Asia is the New Africa
How can Asians and Africans get their faces in the pages of Vogue? Be relegated to exotic backdrop to illustrate high fashion out of it’s element.
In this fashion spread, Vogue Russia dropped a model smack-dab in the middle of a series of camera-wielding Asians. Much like photos we’ve seen of couture-clad models posing with Masai warriors (see Kiera Knightly), this is another example of native people being used as a representation of the “other”.
Bryanboy summed up the fashion editorial with this comment:
Asia is the new “Out of Africa”!!! You know how like twice or thrice a year, British/American Vogue or what have you, go on a wild expedition somewhere in Africa and take pictures of a white person in haute couture and million-dollar jewels whilst being surrounded by tribe people in their beads, spears and primitiveness? Well, take out the beads and replace them with fake fur, take out the spears and replace them with digital cameras and shove typical Asian consumerism in the picture and what do you get???
Bryanboy goes on to say that he actually likes this spread and I have to agree with him. Despite the stereotypical treatment and use of Asians as accessories, I actually found myself (guiltily) liking these photos because the styling is so on point.
*sigh* My love/hate relationship with Vogue knows no end.
