ABOUT

‘Filtered’ is a collaborative portrait project which explores the normalisation of photo filter applications, such as Snapchat, in modern society. The project is a response to a new phenomenon called ‘Snapchat Dysmorphia’ and aims to raise awareness of and open conversations regarding the perceptions of beauty ideals and body image influenced by social media and its effect on mental health.

‘Snapchat Dysmorphia’ was introduced to media in 2018 by Dr Tijion Esho. The term is used to describe patients who become so obsessive with Snapchat filters they believed they needed cosmetic procedures to become a real-life filter. The danger is not necessarily with cosmetic procedures but the mental health implications of negative thought patterns in terms of body image and the obsessive behaviours around surgery. ‘Snapchat Dysmorphia’ as the name suggests has close links to mental health issues such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder. In highlighting this very worrying condition through the creation of ‘Filtered’ I hope to encourage the audience to consider their own relationship with social media and mental health.

This image is part of a series of stills and moving image documentary exploring the lines between the self and the idealised digital self. The sitters within Filtered edit their selfies before posting them online. Reflecting on the contemporary trends of photo filter applications we have worked together, using photoshop, to edit the image to reflect the perceived idealised body image of the sitter.

The moving image documentary intertwines the traditional documentary approach with a fine art aesthetic, exploring their motivations for editing appearance for online and social media’s effect on their mental health. We explore the lives of two individuals who edit their selfies for the online world; one being artistic expression and the other a mask to hide the facial scaring.