Kind of a weird question but read this article first, on this beautification software that was invented, and reported by the NY Times.
The unaltered photo is on the left, and the ‘prettier’ version is on the right.
I think the left photo is more unique and has a more soulful beauty, whereas the right photo is fluffier and more cutesy. But they look like totally different girls except for the hair.
The photograph on the right was doctored by the “beautification engine” of a new computer program that uses a mathematical formula to alter the original form into a theoretically more attractive version, while maintaining what programmers call an “unmistakable similarity” to the original.
The software program, developed by computer scientists in Israel, is based on the responses of 68 men and women, age 25 to 40, from Israel and Germany, who viewed photographs of white male and female faces and picked the most attractive ones.
Scientists took the data and applied an algorithm involving 234 measurements between facial features, including the distances between lips and chin, the forehead and the eyes, or between the eyes.
And here’s the before and after celebrity slideshow.
Here are some choice photos:
I think she’s MUCH prettier as herself with those pouty lips.
He looks the same. WORSE in the second picture actually.
And so does she!
So it gives me hope that this software is not entirely awful by really mangling your face, but wouldn’t this be a bit depressing, especially for impressionable little girls who already have problems loving the way they look?
I’ve done a number of posts on beauty asking what if everyone achieved perfection, or “ugly” being the new beautiful, and talking about stars without makeup (hah!).
But this one is like you could actually put your photo in there, and see if you ARE beautiful and how far you are from what is considered ‘beautiful’.
However, isn’t beauty just a social norm or perception imposed upon society? At one point in time, fat people were more beautiful. Now it’s skinny and tanned. And now it’s pale and thin. Beauty and the whole idea of what is beautiful seems to change every couple decades or so, and on top of that, some people who are considered beautiful are pretty because of their flaws!
Even with all of my flaws, I can’t imagine my face being any different than it is now. Sure, we all complain about bags under our eyes, or wrinkles, but it makes us,… US and who we are!
What do you think? Would you ever want to change your face?
- Japanese-style haiku Windows error messages
- Stars without makeup
- How much do looks play a role in our lives?
- What is everyone was perfect?
- Current Computer Setup
adriana
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 10:27 AM:
I’m pretty happy with my face. That last one doesn’t look like there’s a bit of difference! I would be interested in seeing what it would do to me, but would then likely blow it off.
Revanche
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 11:14 AM:
The only thing I would change is skin quality and that’s because I think it reflects my overall health. So if my skin is better, I feel like that means I’m healthier!
Otherwise, I have enough trouble recognizing myself sometimes, no thanks to software that would make me more confused!
heaven11
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 11:22 AM:
I used to want to have a nose job so I could have a skinny “pretty” nose. Now I accept that my face is what it is and I am happy with it. Except for my weight…but that’s a different story!
Michelle
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 12:22 PM:
I just want clear skin. That’s it!
paranoidasteroid
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 12:31 PM:
If I wasn’t so cheap, there are probably a lot of things I’d change. Ultimately, though, I know I’m not unattractive, so there doesn’t seem to be much point.
Always In Style
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 12:55 PM:
There are definitely things that I would love to change about my face but after seeing these altered images, I think I’d prefer to have a bit of “character” rather than perfection.
Interesting post!
Allison M.
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 1:58 PM:
Yes, I would slightly alter my face. I have a bump on my nose and I don’t like my profile. It’s nothing terrible – just something I’d like to fix.
eneriyma
on Oct 23rd, 2008
@ 7:10 PM:
I would never want to change my face and not look like myself. Two things I would change are my skin and other people have mentioned and my right eyelid, which is droopy. But the eyelid is genetic and I know I’ll have it fixed in a few years when it really starts to droop.