Issues with Representation
Meaning and Purpose
There have been and still are many issues with representation within the media magazine industry. For this task I am going to be discussing what some of these issues are and how Vanity Fair and Conde Nast have effected and responded to representation issues.
There are a few issues with representation of products when it covers to fashion and beauty magazines that have stood for a while. Cover women and sometimes men, are always made to look almost flawless in their images. This is done during the editing process, where any imperfections can be modified. This is done to make the celebrity/model on the cover look perfect.
The issues with photoshopping images is that they then are not realistic to the public viewers who do aspire to be like these women/men on the cover. This could then result in these people who desire to be like these celebrities, feeling bad about themselves, as they will feel as through they will never be able to look like them or be as "perfect" as them. This is an issue because many people look up to these celebrities to give them confidence. So by portraying these people as "faultless" in their looks, audience member could be dishearten from thinking that they could ever look like these people, however in actuality, they probably have better e.g. skin than the celebrity does, (without the photoshop.)
The issue with representation here is nobody looks as perfect as this, even celebrities. So by placing them on the cover, with flawless skin, figures and hair, products, beauty treatments and the celebrities themselves are being misrepresented, as this is not how they actually look. Photoshopping has become quite a big issue in the media over the last 10 years. This is due to the impact that photoshopped images have on readers. Articles and TV segments have even been put into place, discussing these issues as many people are concerned with the impact these covers could have on people, especially in the young teenager category as studies have shown that the number of teenagers with eating disorders have increased, as well as the amount of make-up used.
Here is a link to an article discussing recent news of Topshop having to change the "zero sized" model they used for their website advertisement. The screenshot below demonstrates the model that Topshop used, explaining why there was controversy over this cover.
A recent article in The Guardian has shown the truth behind why being "size zero" has been obsessed over for that last 10 years. The source of this article is VOGUE's former editor who explains this fixation period of being skinny. Here is the link to this article - http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2013/jul/05/vogue-truth-size-zero-kirstie-clements
This controversy has come from the idea that people should aspire to be like these models, to be healthy and fit and confident. However, some of the models used are so thin that it has caused viewers/readers to feel bad about themselves rather than motivate them to become fit and healthy. This is the issue with representation as many people will be offended by the people used to represent a company. This could prevent possible customers from purchasing certain issues in the future.
This is an image of a "zero size" model posing on the runway. This is an issue with representation as it suggests promotion of not eating and being very thin, which is not the best option if someones body is not naturally like that or if unhealthy methods have been used to achieve size. However, Vanity Fair is well known for using models and celebrities of all different sizes. This is to brush off the stereotype of fashion magazines, that they only use "size zero" models.
Kate Upton is a current A-List celebrity. She is well known for her curvy figure and Vanity Fair have used her for their covers and extracts several times. This erases issues with representation from the aspect of whatever size you are is fine and Vanity Fair are promoting that by photographing models and celebrities of all different sizes.
Here is a link to an article discussing recent news of Topshop having to change the "zero sized" model they used for their website advertisement. The screenshot below demonstrates the model that Topshop used, explaining why there was controversy over this cover.
A recent article in The Guardian has shown the truth behind why being "size zero" has been obsessed over for that last 10 years. The source of this article is VOGUE's former editor who explains this fixation period of being skinny. Here is the link to this article - http://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2013/jul/05/vogue-truth-size-zero-kirstie-clements
This controversy has come from the idea that people should aspire to be like these models, to be healthy and fit and confident. However, some of the models used are so thin that it has caused viewers/readers to feel bad about themselves rather than motivate them to become fit and healthy. This is the issue with representation as many people will be offended by the people used to represent a company. This could prevent possible customers from purchasing certain issues in the future.
This is an image of a "zero size" model posing on the runway. This is an issue with representation as it suggests promotion of not eating and being very thin, which is not the best option if someones body is not naturally like that or if unhealthy methods have been used to achieve size. However, Vanity Fair is well known for using models and celebrities of all different sizes. This is to brush off the stereotype of fashion magazines, that they only use "size zero" models.
Kate Upton is a current A-List celebrity. She is well known for her curvy figure and Vanity Fair have used her for their covers and extracts several times. This erases issues with representation from the aspect of whatever size you are is fine and Vanity Fair are promoting that by photographing models and celebrities of all different sizes.
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