Comments on: Zulu warriors as modelling props: Britain’s Next Top Model

By: Lauredhel

Lauredhel — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:54:01 +0000

Mindy: Yes, perhaps a more specific one would be good. It touches on “You’re being silly and overemotional” and on “You’ve just got a victim mentality” and on “I’ll tell you what’s wrong with feminism…”, and perhaps also a little on “Get off your bum and spend your time on more important causes”.

But yes, I’m regretting not adding “It’s aaaaaaaaart”.

I’m not sure how to argue with someone who thinks the Top Model murder shoot wasn’t about women being attractive, though. That’s some grade-A platinum-coated denial right there, when you look at the judge’s comments:

“What’s great about this is that you can also look beautiful in death.”

“You look incredible in front of me here. You look beautiful in this picture. This is a full package right now. ”

“She’s making those clothes look kind of fierce.”

“I think you look absolutely wonderful. Extension of the neck.”

“Death becomes you, young lady. ”

” The look on your face is just extraordinary. Very beautiful and dead.”

“All the other girls managed to have some sort of spark even in this sort of morbid situation. I think I look at you in this picture, and you actually just look dead. One of the simplest things, like acting dead, can be the most challenging. The problem is that you didn’t do anything. You just gave up and thought that that was being dead.”

By: Mindy

Mindy — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:42:33 +0000

@ Lauredhel
There should be a BINGO! for that.

By: Lauredhel

Lauredhel — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:48:46 +0000

that topic being that reading broader social messages into an artistic representation is somehow terribly unfair.

…and reflects badly on those engaging in the critique.

Also known as the “No, YOU’RE the racist! NER!” position.

[eta: There really should be a better acronym for that.]

By: tigtog

tigtog — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 06:40:55 +0000

Interesting that kay only seems to have one topic that she wants to discuss over several different posts, that topic being that reading broader social messages into an artistic representation is somehow terribly unfair.

By: Lauredhel

Lauredhel — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:31:59 +0000

kay's comment is one of those exercises in detecting Wite-Magik Attax, isn't it? Part of the Mystery-Commenter programme?

By: kay

kay — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:01:37 +0000

One piece of art can be read in several ways, often these ways represent the viewer more than that of the creator – and I think this discussion is a perfect example.
I’m sorry, but I think some of you are reading a little to much into things and you are assuming the artists motives behind their actions. Perhaps their motives are not as colonial as one thinks. When I look at these pictures I see two diffent kinds of contrasting beauty (different yet equal) – that of the girls and that of the African (who are not acting “savage” in the image so how could anyone claim that that is the reason behind using them) – not beautiful and savage. Perhaps it is your own negitivity seeing such badness behind the image. I don’t know how Iritline’s images could be viewed as slavery porn, unless one was looking for negativity – I see a window into the past, sure there are slaves in history but we can’t sweep our past under a rug, we need to first acknowledge mistakes to learn from them. Yes some women wear no tops – but firstly we don’t see anything and secondly (if you know your egyptian history you would know this) female slaves back then did have bear breasts. Lastly in the America’s Next Top Model’s murder shoot, i find myself feeling sorry for these poor victims of violence – I think that is the point, that we feel sorry (not arroused, not happy, not attracted – like many of you seem to think the artists motive was) – in a way it gives a voice to those poor women victims. Too many people are too quick to judge negatively, particuarly art because people see themselves mirrored there in.

By: hexy

hexy — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:14:46 +0000

I actually watched the episode with the murder victims.

The commentary and feedback from the judges was even more disturbing that the shoot itself.

By: Lauredhel

Lauredhel — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:32:57 +0000

Oh for fuck’s sake! Fashion is so…Can they not see the harm in this?

The standard defence seems to be “But fashion is aaaaaaart, and we’re making people THINK. And therefore, this is political, and therefore we’re terribly conscious and activist and everything!”

By: fuckpoliteness

fuckpoliteness — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:07:32 +0000

Yes Redblossom I do have a stronger reactio to the shots of the women…but you know what? I think that’s because the men in the torture shots are postured as strong, defiant and proud…they’re ‘manly men’ shaking off ‘the baddies’, marching strong and proud with their killer abs, their agency still in tact…I mean even with the hood on…he’s got a gash on his chest, a bag on his head, but he slips on the designer grundies, the leather jacket, and he’s good to go. Swaggering machismo? Check. It’s wrong and it’s fucking ridiculous, but I guess it’s so removed from the reality of the bodies that ARE being tortured…I mean really I don’t think the prisoners of Abu Ghraib are on macrobiotic diets or high protein shakes anand given an abmaster you know?
It’s…women are frequently ’sexy victims’ in pop culture, whereas white men are still able to stride down the catwalk all ‘You’re never gonna keep me down’.
Or did I just rant a load of codswallop?

By: blue milk

blue milk — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:24:08 +0000

Britain still channelling their inner colonialists, I see.