'to airbrush or not to airbrush' debate. A very modern clash of views. The traditional vs. the contemporary. My own opinion on the subject has flip-flopped so much I'm even sure exactly where I stand. Tis a complex issue.
Well alright we all know it's wrong to portray a false image as the truth; showing stick thin models with gorgeous clothes beautiful fitted to their lack of curves is just unrealistic. No-one is naturally that skinny. Not without major health issues anway. And obviously the impact it has on young girls is shocking. Apparently 1/3 of six year old girls asked said they were unhappy with their bodies. What on earth has gone so wrong with this world that six year old girls, CHILDREN, feel under pressure to look a certain way. It's bad enough adults have to deal with the constant barrage of self-confidence denting propaganda without subjecting it to our children too! They're being forced to grow up too fast & feel from such a young age that they're inferior.
But then on the other hand I know that if my face were being plastered all over magazines & billboards I'd want my imperfections corrected, no-one wants their flaws emphasized especically not to such a massive audience. Even the most gorgeous people in the world have their off days & get the occassional blemish on their otherwise perfect complexion. In that sense one could view it a form of photographic make-up.
Though even having said that I still have to rein it in a little bit & say it's all about degrees. Sure a little touch up to cover a spot or scar is fine but what about changing skin tone? Slimming thighs? Boosting hair? They can do all sorts these days. I would honestly say it's too far when the contrast between the original & the airbrushed version shocks you. When the person looks dramatically different. The whole idea of airbrushing, or so I thought, was to enhance rather than change how a person looks. Skimming through a magazine & never seeing a single person who looks real, like they would on the street, is a saddening thought.
I'm not sure what should or could be done about it though, I'm not an expert. I know there's been calls to have it banned altogether but I think that's a bit excessive. One psychologist suggested adding warnings & notes to airbrushed pictures, as a sort of safety net. Telling young girls that, even though this image is in a magazine & looks good, it isn't 100% authentic. I guess it doesn't really have to be a warning as such either. Adding a footnote at the bottom of the picture 'Airbrushing by...' the same way they do with make-up & hair would cover all bases. Those who want it to stay are content seeing the images they enjoy, whilst those who oppose it shall take comfort in the attachments acknowledgements. Balance is the key thing here.
As for me, I'll continue to feature in natural, often unexpected, sometimes repulsive, but always unairbrushed pictures. Thankfully they rarely extend further than my own personal photo collection so I'm not too fussed. I know what I look, so do my friends & family, so why try to be something I'm not. Gotta try & love the skin your in.
