News: The Ethics of Photoshop

So we all know how awesomely amazing photoshop is and the unbound capabilities of this tool, and how we can contort and distort just about anything. However the role of photoshop in our mainstream media is perhaps a little disheartening. Due to the capabilities of photoshop, people are now able to dramatically change the images of celebrities and front page models to look even more stunning then they already are. Not even the best looking and most fit of all of them is suitable enough to not be mildly altered by the photoshop editors behind the big magazine brands. Most of the models and stars make little fuss of this, and take it as part of the industry now. However some stars are down right furious with the distortions these editors are making to their bodies. Not too long ago Zendaya, the Disney channel star aired her frustration with edits that had taken place on her cover photo for Modeliste magazine. From the picture you can see that the editing personnel dramatically altered the size of here hips to make them appear skinnier. Zendaya was outraged by this alteration and the body shaming effect it could have on her fans and others who would see it. She took to social media quickly after and called out these actions in public.

This has not been the only account of this, other famous actresses such as Kierra Knightly, Lady Gaga, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lorde and others have all taken to social media and the press regarding their frustration with Photoshop.

You can understand where they are coming from. If magazines are to alter all their images especially of these already great looking people, then how does that make everyone else feel who compares themselves to these altered images. You can make the argument that this creates a lot of body shaming and ill fillings as people gaze at this entirely unrealistic celebrity. With so many people aspiring to look and be similar to these stars, you can imagine what lengths they would go to achieve these Photoshopped figures.

Females are not the only ones that fall victim to these alterations. Justin Bieber was reportedly photoshopped for his cover spread as Calvin Klein’s new male figure. Supposed original images from the photoshoot reveal startling differences between the original image, and the one everyone saw on the cover of magazines. Bieber apparently sent a cease and desist letter to the online publication company that published the original image, prompting them to quickly remove the image but it doesn’t change the fact that the image is still all over the internet.

Hollywood has a fantasy lure around it that try’s to build up this world of “celebritism” that we should all worship. And with advents in Photoshop they are making their world that much more fantasy. I think we should all take a big gulp of scrutiny when we look at the cover shots and assume that we are not looking at the real thing. For some of those more experienced photoshoppers with distinct eyes, alterations are easier to discern, but for the public, much of it can look very real. My whole point with this post is to encourage users of photoshop to use photoshop for good and not evil. Photoshop coupled with the internet can be super disastrous to those negatively affected by photoshop. So I ask you not to wield your photoshop capabilities for evil and photoshop your ex boyfriend in demeaning ways and spread it over the internet or vice-versa. Make positive enhancements to photos that make people feel good, and inspire others. And don’t believe what you see in magazines, they have photoshop too!