What happened to natural beauty?

Question

(you don't have to watch the videos if you don't want to but it does help)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUUAgZ8f1OU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mNAL3HlXh8&feature=related

I'm not extremely knowledgeable when it comes to computers and I've never seen or used photoshop in my life but after looking at some of these videos it amazes me that you can do this stuff.

The sad thing is, some men and women fall for it.

Of course we've always been concerned with looks but we've gone from concerned to obsessed.

It just blows my mind and I honestly don't know why I'm surprised.

Thoughts, opinions, or even videos of your own are appreciated.

Answer 1

Why do they even bother taking pictures anymore?  

Answer 2

Photoshop killed the natural beauty.

Answer 3

Nothing happened to it, people are just using new tools and technology to be beautiful. Humans have been doing it since ancient times. The human body in it's "natural" form is smelly, hairy and greasy. Standards for beauty changes, but the desire to be beautiful and to use whatever tools necessary (even if they are harmful), has always been there.

PS, concerning Photoshop:

I've taken a lot of graphic design, art and art history classes and I can tell you that people have ALWAYS been improving the human image in pictures. Kings and queens in 400 year old paintings often requested to be painted in a flattering manner, often represented to be 20+ years younger than their actual age. So painters from centuries ago, would paint people not as they were, but as an improved version of themselves.

Also, photographers have been heavily editing images long before the age of digital photography & Photoshop. It was just a harder and more time consuming process back then. Nothing happened to "natural beauty", it's just that mother nature likes to discriminate when she distributes beauty, and even when she does, she always ensures that it is to be temporary. There is a stronger demand to be beautiful than mother nature can supply. People will do whatever is necessary to look beautiful, even if it's "fake". Oftentimes beauty is really just an illusion.

Answer 4

I love photoshop. I use it for my art (keykeyx10000.deviantart.com)

I watched the first video, and it would seem that the most the editors did was further even out the skin complexion..

That second video was AMAZING. The artist just wanted to show off their talents..

I understand your argument, but your evidence does not support it at all :(

I saw a photoshop video where someone took a photograph of a model then transformed her face COMPLETELY. I mean hair, face shape, eyes, lips until she was "fully prepped for the billboard" That made me so angry.

As for my opinion, I do not fall for it anymore. I am black and I was mostly raised around whites and hispanics. I was around a society where lighter eyes, skin and smoother longer hair was more beautiful. In all honesty, I wanted to change practically everything about myself.

As time passed and I grew up and moved around, I learned to embrace my features instead of obsess over how I will never look like society's "perfect woman". I love myself now.  :)

Answer 5

K, I'm sorry, I hate to be rude, but I thought it was hilarious that someone was complaining men don't want "intelegent" women anymore.  Ha ha!!!

Answer 6

Technology. Means you have to be more smarter to tell the difference between True LIFE and lies.

Answer 7

it died with the invention of video whores, it seems like that's what most guys want, not an intelegent real beautiful woman who never had plastic sergury.

Answer 8

Chuck Norris round-house kicked it in the face

Answer 9

Oh please.  They have been fixing photos forever, even before computers.  When I think of natural beauty I think of this:

http://images.craveonline.com/article_im...

as opposed to this:

http://style.sky.com/images/Beauty/SkySt...

Things you see on a daily basis or at least things fairly common...not much make up as opposed to faces being painted on, hair being over bleached, push up bras, implants, lipo, botox, collagen injections, etc.

Answer 10

You gave birth to it twice a few weeks ago, darlin'.  Beauty don't get more natural than that.

Answer 11

Don't get distracted by attempts of various advertising agencies to sell you another gadget you don't need by showing you artificially enhanced half nude 8 year old using it. Perfection is not real, and unfortunately it isn't beautiful... not really... It is cold and unattainable. It is impossibly boring, because there is no need to change anything in perfection. However, natural beauty is in your husband's eyes and his smile, when he is looking into your eyes, and you know that he loves you.Your children in all their occasional messiness are naturally gorgeous. To me bright smile on a weathered face of an old man is beautiful. Heartfelt laugh of a cancer survivor is the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. But the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen was a smile on my best friend's face, when after 18 years of trying, she was finally able to have a baby of her own. Beauty is all around us, it has always been there and it will always be.

Answer 12

Oh, god, please don't put up pics of Cameroon Diaz without warning.  I almost puked.