Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/01/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Patrick Jelliffe wrote: >> >> Agreed. But why do models never smile? >> >> M. > > > It really hurts after years of only pouting, and the > clients don't want them to--Unless you are LL Bean, > Sears, et al. > > P > Actually, I think it goes back to the objectification issue mentioned before. The non-smiling, blank, posed, perfectly lit, smooth-skinned beauty, bereft of all individualistic detail (such as smile lines) reinforces the image of inapproachable (yet superficial) perfection, objects of desire out of reach of mortals. The perfect canvas onto which it is possible to project whatever emotion, sentiment, or fantasy the viewer cares to. And perhaps that's what fashion is all about: the conjuring up of that alluring, just-out-of-reach sensation of minute-fresh style, a half-mirror to reflect a superimposed image of a noveau-you, sandwiched together with the latest non-descript superficiality of unattainable perfection. It's desire, with a "best before" sticker slapped across it. M. - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html