The latest imbroglio is about a soon to be published Vogue cover. If you haven't seen it, and you probably have as it's everywhere, it depicts top basketball player, James LeBron and supermodel Gisele Bundchen posed in a way that shouts strongest man wins most beautiful woman. His expression is-- I've got her, you wanted her; while she lies back in his arms, with a smile that says-- I've got him, you wanted him!
There would be no story if that was what it said to everyone; instead, some have compared this photo to the movie King Kong (and seem to have forgotten the story as the heroine was definitely more attracted to Kong than the supposed hero).
The outcry has been that this plays to our worst stereotypes. It does? To whom? Maybe someone who has racial stereotypes on the brain. Sports hero gets hot babe is racial? Since when?
I will agree with the doubtful question of what does this Annie Leibovitz photo actually illustrate about shapes (which is what the inside is supposedly about)? True, it does illustrate men and women come in different shapes and says it rather well-- viva la difference. But the cover wasn't chosen because of that. It's there because sex sells, and this is a sexy, mythic, fantasy oriented cover. I also think it's beautiful. But it wouldn't convince me to buy the magazine. To do that, they'd need to reverse it with maybe Queen Latifah and David Bowie on her lap. That might do it *s*
In the meantime, less hypocrisy, please. If that cover had Tom Brady holding her with a triumphant yell of pure male adrenaline, nobody would have said a thing.
8 comments:
Actually, you're wrong...if Tom Brady had been the one on the cover(fat chance, since he choked in the SB)with Gisele, there would have been plenty of complaints. Why? Because the woman he would be posing with is the same one he dumped his pregnant gf for...and also continues to seemingly ignore his infant son for. Worse...MUCH, much worse.
Gisele and Tom are gross. I don't understand how this guy can ignore his son and not feel bad. He doesn't seem all there.
Obviously Tom Brady was a poor choice to use here as an example. I am not that knowledgeable about sports; so any other sports hunks that I could have used and wouldn't rile up people? Frankly Vogue should stick to photo-shopped women and odd looking dresses :)
Much to do about nothing ! :-)
I read about this story and read many comments from black and white people. My problem is the stupid look on his face. Many people were complaining about the whole King Kong thing. I guess if you are Vogue there is no such thing as bad publicity. I think they could have done a much more tasteful photo and still made their point. It is a double standard with race in this country. They finally put a black man on the cover and people complain about that too.
Honestly I think this cover is crappy! I think it does send a subtle (well, not so subtle) message...The look on his face, for me, is a real turn-off. And I think they chose THIS particular shot on purpose...It has caused lots of talk and lots of controversy...Personally, if I were her, that is NOT the look I would want to see on my man's face...! Maybe it's just me, but I DO think it has a subtle negative message where black men & white women are concerned....And frankly, I think it is awful. I'm sure they took at least 100 pictures if not 300 hundred....And this is the one they chose? I guess it is supposed to be amusing...but it isn't amusing to me.
I am so out of it, I had no idea about this particular Vogue cover and the brouhaha. I just looked at the photo for all of two seconds. It looks like all the other photos used to sell everything. Hulking guy with babe. I like your idea of David Bowie sitting on Queen Latifah's. That sounds perfect.
It was interesting in how differently people saw this cover-- here and in other articles I have read. I don't know how Annie Leibovitz intended it to be seen but she has been photographing stars in fairy tale scenarios and maybe that was what she aimed for here. Perhaps it is Beauty and the Beast and if so, then it would explain why I liked it as I never wanted to see the beast turned back into some wimpy prince. He was powerful and strong and that was better than cute. In any film I have seen of the story, it's hard to beat the appeal of the beast over the eventual prince-- in my eyes. So perhaps it's why it appealed to me so much while others would want to see the beast tamed while also turned into a handsome prince. Kind of like Shrek where Fiona had the choice of him as the beast or the handsome young man and she preferred her beast :)
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