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 You may remember several years ago a transcript of “Kurt Vonnegut's commencement address at MIT" quickly spread over the Internet. As it turned out, it wasn’t Mr. Vonnegut’s wisdom, but an article by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich entitled, Advice, like youth, is probably just wasted on the young. It made a lasting impression on me because it was pithy and brilliant in its simplicity. Schmich's column, which consisted of advice for graduates, seemed like things Vonnegut might say: “Do one thing every day that scares you … Sing … Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts … Floss … Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.” But it was this bit of advice that stuck with me: “Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.” And yet I didn’t pay attention, subscribing to numerous fashion and fitness magazines, trying to mold myself into the physiques of the models that graced the covers and photo spreads. What I didn’t realize was that the models themselves didn’t even look like that. There is so much done to physically alter bodies in fashion photos that perhaps the public has a right to know if a model’s body is a digital illustration. It would be helpful if disclaimers would be included in fashion magazines, pointing out when the appearances of the models have been changed. Too many young women, despite reassurances that they are of normal weight, feel ugly when comparing themselves to unrealistic standards set by images retouched in magazines. Teenagers are often encouraged to stop viewing fashion magazines to get over starving themselves just to feel beautiful. The industry relies on Photoshop and other technical illusions to make women of all sorts look “beautiful,” with the idea that a single standard for “looking good” exists in the eyes of consumers — both male and female. Hips and thighs are erased, laugh lines are excised, and noses are reshaped. With the amount of fashion imagery we are surrounded by everyday, do we have the mental fortitude to tell ourselves we are looking at science fiction? Read Mary Schmich’s article here. |
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