Vogue Magazine - King Kong Lebron James

Joined : 03 Jan 2007 Posts : 1617 Localisation : Illadelph

Did you see this cover?

www.writerblocks.com --- see it here
Basically they used Lebron James and some blonde (Gizelle or something like that) in a photo shoot that looks like a modern day King Kong. There were tons of other better photos to choose but they chose the barbaric one for the cover.

Same thing happened to Jennifer Hudson. They could have used the more glamourous photos but used the one with her mouth all open looking wild as the cover photo.

ignant

Joined : 20 Nov 2007 Posts : 254

At the risk of dodging rocks.... I don't think this cover is racist. It could just as easily be a white athlete. I think his image conveys aggressiveness and strength. Both necessary components of any successful athlete. The white woman on his arm? Another seemingly "necessary component of a successful athlete". lol!

I joke. But it could be a white guy + white girl. A black guy + black girl. A white guy + black girl. meh.

If it was meant to be stingingly racist then they missed the boat for me. It went right over my head. Brushed off the shoulders and rolled off the back.

Joined : 03 Jan 2007 Posts : 640

i agree with M.A.P.

i've been reading vogue for years and it is what it is. i bought the magazine in support.

the issue is a body issue celebrating the human form - the top athletes along side the top models in the industry. lebron's form is a sight to behold. while the pix on the inside is a beautiful shot, it doesn't convey an ounce of his strength that the cover shot does.

i think people are making too much of this. i.e. the media. i'm glad vogue stood behind this shot and decided to place it on the cover. it says to me: beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
_________________
alyson...

"yesterday was practice."
~ jg

Joined : 03 Jan 2007 Posts : 1617 Localisation : Illadelph

my cousin brought it to my attention...it was covered on BET news...and other blogs have addressed it that way. I think its offensive - especially next to King Kong. They also bypassed the better more sane looking pictures.

None of the white people ever look wild like that on the cover

I think it says beauty and the beast

Joined : 07 Jan 2007 Posts : 596 Localisation : over philly

re: jennifer hudson - i'm not offended at all by that choice of photo.

re: lebron james - it's one of those things i wouldn't see as racist unless somebody pointed it out to me and then i... thought about it and THEN... reached. i think it's reaching.

Joined : 08 Jan 2007 Posts : 406

as far as the lebron photo, i'm gonna have to really sit this one out for a few before i give my 2 cents. it brings about mixed feelings and perspectives in me. my father schoolled us at a very early age about the subliminal undertones and messages in some of the movies and television programs we revered so much. although i reserve the right to change my mind i want to let it kind of marinate for a bit.
Respectfully, I think the jennifer photo is sexy. Period.
I can understand wherein these times when it is popular and profitable to objectify sisters negatively that a sister would be vigilant and discerning of media images of her likeness.
I see sex appeal, yeah. No doubt this is a nice flick of a pretty woman. Admittedly, it's not the traditional vogue mag glamour cover shot.
But, who needs that all the time?

Joined : 25 Feb 2008 Posts : 93 Localisation : Philly

Re: Hudson: I think it's a nice pic of her. She looks good. Looks more like she's laughing than anything else.

Re: James: Bad thing. I saw the cover the day it hit newsstands before the controversy became public and my first thought was "Wow, they really on some King Kong isht." Maybe just because I was raised with a racially critical eye. Was it done that way on purpose? Who knows. I don't put it pass Vogue to exploit people tho. Even if they weren't thinking "king kong', they damned sure were thinking "aggressive Black male", which still perpetuates the stereotypes.

Joined : 20 Nov 2007 Posts : 254

Joined : 03 Apr 2008 Posts : 80

Yeah well, white folks can be just as angry.

A black man strong arming the white woman, and she appears to be loving it. Enough to mess with a mans ego. Smile

And he probably did dust that thang off after collecting his paycheck. Can't blame the man.

Joined : 25 Feb 2008 Posts : 93 Localisation : Philly

Joined : 03 Apr 2008 Posts : 80

I know, right. Laughing

Had no clue as to what magazine it was. I just walked past it in the store and was like,

Joined : 20 Nov 2007 Posts : 254

Joined : 03 Jan 2007 Posts : 640

i just think the image is being taken out of context.
_________________
alyson...

"yesterday was practice."
~ jg

Joined : 03 Jan 2007 Posts : 1617 Localisation : Illadelph

Joined : 20 Nov 2007 Posts : 254

I think I may just be naive.

There were only 3 covers of Vogue with men. Ever. Including the one with Lebron.

Can't find the other one with Richard Gere. What if... The shot with Lebron looked like the George Clooney one.

Other candidate for vogue cover -

I think I wouldn't like that one either...

So there aren't many to choose from. But for women.. I could do without the following:

I wonder if these were black women would we say that it's reinforcing the stereotype that black women are overly sexual?

All of this is aside from the point.. The Lebron James one may be racist. I think I may just be naive.

Sidenote: I like this one Laughing