Making change, one image at a time.
What happened:
Glamour published a photo of Lizzi Miller, a so-called “plus size model” (she wears a size 12), which reveals a real woman’s belly.
How people are reacting:
Suffice it to say that readers are ecstatic to see a normal woman represented by mainstream media. For a full description of just how happy this photo has made people, go here.
Lizzi Miller poses for the Glamour article “What Everyone But You Sees About Your Body.“
This incident exposes what people who paint portraits have known for years: an image of a person can profoundly affect how we see ourselves.
In the case of a photo in mainstream media, the image has the potential of making a positive (or negative) impact on thousands of people simply by establishing what is considered “acceptable” or “normal.” In the case of a portrait, the range of effect may be smaller—usually influencing just the subject—but it’s just as important. It can’t be about promoting standards or conventions for beauty in popular culture since it’s an image focused on individuality. Instead, a portrait is about providing a touchstone for the best in its subject.
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CATEGORIES: - Philosophy - On portraiture - On photography - Featuring artists -
