Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The Photoshop Effect


Dove - Amy

Another Dove Campaign For Real Beauty internet short.

"All Asses Were Not Created Equal" My Ass

Levi's new ad campaign "All Asses Were Not Created Equal" is a great idea. Custom fit jeans for regular women. I'm all for this idea... until it comes to the actual ads. 

When I first saw this advertisement I didn't understand what was so special about these jeans. I saw three very thin, beautiful models like usual. It wasn't until I read the description of the jeans that I understood what Levi's was trying to accomplish.

Slight Curve: Celebrates straight figures, defines your waist, enhances your curves
Demi Curve: Frames prefect proportions, flatters your waist, smooths your shape
Bold Curve: Honors real curves, hugs your waist, no gaping or pulling

If hotness truly comes in all shapes and sizes why not showcase that? Use plus sized models if necessary or even better use real women. If a young girl were to see one of these ads saying "bold curve" then showing the image of a thin model showing the jeans he perception of what a curvy woman would be distorted. 

This ad alone is perfect. No models showing the desired size for that jean. Just a simple statement, a mission statement really. 

Yes, all asses were not created equal. Show it, don't just say it. 

Cartoons?!

In the time we are living in you see these changes everywhere, even in children's cartoons.
Many companies have decided to give their characters a fresh new look and make them thin and cute. 

Many argue that this promotes a healthy body  image for little girls. Their main argument is Strawberry Shortcake, seeing a little pudgy girl named after a dessert isn't good to put in children's minds. If they see their idol go from short with baby fat to taller and slimmer, it will make them want to work towards that look as well.

You know how little kids can be when they see their favorite cartoon, you see it all the time around Halloween, they want to be just like them.


In my opinion, I think this would just start off those self conscious feelings even sooner in life. If anything people should make cartoons that explain "it's OK to look the way you do, whether your tall, short, thin, or large."

Another Dove Film - Daughters


This is another internet video short created by Dove for their Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. It shows daughters talking about what they don't like about themselves and how the moms try to help. 

EasyTone

Reebok has recently introduced a new shoe called the Reebok Easy Tone. Many think these were made to compete with the Sketchers Shape Ups.

When you look at the Reebok ads compared with the Sketchers ads you can tell which one is trying harder. 

The Reebok ads are more sexy and is using the "sex sells" approach while sketchers are just trying to sell.

In all the Reebok ads they are using women and their attractive features, they focus on the butt to get people to notice. It wouldn't be so bad if they weren't just wearing underwear in the ad. To me this seems more risqué.

It's so impersonal and degrading to only use the lower half of women in these ads. It gives off the idea that women need to have a toned butt to be beautiful. 

Affects

Many people don't understand what is so bad about the women in the media and advertisements and how they are portrayed.


 When young people, not only girls, see these ads and how thin the women are some may begin to  get the feeling that they are not pretty enough. 
This can lead to many different outcomes like eating disorders such as:
              • Anorexia
              • Bulimia
              • Binge Eating