AI
Models. Are they the future?
The short
version... I don’t think this should be the future of fashion.
The long
version...Sit tight kids, we’re going for a ride!
It has
become apparent that wanting virtual models to be pushed into every occupiable space in
society is what has and will continue to become the norm. Much
of my distaste comes from the idea that they could possibly take over the fashion industry. I mean who
isn’t worried about that... after Ex-Machina, I think I’ve become a
little paranoid. Can you blame me?
Maybe, just
maybe, we should consider where this leaves people from
all walks of life, who, due to AI models being pushed in to a spot that human models could be navigating, will be left behind on the conveyor belt
of unattainable opportunities.
But, I digress.
To
concentrate specifically on the modelling industry, I worry that models will eventually become obsolete. Referring to my previous post titled “Is Fake The New Real?” Where I introduced three virtual models by the names of Shudu,
Lilmiquela, and Opalsultuniverse, it seems that there has been an influx of
interest in making more virtual models, and as per usual (or how I see it), at the expense of women models of colour.
You would
think that by now; just to remind you, the year is 2019, that we should have
taken enormous strides towards an increase of models that represent the
many people that walk the earth.
Just to
play devils advocate, Some may argue that this is in fact taking place with
modelling agencies like Bitton, or even the creation of virtual models that represent more
than a white face. However, for one, virtual models are still computer generated. Their
idea comes from a place of a typical look that is admired, but not liked
universally.
Take
Shudu. She has been created with the image of supermodels who look like Duckie Thot. Duckie, although a dark skinned, black woman, (black models who are darker skinned tend not to be given the same platform as their white or lighter skinned peers) is still within the
standards of beautiful in the modelling industry. And so, leads on to my point.
They are made to emulate what society upholds as "beautiful". Second,
actual human POC that could be occupying spaces like the image above and serving as positive role models to future generations of models , can’t,
which takes away another chance from human woman POC. This
happens all too often in the cut throat industry of fashion.
In regards to WOC, they
are expected to be better than the norm just to get ahead. If hiring models of colour were the norm, we wouldn’t have this issue.
Third,
the beauty standards within the modelling industry are very unhealthy and
ridiculously unrealistic to many women. So it seems strange to me that these
creators, although talented, can just bypass actual human beings. It pushes the
narrative that fake is good, that what these CGI models have, you can have it
too, and this quite simply, is not true. Unrealistic standards of beauty already exist a bit too prominently, so to add another element to make people compare themselves to, confuses me.
We
then have to consider why the use of virtual models has become prominent. Is it due to the
boundaries that virtual models push? Maybe because they are new and shiny? Does it give fashion designers and artists a new way to showcase work? Is it to diverge away from the cost of hiring a model and not having to bend and flex to their wants, needs and rights as human models?
I
think it important to point out that the majority of these virtual models
that I have seen, are women, AND POC? Again, I feel that this push to use POC virtual models takes away opportunities from those who are firstly, human, and secondly, who have worked hard continuously, only to to gain half of the accomplishments that a virtual model has, which is crazy to me!
This is why folks, representation matters! When
you have representation not only on catwalks, in editorials, or in campaigns,
but also in the agencies that actually hire the models that are to be
showcased, there is a higher chance that models will be chosen that reflect a
demographic wider than a white face. But there’s a way of doing
it. Like maybe using real human POC?
Thanks for reading my TEDtalk.
