Mock ad. Blk water didn’t actually hire me. That would be cool though.
© Allaire Bartel 2012
I’m a little obsessed with Christmas light abstracts.
Oxfords and my Grandmother’s locket.
© Allaire Bartel 2011
© Allaire Bartel 2011
I think when I first posted these images, I was so excited to have the series done and to show it to everybody that I left out why I did the series in the first place.
When the day of the photo shoot came, my model told me that he had not eaten for 5 days in preparation for it; (not by my direction, and I made him have some coffee cake from Starbucks when we were done.) Being thin is a “glamorous” end that some believe justifies any means- even self starvation and unhealthy purging. What they don’t realize is that eating disorders are true mental illnesses that can have the very real consequence of death. 20% of anorexics will die prematurely and only 30% ever fully recover from the condition. Even if the illness isn’t fatal, malnutrition can have devastating effects on the body, including (but certainly not limited to) muscle atrophy, paralysis, and heart failure.
Sadly, the fashion industry is one in which eating disorders are most prevalent. And it’s no wonder why, in an environment where girls who are 5’9” are sent home for weighing 107 pounds (Ali Michael) and are told “We don’t want you to be anorexic, we just want you to look it” (Coco Rocha). Some steps are being taken, and some important people in fashion are speaking out, but the industry standard is still either rail-thin or plus-sized- not healthy. In any other line of work, if the conditions of the job were that detrimental to the health of employees, there would be unionization and regulations put in place.
What’s more is they are quick to dismiss accusations that these norms have a negative effect on teenage body image. But let’s be honest; the average person is exposed to fashion and advertising on a daily basis, and they have become the be all end all for what is considered beautiful. Adolescents, many with low self esteem already, are easily influenced: anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among them, and 80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight.
Awareness of the causes and effects of eating disorders is frighteningly low. Some articles worth looking at:
http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm
http://nymag.com/fashion/07/spring/28149/
http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/06/cfdas_takes_on_the_tooskinny_m_1.html
Bones.
Model: Viktor Thomas
© Allaire Bartel 2011
© Allaire Bartel 2011
Dancing through time.
© Allaire Bartel 2011
Peace
© Allaire Bartel 2011
Occasionally, I feel the need to destroy my posters. And old silver prints.
Mrow.
© Allaire Bartel 2011
Occupy Pittsburgh
