Project by Elizabeth Owen @libbyowen33
This project examines the use of Botox by members of Donald Trump’s circle, most notably in the form of the “Mar-a-Lago face”. Over the course of American history, the White House has frequently been photographed and reported on, but particularly during Trump’s rise to power has the White House become more televised, more staged, and more produced than ever. Trump’s push to broadcast more of the White House’s events has run parallel to the rise of the Mar-a-Lago face in politics; just as the White House has experienced an increase in being livestreamed, it has also seen an increase in Botox. By transforming the new White House East Wing into a film studio and soundstage, this project highlights the flimsiness of the administration’s manufactured image.