Red Carpet Critiques Sometimes Go Too Far

More stories from Aedan Juvet

Illustration

Photo by: Tessa Barretto

Illustration

Media-based award shows continue to draw in onlookers for contributions to film, music and television, but it’s the surrounding red carpet coverage that somehow becomes a primary focus.

With the public’s growing interest in mass media, the entertainment industry has continuously capitalized on the discussion of celebrities clothing which can be either complementary or a harsh mockery.

For example, programs like the E! red carpet specials have become a place to interview people in the industry, and ask the now repetitive question, “who are you wearing?”

While at first it’s seemingly harmless, you begin to see these self-proclaimed critics tear down some people’s most coveted fashion moment. Fashion has truly become a method to incorporate your individuality into your appearance, giving many a confidence boost in a world where our choices are under a microscope of media.

When you add filmed critiques of people’s clothing choices, it introduces an opportunity to essentially put people on blast for something intended for themselves, not everyone else.

Social media plays a large part in the negativity spewed through a keyboard, giving people the anonymity to make insensitive remarks about something that is purely perspective dependent.

It’s as if we pretend other people don’t actually have emotions or feelings about what can be said, even though those in the public eye constantly are informed of perceptions.

Not only are celebrities encouraged to interact on social media, but they are bombarded with people and programs reinforcing their opinions as if they are factual.

It should be considered to be an act of bullying, because in any other real-life scenario, someone repeatedly making a mockery of someone based on appearance would be labeled a bully.

In the privacy of your own home, people are bound to make remarks about noticing something they may or may not enjoy.

It’s completely normal to have preferential taste in fashion, but when you cross the line of saying it on camera or through a public platform, it does have a distinctly different negative connotation.

Programs like “Fashion Police” are centered on these judgements, even with the mere implication of the series name.

It tries to take a comedic approach to critiques, but sometimes humor can’t mask a mean-spirited remark that can create insecurities for men and women of all ages. Concurrently, “Fashion Police” has been under fire for racially insensitive remarks while dissing fashion, and on occasion is questioned for lacking morality which could suggest a common denominator.

I’m not naive enough to believe red carpet coverage will cease in the future, but I certainly feel like we need to find alternative ways to appreciate fashion.

To better shape our societal standards in a positive manner means we need to remember that nothing good can come from picking each other apart.

People should be praised for expressing themselves with what makes them comfortable, because if we’ve learned anything from this topic, it’s that you require true confidence to put yourself on a pedestal to be criticized.