There has been a lot of controversy about the new spread in Italian Vogue photographed by Steven Meisel. The spread titled "Water & Oil" is getting criticism for involving fashion with such a serious event. However, I think both photography and fashion are art forms and if art is a commentary on life and events, then why not? If this photograph were in an art magazine or museum I think it would be viewed less harshly. It is provocative, which is the point: to provoke discussion about the oil spill. I don't consider it in bad taste at all. I even heard the critique that magazines are supposed to sell clothes, and since you could hardly see the the clothing, the shoot was unsuccessful. Shouldn't we be excited that a fashion/ lifestyle magazine isn't trying to sell us something on every page?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Water & Oil
There has been a lot of controversy about the new spread in Italian Vogue photographed by Steven Meisel. The spread titled "Water & Oil" is getting criticism for involving fashion with such a serious event. However, I think both photography and fashion are art forms and if art is a commentary on life and events, then why not? If this photograph were in an art magazine or museum I think it would be viewed less harshly. It is provocative, which is the point: to provoke discussion about the oil spill. I don't consider it in bad taste at all. I even heard the critique that magazines are supposed to sell clothes, and since you could hardly see the the clothing, the shoot was unsuccessful. Shouldn't we be excited that a fashion/ lifestyle magazine isn't trying to sell us something on every page?
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The first time I saw this spread, I was nauseated. I think based on that alone, it deserves some recognition. I think the shoot brought to light an important issue. Sometimes it takes a shocking and grotesque set of images to get people's attention and involvement, and I appreciate that it wasn't a beautiful luxury-glorifying shoot!
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