Monday, March 5, 2012

The Starvation of Venus

An Italian model named Anna Utopia Giordano used photoshop to alter the famous paintings of Venus an update, making the models' bodies fit today's standards of beauty for models.  Artists' work Utopia altered included Botticelli (The Birth of Venus) and others  (Hayez, Tiziano, Westal Richard, to name a few).

I think I have been as strongly influenced by today's standards for beauty as anyone else.  Even though my body is large and soft and curvy... and even though I fancy myself a feminist... I still tend to believe that very, very thin women are the most attractive and I still compare myself- as well as your average woman- to that body type and find us all wanting.

However...

The contrast in these pictures highlighted for me the beauty of the original models' curves.  I was delighted to realize that I thought the women in the originals looked so much healthier, and much more attractive.  I love that this project was done!  What do you think?




















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2 comments:

  1. JenMarch 14, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    I like the originals best too. A good reminder of how skewed our perceptions can get.

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  2. Little Feminist, Big WorldMarch 17, 2012 at 9:57 PM

    I've studied all of these photos in Art History and love this concept. The direct comparison of images shows how our society has regressed when it comes to "the beauty cult."

    Last semester I was asked why my photography only contained images of slender woman. I'd like to think that perspective is the answer. Although I'm frequently told that I'm skinny, I don't see myself that way. I see short and slender people fitting into that category, not me. I'm average! :) So, because I see myself as "average" I choose models that my professors see as too thin and I view as "normal." Does that make sense or did I just talk in a circle?!

    My best friend has liposuction this year and I remember her calling me in deep sobs. When I finally got her to speak she cried out "I want my fat back!" Apparently, body fat holds memories and is a source of comfort. When I was in High School I remember disapproving the dichotomy of the way many of my guy friends hated "fat girls" but loved big boobs which are basically just balls of fat.... How does that double standard make any sort of logic sense? Who benefits from big boobs? Who benefits from a unattainable skinny body standard? Being slender isn't all that great.... I've been accused of having an eating disorder time and again.

    Angie, I think you & your body are wonderful! I'm glad you're in Feminist Theories with me!!!

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