Baby Got Back

'Baby, I got yo back'

Not so long ago, a once wise and respected rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot braved the fierce face of social norms to reveal to woman across the world that thin is not always becoming.

In this week’s JOUR1111 lecture (week 4) Dr. Bruce Redman discussed photo-journalism and picture stories. We explored the history of photo-journalism and importantly, what makes a good photo; framing, focus, angle, exposure, POV, and capturing ‘the moment’. I learnt that POV means point of view - a little obvious I know, but with the overuse of ancronyms these days, how can you be sure? ... lol

A fragment of the lecture discussed digital manipulation. Dove’s viral campaign for Real Beauty, aptly named ‘Evolution’, was a great way to display the process behind modern advertising, calling to question the ethics of media today. If you missed the lecture and haven’t seen the video yet, it’s definitely worth watching.

Some other great dove films fighting to expand our definition of beauty include;

Onslaught, Girl's self-esteem and True colours.

I decided to have a look around at some digitally manipulated ‘photographs’ and came across a number of magazine covers which completely distorted the true appearance of the depicted female.

The lecture included a quote by winning photojournalist Eddie Adams;

"If it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips out your heart, that's a good picture".

These photographs were all dubbed ‘good pictures’ when they were chosen for the covers of magazines. I’m sure a lot of people laugh at the overwhelming disproportions and manipulation present in these images which simultaneously destroy the self-image of others. So even in fitting with such descriptions as that given by Adams, are they really good pictures?

“So Cosmo thinks you’re fat? Well I aint down with that”

At least Sir Mix-A-Lot knows where he stands.

Do the media control our ideals for beauty and our decisions on how we look? Or do they just manipulate our pre-developed, culturally specific ideals for gender roles and what people should look like? This topic seems to stir more questions than answers.

Either way, let it be known that healthy is always sexy, and no one has interpreted that better than the legend himself.

“Shake that healthy butt”.

Thank you Sir Mix-A-Lot, the women of the world salute you.