mistakes like Anna Wintour’s remarks about plus-sized models and Ralph Lauren’s retouching nightmare.
Don’t take this personally ladies; but if you feel as though your young girl’s mind will be warped by the instant image of a skinny bitch in a magazine, or a bitch turned skinny in a glossy 8×10, then you need to have a stronger influence on your daughters. And you need to sit them down and explain how the fashion industry really works and the true purpose of a model…
…which is to be a human hanger for clothes or a prop for the product. Models are beautiful creatures and can influence those who do follow the fashion industry; but their looks and well-being are based on their careers, regardless of how skinny or how fat they are. They’re not dietitians or health physicians. Even Penelope “Stick Insect” Cruz has no real baring on the subject, especially when she’s interviewed by the very media she criticizes. The same with Crystal Renn!
Also, if Renn is concerned about young women with eating disorders and what they might think about her image, then maybe the best advice to offer is not to take such images as foundations of truth, but projections of fantasy with the objective of selling a product. Nothing more. It’s unwise and unnecessary to even consider the images we see in advertising as fact, especially when the main objective of any ad is to persuade you to buy a piece of clothing or a bottle of perfume. Why attack the industry itself?
Because it’s easier to attack the industry than to admit that we have some serious insecurity issues. And for some reason so many of us ladies are attached to these pulpy pieces of bullshit.
Also remember; not everyone’s body is created equal. So looking to models in ads is even further removed from any idealistic goal we may have to become skinny. There’s no accuracy. You’re better off going back to school and learning about the human body, food and how the two can work harmoniously for you… sometimes.
Before and After Photos... See the Difference?
One last note, Renn’s photographer Nicholas Routzen, speaks out about her images and the “photoshop” mishap…
This is one of the most basic lessons, when studying either photography or film: lower angles give you a wider subject and the closest thing to the lens will look the largest. As I said in a previous interview, this series that I shot with Crystal was done from a higher angle and with a wider lens. I want to reiterate that I feel Crystal looks amazing in both images and the minimal retouching that I did do – it’s nothing you wouldn’t see in any magazine today. There is nothing hidden about this.
Read more in this blog.
