Topics: Ariana Grande, Celebrity, Social Media, TV And Film, Wicked, iPhone, TikTok, Period Drama
Ariana Grande has been fiercely defended following 'iPhone face' criticism from Wicked viewers.
One TikTok creator, with the handle @georgiejxmes, who regularly posts 'pop culture deep dives', referenced a bunch of characters from period drama flicks, stating: "iPhone face in period/classical dramas is becoming a PROBLEM."
Now, despite talking about a whole load of female characters who have been accused of looking 'too modern' to be in a period drama role, Georgie includes a snap of Ariana as Glinda the Good Witch at the very start of the deep dive.
However, it's important to note, she didn't actually specifically go into detail about Ariana having an 'iPhone face'.
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This phenomenon, in short, describes how modern beauty standards have infiltrated historical period dramas.
Explaining the thought process behind this neat little phrase, Beth Johnson, Professor of Television and Media at the University of Leeds, told the Standard: "Audiences are smart and can be quick to notice details that register as contemporary, like the evenness of teeth, the smoothness of skin, the styling of brows and lips.
"With high-definition and streaming platforms, these signals are more visible than ever, and they can make the 'past' appear filtered through a distinctly 2020s aesthetic."
Basically, it's when the celebrity doesn't fit the era.
But many fans reckon that such a notion doesn't apply to Wicked, given that it's not a period drama but instead a fantasy film.
Others, however, couldn't have disagreed more.
"I spent most of Wicked Part 1 being distracted by Arianna’s strip lashes," penned one TikToker.
A second chirped: "I agree. I want to see real faces. Real emotions."
A third theorised: "Oh, it’s also the lighting! Modern production makes everything look fake compared to production 20 years ago…"
"I think it's makeup artists and styling, even clothes look too modern in period pieces," speculated a fourth.
Ariana fans, as we say, rushed in to defend her look in the Wicked films, with one TikTok user pointing out: "I'm not fussed about Wicked, one of them is green."
"So WICKED is a period drama?" questioned someone else, while another hit out: "Since when was Wicked a period drama?"
And a final user echoed: "Wicked is a fantasy musical film set in another dimension, not a period drama."
I mean, the fans make a very good point there.
What do you make of it?
Wicked: For Good is available to watch in selected cinemas now.
