At first glance, it may seem as if images seen in daily advertisements are simple parts of pop culture. There don't appear to be many immediate or drastic effects caused by exposure to them, but when one observes small details in social behavior, it becomes more visible that advertisements are affecting how people present themselves. The most prominent example of the phenomena caused by the images can be seen in profile pictures for various social networking sites. Across the internet, people are constantly trying to mock "the gaze" shown on the faces of photo-shopped models. Low-energy body language and unemotional facial expression characterize this position.
In place of a smile, the "duck face" is seen commonly. This expression, characterized by pushed out lips in order to define the cheek bones, may work on models but leaves normal citizens looking ridiculous, as seen below.
Another interpretation of model-mockery is found in the distant, uninterested facial expression that
gives an audience a glimpse of one's more "philosophical side". Often accompanied by a finger close to the mouth, the photo is supposed to be sexy but also mysterious.
These examples may seem petty and frivolous, but they clearly display one effect of media images on their audiences. If this is just one result of showing picture after picture of "ideal" beauty or fashion, the other consequences can only increase in severity. Perfectionism, obsession with conformity, and even eating disorders can be the result of media overload.
According to a New York Times survey, the average city dweller is exposed to 5,000 ads every day*. If the ads all say the same message, "what you have is not good enough," doesn't it seem a bit like brain-washing in the name of consumerism? It's no wonder that low self-esteem seems to run rampant. This is especially true in the case in the world of fashion advertisements. With the flawlessness in the models portrayed, average people will soon begin to feel physically inferior. This can lead to a cycle of obsessive behaviors that all serve one purpose, to "improve" what is natural.
I believe that if the general public consciously recognized the unrealistic nature of people shown in advertisements, people would realize that they don't have to be perfect because perfection isn't achievable. In conclusion, keep your beautiful smile in your default photo.
To go on a slight tangent before I make my point, this post reminded me of this website: http://antiduckface.com/. Haha =)
ReplyDeleteLuckily, as this website demonstrates, the duck face is on its way out. However, your point is an interesting one. When I think about the impact of the media, I think of the concept of the ideal body and its attainment. I never really considered the fact that it even impacts the way we present our faces. Now that I consider it, however, the manipulation of facial expression is potentially just as meaningful if not more meaningful. As we discussed in class, our faces are what make us individuals. Our facial expressions humanize us and are reflections of our emotions and personalities. Thus, the ability of the media to manipulate even our most human feature is especially disturbing and meaningful.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteYour example about social networking sites is spot on! Looking at a persons facebook profile is a sure fire way to prove that the images in magazines, films, and advertisements have had an effect on the public. Young men are continually posing in their bathroom mirror with their shirts off, presumably, for the purposes of showing off their tight abs and pecks. These photographs are similar to the ads for male underwear and in other fashion spreads that present bare chested males staring towards the camera.
The photos of young women on facebook also clearly shows how images in pop culture determine how they pose for the pictures (as you demonstrated with the pictures you took of yourself).
The images of female faces in pop culture truly do effect how women chose to present themselves in photographs and Last semester, I witnessed a girl begging one of her friends to forgo posting a photo she was in because there was a blemish on her face. The implication here was clear: she didn't want any pictures of her to be seen wherein her skin was not flawlessly pristine. While I understand that everyone takes "bad" photos sometimes, this was not the case for this girl. She had makeup on, her hair done, a cute outfit on, and looked beautiful in the picture. Yet, she had one minor flaw in her complexion- something that is never seen in the commercial images of female faces. This girl finally did allow her photo to be uploaded online. But only after her blemish was photo shopped off of her face. I found it bizarre that a person would spend the time digitally editing a photo to post online for their friends to see. At the same time though I thought to myself "I should have done the same thing to a lot of my pictures."