Blog Post 3 – Project Outcomes and Personal Reflection

During my critical design studies I decide to focus on looking at how popular culture relies on microaggressions to reinforce a consensus on beauty. A micro aggression is an indirect form of discrimination against a minority that upholds a popular consensus by reinforcing a popular consensus and results in a systematic imbalance of power. An example would be “You look handsome for a gay guy”. This a microaggression is an aggressive statement that is disguised as a compliment. It implies that it is uncommon for a gay man to be attractive and encourages a power bias for heteronormative beliefs by reducing the subject to their sexuality. Despite any intent of the compliment it develops an institutionalised and prejudice thought process. Microaggressions are the extremely regressive as they are hard to challenge as they are passive and systematic. Exposure is vital to confront a microaggression. My project is specifically critiquing the use of photoshop as an aggressive social function. The manifest function, the expected and observed consequence, of photoshop is to change the model’s face to look more presentable, creating the “best” result. However, the latent function, the consequence that is subliminal and implicit, produces imagery with a Western power bias that homogenous the cultural depth of beauty and is validated by a popular consensus when the final image, the “best” result, is presented as truth. We believe the “best” result to be an ideal to aim for and replicate. When this happens, we validate the biases behind the retouching and reinforce a systematic and standardised approach to beauty.

In order to change the fashion system to use fashion to create better lives for the general public it is important that photoshop is continuously exposed and recognised as a microaggression. By accepting the reinforced ideal of perfection, we create a systematic oppression. As we understand social biases better and recognise the biases that photoshop represents on a personal and social level we are open to challenging them. As fashion follows the same cycles as capitalism, where there is demand there is opportunity. society develops a conscious understanding of misrepresentation of beauty we empower realistic ideals by creating a demand for it within the fashion system.

For my project, I wanted to create an emotional and intense connection with the model as you watch her go through the photoshop process. Hearing her breath, her mistakes and unfiltered thoughts creates an honest atmosphere that directly juxtaposes the microaggression that is photoshop. The more of an emotional connection I can establish with the viewer the more impact I have and therefore the more impact the video has. This project was aimed at a wide and general audience of mature and critical adults and vulnerable young adults and teens. They will all have felt the impact of not being able to conform to a ridiculously narrow beauty standard and can empathises with the message. Overall, this critical design unit has really developed my ability to integrate social issues into my work by presenting a solution. As well as taught me new skills in adobe premiere.