Project for film photography, circa Fall 2021-- Photoshop Alterations
The selected photos encapsulate the evolving female beauty standards across history, juxtaposing the foundational image set in the 1950s with a double-exposure layer depicting the essence of the 21st century. The base picture features a candid photo of Marilyn Monroe, possibly engaged in a discussion with her photographer (Artspace Editors). Contrary to the usual glamorous persona, this glimpse into the 'behind the scenes' captures a moment that may show the tiresome and exhaustive process involved in conforming to conventional beauty standards. This image suggests the mental strain and the demanding nature of upholding such standards, often overlooked amidst the polished face that is advertised in feminine beauty spaces.
I intend to alter this image through a transparent, double-exposure layering technique, with media influencer Kylie Jenner in a stylized, 'pinned-up' style with elaborate hair and makeup, mimicking a Barbie in a box. Jenner's raised hands could signify multiple interpretations: a plea to halt the toxicity prevalent within the beauty industry, which she grapples with personally (Garcia). Alternatively, her gesture may suggest her feeling trapped, hence the "Barbie in a box", a desire to break free from the shallowness of this performative aspect. Her portrayal embodies the internalized emotions triggered by our generation’s era of heightened beauty standards and self-absorption.
This film project aims to underscore the prevailing nature of societal expectations placed upon women, that transcend eras, from the 1950’s of Monroe to the 2020’s of the Kardashian-Jenner clan. Despite waves of reform and societal movements, the unattainable benchmarks persist, mirroring historical patterns despite the evolution of time in attempting to break these feminine stigmas.
Works Cited:
Editors, Artspace. “The Female Gaze: 10 Women Who Changed Fashion Photography as We Know It.” Artspace, 9 Sept. 2016, https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/book_report/10-female-fashion-photographers-54172.
Garcia, Kelsey. "Kylie Jenner's Barbie Costume Isn't An Out Of The Box Idea, But It Is Scary Spot-On". POPSUGAR Celebrity, 2021, https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Kylie-Jenner-Barbie-Halloween-Costume-2018-45441781.
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