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Fashion: Fact or Fiction?
Daily Ink
Stored in: Utata Discussions
Posted On: August 01 2007
By: Brittney Bush
Photo © cybele malinowski
As someone who tends to dismiss fashion spreads as random bits of thematic whimsy meant mostly to sell products, I've found it somewhat eye-opening to follow the "Super Models in Rehab" discussion over in the Utata flickr group.
Steven Meisel's images of models soaking languidly in Victorian orphange-style bathtubs or wearing what look like compression stockings (who knew they were In?) and being dragged down hallways by white-suited men have raised many an eyebrow or a hackle. Meisel "He seems to photograph [women] in settings in which stuff is always being done TO them," says Greg in his introduction. "And if they resist, they're overpowered."
Artbeco goes even further in her condemnation:
The photographer and all the people behind the scenes who suggest and support the sort of attitudes these images show are reprehensible. Women aren't worthy of respect or dignity in the world they portray. This is staged manipulation trying to make what would be shocking cases of abuse in the real world all look cool and desirable. How sick is that?
On the other hand, several Utatans laud Meisel's work. "Drugs, misbehaviour and rehab is such a feature of the supermodel scene that it is incredibly clever to seize on this gap or blank in our imagination," Briggate.com believes. "am not sure I like this but I really think that these are fashion classics that will be cited for decades... just because he has taken the 'rehab' theme outside of the realm of paparazzi and documentarists."
"These are brilliant photos," agrees katbphotos.
The perspective I found the most thought-provoking was offered by Jamelah. "If this photo spread is proof of Steven Meisel's dislike of anyone," she tells us, "then I think it's of us. We (in the general sense) make these girls celebrities... and then we love to watch them get arrested, go to jail, have public meltdowns, end up in rehab." From that point of view, Meisel isn't trying to create a new idea of glamour, but merely reflecting our own twisted idea of it back at us.
Me? I'm still not convinced that Super Mods in Rehab is anything more than a misguided ad campaign, but please join the discussion and tell me why you believe otherwise.
3 comments on this Ink
On August 01, 2007, Lori Hale Williams said ...
hey look! a daily ink!! ive missed them...
On August 01, 2007, Lori Hale Williams said ...
hey look! a daily ink!! ive missed them...
On August 05, 2007, Nelma Franke said ...
I missed it two. ;p
Otherwise, in Utata Discussions:
- Previously: Paper Crane Project Gets Flickrblogged
Utata Ink is a daily publication edited by Bryan Partington (striatic). Photos used on utata.org are stored on flickr.com and obtained via the flickr API unless otherwise noted. To make a contribution to Ink, please visit Ink Me.
