In a more nuanced approach to photo-manipulation in magazines and the like a couple of computer scientists have produced a piece of software that measures, against a 1-5 scale, how much an image has been digitally altered so that a reader/viewer has an immediate reminder beat themselves up when they look at an image.
As the article says there have been moves in a few European countries to label any images that have been altered but I have to say that this seems a much better idea. Anything that can be used to help to minimise the levels of self-loathing that large amounts of advertising produces in people has got to be a good thing for people. A proposal that allows for a grading system means that it's a lot harder for image producers to say that it labels everything they do as wrong and it also makes it easier for people to remember to pay attention if it's not always the same label at the corner telling them the same thing.
As a male of the species I am obviously bombarded by this kind of garbage a lot less than females and it's true that one can say "but why do you let them make you feel like crap?" but environments are pervasive and they do shape people. It's got to be a good thing to try to create an environment that's less hostile to people being, well, people.
Having to fight is tiring so let's try to ensure that future generations don't have to fight against as much bullshit as we do.
No comments:
Post a Comment