By now, you’ve undoubtedly seen multiple examples of before-and-after photos that illustrated how re-touching is used to help celebrities and models meet those unrealistic beauty standards we see in the media (see our posts on Katy Perry, a parody Photoshop ad, pre-retouched Playboy pics (NSFW!), Jessica Alba, and Demi Moore and Kim Kardashian). Dolores R. sent in a video of a man emphasizing the other side of the equation — that is, how the “before” body in supplement ads can be manipulated to make the apparent transformation especially dramatic:
For the full collection, see our Re-Touching/Photoshop Pinterest board (NSFW).
Gwen Sharp is an associate professor of sociology at Nevada State College. You can follow her on Twitter at @gwensharpnv.
Comments 14
Anonymous — February 16, 2012
Time to learn about Nietzsche and Foucault : The Inscription of the Body
Quiet riot girl — February 16, 2012
this issue of men transforming their bodies is dealt expertly by Mark Simpson in his classic, Male Impersonators. It is FREE today only on kindle:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Male-Impersonators-Performing-Masculinity-ebook/dp/B006K5ZMNEMy 'foreword' to the kindle edition is here:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/116523
Male Impersonators – EXPOSED! « Metrosexy — February 16, 2012
[...] http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2012/02/16/creating-the-before-body/#disqus_thread [...]
Yrro Simyarin — February 16, 2012
I've read about doing "before" bodies by recruiting injured athletes who haven't been able to train for a while, and getting them to do your program while they would naturally be getting back into game shape. Didn't realize how much you could make a six pack disappear just by having a big dinner.
Bextraordinary — February 16, 2012
You can see this in any makeover show or weight loss commercial - the "before" photos are always taken without makeup, in harsher light, with no smiles, in unflattering clothing and with poor posture. Miraculously, the "after" shot shows a fully styled and made-up individual with a happy grin and excellent posture.
Peter Czerwinski — February 16, 2012
Thanks for posting!
Datamining Pawn — February 16, 2012
The trick for female models is to use pregnancy photos as the "before".
Legolewdite — February 16, 2012
You mean I can't have six minute abs?
Grasshopper — February 17, 2012
Great video really brings to light the whole fairy tale that you can lose weight with taking pills and all that other stuff. People need to realize that those pictures are not true and if you want the body or looks time to hit the gym and eat healthier. Also personal hygiene is a must at all time.
Anonymous — February 17, 2012
Another trick I see: many of the "before" pictures I see (at least of women) are pictures taken at home, by a friend of family member, with a cheap camera (digital or throwaway) wearing "at home" clothes and no makeup. Anyone looks frumpier and heavier wearing a sweatshirt in a picture taken by a camera made for snapshots. Even if the woman only lost 5 or 10 pounds, compared to the After pictures (good lighting, flattering clothes, professional photography, good makeup) she might look like she lost 35.
The Before Body | No, Seriously, What About Teh Menz? — February 27, 2012
[...] (Hat tip to Sociological Images.) [...]
Body transformations: Easy as 1-2-3 « The Kooau — March 3, 2012
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