Question

Some modeling agencies are turning to CGI to create their models, rather than using actual humans.

What issues of representation does this raise? (e.g. is a team of programmers creating a black model doing 'black face'?)

Does this produce an impossible standard of beauty?

Is this really different from 'real' Instagram models who use plastic surgery, posed photos, and Photoshop to attract notice?

Answer 1

Solution:

Using CGI models may not correctly represent the humane touch and there can be issues related to the realism associated with the connect between an advertisement and the consumers. Hence, the consumers would find it difficult to connect with the products if they are not connected with the advertisement which is promoting the product. The use of CGI can result in this issues of developing the appropriate connect with the consumer. Also, the representation issues would arise because of the use of models and other CGI elements that represent these models. The discriminatory issues may arise because of use of ethcinic or racial representation in a derogatory way. Hence, these are some of the issues that can arise because of the use of CGI.

This also creates a standard of beauty which will be difficult to achieve in the reality. The use of CGI would create models and their representations that are far from reality and appeal very much to the human eye, making them naturally get attracted to the unrealistinc beauty created out of CGI. The ability to achieve the standard of beauty that is represented through CGI would be extremely difficult and at times improbable. Thus, there can be ethical issues of false representation of standard of beauty that is unattainable.

This is extremely different from models on social platforms such as Instagram where the use of plastic surgery, editing tools to attract more people is used. These are tactics that make the individual more beautiful or desirable. However, the changes made in doing so are sometimes irresistable and also makes it costly. CGI however is more flexible and one can make numerous changes. CGI is associated with making the representation of the person attractive and not the person herself. Hence, this is the major difference between CGI and other tactics used by Instagram models.