How thin can we get?

Thanks to the miracles of image editing, (some say Photoshop) a model can attain a whole new level of stick-thin ness. This image from a Ralph Lauren ad is remarkable, not only for its very bad rendering and representation of the female body, but for the fuss (fortunately) that it's causing in the Blogosphere and on mainstream television even. (More at 11 :-). this came to light via a site called Photoshop Disasters.

Sadly, Blogger (the host of PI here) was the service that took down this image at the command of Ralph Lauren's phony Cease and Desist letter. Boing Boing put it up again on their own server based in Canada. Hopefully Blogger (AKA Google) will see the light here, and let the images and commentary here (all permissible under Fair Use) stand. Let's see how long this one stays up!

Addendum:
Evidentally these are window displays. The one above was photographed off a window display in Japan and posted on Photoshop Disasters, this one below from Australia. Here's the link from Photoshop Disasters:
http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com/2009/10/ralph-lauren-hits-keep-on-coming.html

What's Beauty?

What's Beauty?

Heavy makeup

Perfect Hair

Blemish Free Skin

Bleached Teeth

Size 0-2

Perhaps.....

What's my standard of beauty?

Would my face make the "cut" for this collage?

Am I not beautiful because I have wrinkles, gapped teeth, glasses, freckles, and/or a full figure? Do I care? Perhaps.....

If I do care, then what does that say about me?

By Roberta Johnson, Farrah Jones, Becky Sharpe

OK Magazine: Data Visualization

We began our data visualization by cutting out faces of men and women. We used one magazine entitled OK! The faces were expressive and the magazine was diverse in reference to race but not people (because they were all movie stars).

We sorted the pictures of faces into two groups, men and women. Pictures were arranged in an inward spiraling motion. We went from women (beginning with Beyonce, going counter clockwise) to men.

This image shows that in today's society and with a failing economy women are dominating the work force. Even though these pictures are of movie stars we believe that women in the movie industry are prominent figures in the production, directing and acting aspect of major films more than men.

Kimberly

Roxanne

Katina

Rolling Stone Faces

This collage of faces represents emotions. It was interesting that this magazine contained very few smiling faces. Both genders were equally represented; however, not every race. The photos were primarily candid shots and not posed.

Posted by che*rac*bar

Living Your Best Life: O Magazine

How does one choose the demographics when they have total autonomy over a publication?

Oprah Winfrey, the head honcho and controlling force of a dynasty, appears to cater more to a populus outside of her own ethnicity.

After perusing the magazine, and looking at the photographs, things to ponder...

Have her roots been tilled and seeded in a different artificial turf?

Who is the intended audience?

Are the advertisers the driving force behind the content of the magazine?

Through a Lens Darkly

Thomas Allen Harris presented his work at NAMAC.

-sam smiley

SoulTrade

I found this advertisement in TIME magazine, to my surprise, it was actually the back cover. When I first looked at it, this guy, and what they were advertising, stocks, I thought, now why would Americans want to invest in this type of thing at a time like this? I would think that stocks and market would be the last thing on most peoples minds in such an economical crysis. The working class is suffering right now, that's a fact.

The idea came to me pretty easy, the guy in the advertisement already resembled the devil figure, and "Scottrade" is very easily transformed into "Soultrade." I went from there.

I couldn't believe the way that they portray themselves, and the fact that their acting like your doing yourself a favor by contacting them. The truth of the matter is, along with many other corporate companies like this, is that they just want your money. This knowledge is nothing new to most of us, I would almost put it in the category of common sense, but for them, and to the people that this advertisement is aimed at, it is money that runs their souls, so to speak. It is money that is life, and it is money that is important to them. They don't care about what's in your best interest, they want your money, they want your soul!