Image Distortion

For the group project with Mandi and Meg, we chose image distortion. At the stages of the discussion process, Mandi, Meg and I thought we should run by a topic reflecting upon women’s sexuality, exploitation, or patriarchal societies. It came down to an image shown in John Berger’s Ways of Seeing that we finally made a decision. In Chapter 2, there are exquisite photos of women in all different body shapes and forms. In my opinion, each woman is potentially beautiful because of the confidence they portray in their poses. The pose on page 45 made us think that we should talk about how images are made to influence our emotions, on body image.

When we saw this image, we saw what the definition of natural beauty used to be. If you look closely, you see a male figure watching the woman through the window like a piece of meat. Today, this is how the media displays women as, objects for the public to gaze at without appreciation of who she is.

This is where we brought image distortion into our image slide show. Our slideshow is a collection of various pictures and images we distorted ourselves to display just how much manipulation can be put into a photo in order for it to be called beautiful. Being beautiful like these women will make you a "happier" person.

It is not only women, but men are also viewed in a way where they appear “just for show”. Predominantly, our focus was on how anything in the media can be altered to fit the writer’s perspective.

We also learned the alteration of images in the media have a strong impact on the general public in terms of what we purchase, what we consume, and the different messages we absorb (hidden or not). No one realizes that a simple advertisement can change our spending habits almost instantaneously and input ideas into our heads; ideas marketers do not want us to recognize off the bat.

Amongst my group members and I, I found that I probably consume a lot more from the TV than the two of them. Mandi does not have cable in her room at res by choice, and the only show Megan assures she tunes in to is her Tuesday night "Gossip Girl". Since I commute from my home in Mississauga, I'm guilty for tuning in to about three TV drama shows a week, which is evident on how many coffee and clothing advertisements I am exposed to. On the comparison of advertisements, it is relatively the same since billboards splash across the same distorted images. The media affects our ideas on body image when we see these images. We either see someone we adore or someone we envy and want to become; no matter what, these distorted images will always toy with our emotions.

Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin, 1972.