Myspace Angles (2003)NSFWResearching

About

“Myspace angles” (including FGAS: Fat Girl Angle Shots) is the name given to the practice of strategically composing a photograph for the sake of obscuring one’s own flaws.

This “beauty through obscurity” phenomenon in photography has existed possibly since the dawn of photography itself, but the term “Myspace angles” or simply “The Angles” arose soon after the peak in Myspace’s popularity.

Despite the implications of the name “Myspace angles” this phenomenon is not confined solely to Myspace. The term can be used to refer to vainly obscured photos on nearly any social network.

Origin

Myspace was created in August 2003 following the success of Friendster in 2002.

It’s not actually clear who first coined the term “Myspace angles” although the practice of showing one’s best face online stems from the insecurities many encounter when putting their image online.

The technique

The desired effect is often achieved by raising the camera high above one’s head, at arm’s length, as depicted in the following image.

Taking a picture from above, with a high-angle shot or at least a shot that shows mostly one’s face, emphasizes the face and deemphasizes the body.

The top Urban Dicionary definition from 2006 also implies that the contrast and brightness of the photos may be manipulated in order to get the desired effect.

The angle is usually associated with the Myspace photoshopping which consists of a ridiculous brightness and contrast adjustment which makes it even harder to see who the person is.
Sometimes used to make grim people look alright.

Example:

Controversy and satire about the practice

Though men and women alike have been known to practice “the angles,” there is a common perception that women utilize the technique more often than their male counterparts.

Furthermore, there are many who feel as though they have been “tricked” after having met someone who does not live up to the image they have portrayed online.

The misleading and often tragic effects of “the angles” are satirized in David Lehre’s 2006 viral independent short Myspace: The Movie:

“The angles” would appear again in Lehr’s 2008 followup, Facebook: the Movie.

This problem was also discussed and criticized on many blogs like the article I look Stupid on Slate.com, and the highly popular Beware of the Dreaded Myspace Angles on Officialdatingresource.com, as well as their followup article that Revenge of the Myspace Angles.

The discussion of the hazards of Myspace angles also took place in the form of Youtube videos.

Some videos compared and exposed Myspace pictures:

No website is spared: 4chan example

Camgirls tend to get plenty of attention on 4chan, and those certain favorites are often given the honorific suffix of “chan” whether they post pics themselves, or if someone else simply posts pics of them.

Around December 2008, a new camgirl caught Anonymous’ attention. Her portraits did well in capturing her aesthetically pleasing facial features, but the later discovery of her full-body shots caused Anonymous to dub her, “Pear chan.”

For more information on Pear Chan, see the Encyclopedia Dramatica article