IN the beginning it was Barbara D’Urso, her anomalous television luminescence. Why all that shine? wondered some naive spectator who, unlike Barbara, did not yet know the meaning of that blinding glare. Because it smoothes the skin, and removes any imperfections, here is the answer. But now, we all know.
A little less than a year ago, in fact, we were barely concerned with providing a suitable background: for business meetings, lectures and interviews. Do you remember the boom of shots with bookshelves behind you? Pajamas and slippers, underneath. Impeccable and cultured, above. It was a transitory stage, however. We hoped – indeed, we strongly believed – that within a few months we would be back in the classrooms, in the office, on the stage, in the restaurant, to meet people live, to look them in the face. Their face, not ours. But no.
Covid sociality: for Zoom we need retouching, aesthetic medicine treatments in the era of video calls
by Irma D’Aria
And yet we are still here: on Zoom, on Instagram, on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Skype. Live, often. Staring at our face in a box, on a screen. As in a perennial mirror, with the difference that what we see reflected is not private, but of everyone. Wrinkles, dark circles, bags, waning cheekbones. This we have learned to notice, to closely monitor, to despise. So, coincidentally, the year of Covid saw a marked increase in plastic surgery: by 30%, to be precise. While a study of the Washington Post found a staggering 90% more Americans resorting to filler and botox injections because they are concerned about how they come on video.
The double chin? Blame the smartphone
by Angela Nanni
And that’s why we called Barbara D’Urso into question. Because the best-selling object of the moment, everywhere, is precisely the one that tries to reproduce the same splendor, now legendary, that the presenter launched years ago. To get that polished, and somewhat ethereal effect, we bought all, or almost all, of the ring light. A ring of light, with a smartphone holder in the center. A real halo (there are dozens and dozens of models, within the reach of any pocket) from which, as in a miracle, you can let yourself be turned on and perfected. The first were the actors, who had to resort to improvised sets for the self tape (the home-made equivalent of the audition) to be sent to the directors. Soon after, Youtuber and TikToker arrived. Influencers, songwriters and songwriters, writers and writers. Then, anyone who has one smart working to carry on. Between conference call (woe, by now, to call them meetings), online courses and video calls. Finally, all the highs.
Live, Valentina Farinaccio: “The three moves to detoxify from the smartphone”
And while Covid extinguishes any certainty, making the famous light at the end of the tunnel appear far away, the other light, that of ring light, at least illuminate our virtual life. That virtual, now, is no longer.
Live, the envy at the time of social media. Valentina Farinaccio: “Let’s remember that perfection doesn’t exist”
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