Thanks for the outrage dorothy! I've been complaining about this kind of stuff for years now. As a journalist I do see the potential in this technology, but I also see the harm in it. It used to be that beauty was just unatainable, now its downright impossible to achieve. literally.

If I were as beautiful as Demi Moore and saw that a magazine photo editor had "plasticized" me like that...I would be so insulted!

I'd rather see a real woman with a lifetime of smiles that are revealed through some crinkles around her eyes.

... is that nowadays it is more common for celebrities and their team to have approval of any shots used of their image. so while not all celebrities demand and use this contract point, most do and they along with the magazines are responsible for the look presented.

the blame goes far deeper then the cover.

Photoshopping is great if a picture looks weird in some way - wonky shadows or something else that takes away from what is actually pictured. I think we have to remember that pictures like these are fiction, in a way - airbrusing is just advanced make-up, and pretty damn amazing advanced make-up at that. I 'shop pictures of myself and my friends frequently.

But those pictures? They might aswell have used a cardboard cut-out. It bothers me, because beauty is not by any definition lack of ... characteristic features. Generally, when photoshopping stuff, I use the rule of thumb that I don't take away anything that make-up couldn't have taken away (or added). Make-up can't take away half your bloody upper arm. Which, by the looks of it, is exactly what they've done to Demi Moore up there. The infamous posters from King Arthur (Keira Knightley with D-cups for the loose) and Order of the Phoenix (did they just paint in Bonnie Wright afterwards in those?) are also examples of when enhancing is just ... wrecking.

C'mon, it's Demi Moore. Even without photoshop, or hell, even without any make up at all she would still look more beautiful than most of us average folks...

Maybe instead of trying to change the magazines, we could try and change the self-esteem of all these girls desperately trying to be like that...

...considering how much plastic surgery she's famous for having.  I don't know if I'd say she's an example of real or natural beauty at all.  What's the difference if they touched her up or not if she's already made herself plastic anyway?  I agree with the sentiment, but the subject is not a great choice.  For the record, though, I'm pretty anti-photoshop, too.

I agree with you whole-heartedly with everything you wrote.  I will say this one thing though, with absolutely no disrespect towards Demi, it's quite obvious that she's had work done to her body.  It's the belief, especially in Hollywood, that everyone has to remain young.  I guess that's why I appreciate the Kate Winslet's and  the Meryl Streeps of Hollywood.  They are both incredibly beautiful women and are okay with society taking them as they are. 

Today's society is so rapped up in beauty and youth that it's rare for those to think about what impact they have on today's youth.  It's difficult enough being a teenager and dealing with the hormones, cliques and grades but to add body image to the mix, it's difficult.  You're considered weird if you remain an individual. 

I have to say, I really appreciate the article and insight, it was really refreshing.

 

"Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from."

This article is such a fresh reminder for me that these womyn are made-up celeberities on the cover and I tell myself stop wishing you can look that way. 

I love the Pro-Activ commercials b/c celeberities like Vanessa Williams and Jessica Simpson both admit they had problem with acne. They show you pictures. You're like 'ok I'm normal now. I don't feel so bad about myself.' Another reason why I  admire Tabloids when they expose female celebs without their make-up. They're not so beautiful after all. That's what you have to look at everyday when if you're  their partner. Then you begin to question 'who's beauty do I appreciate?' not what is the standard beauty?

Oh Photoshop how u r such a womyn's best enemy. 

Did I ever say I would play nice?-Miss Ketina

When do you tell your kid that there's no Santa Claus? The same time you tell them that anything they see on television or in print probably isn't real either. It's all fake and fantasy; even the News.

It should be common knowledge that the people you see in the media don't really look like that. Whether it's photoshop, a little nip/tuck, or a kick ass makeup artist. It's all smoke and mirrors... and a little preparation H.

 

i couldnt agree more with you. We're distorting reality in such a way that it is scary

they are doing it to everyone now and it's seriously ruining them another example is A.P (alternative Press) they are doing their next cover of tegan and sara they photoshopped the hell outta it they look soooo much better natural