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Only in US/UK/artists interests if it is their free choice to be photoshopped.

Reader comment on item: Islamist Media Digitally Cover Up Prominent Western Women
in response to reader comment: It does not hurt American interets

Submitted by John in Michigan, USA (United States), Mar 12, 2013 at 22:57

The question, does it hurt American (or UK/EU, or the artists') interests is an interesting approach to the issue. However, I am afraid Amit Srivastava comes to the wrong conclusion after a promising start.

If the photoshopping was done without the subjects' consent, it causes them to look foolish, or subservient, or worse. Altering their images without their consent is a form of political or artistic censorship that implies a negative judgement and furthermore, undermines their personal sovereignity, and in the case of the diplomats, that of the nations they represent.

Was it done with their consent? If the diplomats intended to show less skin, they would presumably have worn different clothing. It is highly unlikely that the diplomats gave permission to have their photos altered; if they allowed media to photoshop them, it would undermine their credibility, as people would begin to ask, was the diplomat even present at the event, was the event itself fake, etc.

In the case of the artists, if they consented to show less skin, presumably they would have had the photos re-shot so that they looked natural. If that wasn't possible, the artists are certainly famous and powerful enough to insist on a top-quality photoshopping job. Given the crudeness of the manipulation, it is quite unlikely they consented.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (16) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Hold on a second [223 words]CoexistApr 4, 2014 00:58214232
Hang on here. [28 words]Amr MarzoukMar 30, 2013 06:42204824
1Coverups do not have to stop at necklines [56 words]PrashantMar 12, 2013 02:10204216
It does not hurt American interets [195 words]Amit SrivastavaMar 12, 2013 00:54204213
1Only in US/UK/artists interests if it is their free choice to be photoshopped. [215 words]John in Michigan, USAMar 12, 2013 22:57204213
cover-up [80 words]SheilaMar 11, 2013 17:19204208
so what... [9 words]MartinMar 11, 2013 16:22204206
1We don't need them in the 21st century, right? [32 words]DmitryMar 12, 2013 06:32204206
1Modest Coverups [93 words]RonMar 11, 2013 15:43204205
3Photoshop is not the worst offense [110 words]DmitryMar 12, 2013 06:58204205
1Sartorial comments on photoshopping in Iran [164 words]Kelly TwoMar 11, 2013 13:02204201
Kelly has a point ,however censorship is more ominous than it seems [219 words]ShishirMar 22, 2013 04:15204201
3Another kind of "cover-up" [120 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Edward ClineMar 11, 2013 10:36204198
Thanks for the link! [1 words]John in Michigan, USAMar 12, 2013 01:01204198
5To Condone this is to Condone Evil [94 words]FrugalFrigateMar 12, 2013 01:37204198
Thank Heaven for Photoshop! [14 words]D KoralMar 11, 2013 10:00204194

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