HA. AND YOU THOUGHT MARIE CLAIRE’S FAN ART COVER OF KATE MIDDLETON WAS PROVOCATIVE? WHAT ABOUT A TOPLESS, SLAVE GIRL MICHELLE OBAMA?
This, from BuzzFeed: ” The image appears on the August 2012 cover of Spanish magazine, Fuera de Serie. A number of sites have called the cover inappropriate because it depicts the First Lady in imagery closely associated with slavery. The painting used as the basis for this cover does depict a former French slave, but the image is widely regarded as feminist and racially progressive.”
Could this magazine cover become The Spanish “Spear?”
It seems not.
While there has been some complaint about the cover, it has been minimal in comparison with the global Internet uproar that greeted our playful Kate Middleton Marie Claire cover.*
And of course, nothing compares to the reaction to The Spear.
Many commentators have taken offense to Fure de Serie’s depiction of the First Lady as a slave, and no-one has yet stormed the offices of the magazine.
The reaction has been …. muted.
Of course, the magazine being Spanish, has probably helped take the passion out of any discussion.
With their economy in meltdown, the Spaniards probably have other, more pressing issues on their minds.
But the reaction from The States has been muted, as well.
Depicting a First Lady as a topless slave is offensive … so, why so little outrage?
In America, and to African Americans is the hurt of slavery less raw, than the wound of apartheid to South Africans? I can’t imagine it is.
It could be that, being in the midst of the hurly burly of an election, the Obamas are considered fair game.
But, our dear president was in the midst of an election campaign as well.
An explanation for the lack of reaction could be, of course, that, even to their electorate and to their loyal followers the Obamas do not stand for them. The first couple, products of Ivy League colleges and the Chicago Establishment, perhaps, are as associated with power, privilege and politics as any other US politician.
But for the purposes of the hurt and rage around The Spear, President Zuma stood for every black man in our country.
I think one of the worst crimes of apartheid was the attempt to destroy the masculine power and dignity of black men. The consequences of that particular injustice are still being paid for across every corner of our society today.
That pain explains the rage and very real hurt caused by that piece of art.
Someone wise once said, in jest, that if a cure could be found for men’s hurt feelings, there would be no wars.
Maybe that is why The Spear elicited howls of pain and rage and this image does not.
But, then again, maybe it’s just women’s bodies remain more fair game to the world, than men’s.
* And why was their such an uproar about a hyper-realistic fan art depiction of Kate?
I think it’s because she’s a sacred cow.**
Says nothing, stands for nothing and offends no-one.
But that’s just me.
Ignore.
** I’m not calling her names.
Relax.
Sit down.
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