Some may say, “Emily, this is just another cover… why make such a big deal out of it?” Well, this is not just another cover, folks. This is a cover that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before when it comes to Hollywood/Fashion. This is a cover of Cate Blanchett unphotoshopped, unretouched, basically natural! And what a surprise… she’s still gorgeous. The 42-year old actress shows a beautiful face which has aged gracefully. Not only is she not part of the pillow-faced Hollywood crowd, she’s actually taking a step against them. How many actresses do you know that would be willing to go unphotoshopped for a cover? I can’t think of many that come to mind. It’s all about image these days but we’ve lost the plot and a handle on reality because of all the lines, bags and double chins that are routinely erased as soon as an image is sent for retouching before printing.
Editor Tim Lisle commented on the new cover:
When other magazines photograph actresses, they routinely end up running heavily Photoshopped images, with every last wrinkle expunged. Their skin is rendered so improbably smooth that, with the biggest stars, you wonder why the photographer didn’t just do a shoot with their waxwork.
It’s a supreme example of having it both ways. Publishers want a recognisable person on the cover, with a real career; but they also want an empty vessel—for clothes and jewellery and make-up, which often seem to be supplied by the advertisers with the most muscle. (One cover shoot we spotted this week even had a credit for a fragrance. You would hope that the readers smelt a rat.) The actresses end up playing two conflicting roles: both modern women and throwbacks, both something to aspire to and something to negate.
Cate Blanchett, by contrast, appears on our cover in her working clothes, with the odd line on her face and faint bags under her eyes. She looks like what she is—a woman of 42, spending her days in an office, her evenings on stage and the rest of her time looking after three young children.
Well said! Read more on The Economist…
