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James FridmanPhotoshop master famous for "subtle" trolling
Date of Birth: .
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Content:
- James Fridman: The Masterful Troll of Photoshop
- Trolling as an Art Form
- The Photoshop Wizard
- An Enigmatic Internet Star
- The Makeup Controversy
- The Culture of Social Media
James Fridman: The Masterful Troll of Photoshop
James Fridman has become renowned for his exquisite trolling skills, delighting in fulfilling photo editing requests with a wicked twist. With over 1.12 million loyal followers on Instagram, he has ascended to the pinnacle of the trolling stratosphere.
Trolling as an Art Form
According to the Oxford Dictionary, a troll is one who posts intentionally provocative or inflammatory material online. From sexist rants against Mary Beard to fat-shaming attacks on celebrities like Em Rusciano, the cruelties of 'keyboard warriors' are rampant. But not for James Fridman, who has weaponized trolling into an art form.
Millions perceive him as a troll with a social conscience, an anti-hero fighting online narcissism with nothing more than Adobe Photoshop and a biting wit.
The Photoshop Wizard
Fridman receives photo requests via email, his website, or Twitter direct messages. Requests are often interpreted in meticulously absurd or literal ways, granting wishes like a mischievous genie. "I don't consider myself a graphic designer," Fridman states. "This is more a hobby. When I first got into photo editing, it was quite a new thing—not as common as it is these days—so everyone was experimenting and trying to learn."
An Enigmatic Internet Star
Like many internet celebrities, Fridman guards his privacy fiercely. Only one photograph of him is reportedly available online, and he has allegedly given only one official press interview. Yet, his immense popularity is evident from his colossal follower base and the hallowed internet success marker—a Wikipedia page.
The Makeup Controversy
While Fridman embraces requests from those seeking a chuckle, he draws the line at personal photos; if you don't want it shared with the world, don't send it. However, in June 2017, Fridman received an image he found troubling and felt compelled to speak out. A parent had created a social media page for their nine-year-old son and posted photos of him wearing makeup. The parent asked Fridman to enhance the makeup in one of the shots. Outraged by what he perceived as an act of exploitation, Fridman posted a message in place of the usual 'troll' image: "No child should be wearing makeup. Kids should be kids and enjoy being kids. What you are doing is not promoting them; it's teaching and encouraging them."
Explaining his indignation, Fridman asserted, "A person wearing makeup is trying to make themselves more sexually attractive, giving a false or exaggerated impression of their sexual activity or availability. Do we really want children doing this? Absolutely not."
While thousands rallied behind Fridman's stance, critics emerged. "Kids love playing with makeup. Kids love dressing up, playing make-believe. This is what kids are for. None of this is vanity. It's imagination," one user posted. "Stop shaming for what they enjoy," another admonished Fridman.
Undeterred, Fridman addressed the criticism, clarifying his position: "There's a huge difference between a kid playing around with mom's make-up and putting on full make-up—eye-lashes, fake nails, the works. A kid messing around with face paint is fun and innocent, a way for them to express their creativity without any sexual undertones, unlike wearing make-up."
The Culture of Social Media
Apart from the occasional moral dilemma, Friedman delights in his role as a master of whimsical mockery. In the realm of social media, where shareability is the global currency and visual comedy is the paper it's printed on, Fridman has found an unparalleled platform.
"The prevalence of comedy in social media assists in creating a new way for the public to engage," Fridman believes. "Entertainment-based accounts can reach large audiences, breaking down current events and exposing social issues through humor, which makes it easier to address sensitive topics."
Far from viewing his hobby as a vehicle for personal offense, Fridman aims to not only entertain but also provoke reflection on social media culture and the importance of self-acceptance and realistic self-image. Furthermore, he offers an antidote to the toxic 'selfie-like' culture.
Fridman's work cleverly skewers the culture of self-promotion and self-aggrandizement that drives people to curate images of idealized (and often inaccurate) versions of themselves. In this sense, Fridman's activities arguably transcend trolling, although the execution of his humorous photo edits fits seamlessly within the definition of 'sublime' trolling.
"I don't really set out to do anything. It just sort of happens," he states of his editing endeavors. "I get a request and I respond to it. Call it trolling or whatever. I don't mind."
