Not long after UK government officials suggested that airbrushed ads have disclaimers in a national effort to improve women's lives in the UK, French members of Parliament are not just pushing hard for a disclaimer, but are calling it a government "health warning." Love it:
A group of 50 politicians want a new law stating published images have bold printed notice stating they have been digitally enhanced.Campaigning MP Valerie Boyer, of President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party, said the wording should read, 'Retouched photograph aimed at changing a person's physical appearance'.
Mrs Boyer, who has also written a government report on anorexia and obesity, added: 'We want to combat the stereotypical image that all women are young and slim.
'These photos can lead people to believe in a reality that does not actually exist, and have a detrimental effect on adolescents."
I'll hold my breath for the U.S. to catch on.
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Yeah!
Retouching photos has been around as long as photography existed; I realize photoshop and the like make it much easier, but I think it is safe to say that one should always be critical of photo authenticity.
This is great, but the article doesn't mention extending ad disclaimers to the Internet. Isn't that where most of these young people who might "believe in a reality that does not actually exist" get bombarded with ads every day?
And as you said, why don't we have anything like this in America?
Much as I like the intent, I can't get behind this one. It would be a cosmetic (puns are hilarious) victory at best. Heavy metal and video games don't create school violence, pornography doesn't create sexual violence, and ugly images don't create patriarchy. Let's treat the causes, not the symptoms.
Moreover: Government restrictions on free speech always find a way to benefit privileged classes at the expense of the communities we hope they will protect. Obscenity and anti-pornography laws are weigh disproportionately against LGBT producers, and hate speech restrictions weigh disproportionately against the disempowered (including feminists). If we think patriarchy can't find a way to twist a "health warning" to its advantage we may find a very rude awakening in our future.
I actually think this is a great idea. I know it won't stop all eating disorders and desires for cosmetic surgery but at least it'll shatter some people's disillusions about what they think they have to compete with.
In high school my best friend became obsessed with these air-brushed celebrity images. She started off a very pretty, smart girl who was already slim but no matter how many times I reminded her of this, I began to see her wasting away before me until she became drawn and skeletal. I found a folder on her laptop filled with photos of skinny women and celebrities, labelled 'Thinspiration'. Thankfully, she did return to normal when her parents got involved and made her visit councillors. But many girls are not so lucky.
It's an awful reality that may never go away but hopefully if these new laws are passed, more women and girls will be able to see these idealised body images are just a photo-shopped fantasy.
This is a guaranteed way to push ad agencies to select even younger & more anorexic women than they already do. Law of unintended consequences.
Perhaps that is a worthwhile trade off...it appears.
Fantastic. I hope this goes through.
I would not hold my breath for the U.S. to follow suit.
Will they do the same "retouched" disclaimer for retouched photos of men?
"These photos can lead people to believe in a reality that does not actually exist, and have a detrimental effect on adolescents."
You mean women don't really have pillow fights at night in their lace undergarments on their beds when they're staying over one another's houses? You mean women DO have brains and can survive without men? You mean those AREN'T real?
Shh, don't tell the chauvinists. ;)
2 points for France!
Another point for the fight against hyperreality.
Another point for the fight against hegemony.