^^Thanks for bringing up this comparison. In fact, I quite find that Joan's editorial to be the one of the two that actually feels so dated, sexless, and sad. It's such a tired cliche of sexy at this point. And while Miley's may be more "vulgar" in a certain way, it's the vulgarity that is clearly ruffling feathers. Joan's editorial is clearly riffing on tried and true fashion references of Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton, who I'm sure at their prime ruffled a fair amount of feathers themselves, but their visual vocabulary has become so much a part of our visual culture at this point that when photographers reference their style, the real biting sex appeal of the originals is often missing, as in Joan's editorial, and all you're left with is a glossy, useless fashion image.
I don't hate this issue at all, nor do I find it to be "stooping" to any low level. Fashion magazines need to be trying new things, need to be on the pulse, need to appeal to masses, and I don't think it's terrible that Interview is trying it out with this issue. Whether or not they always work or are successful...at least they are trying something new. Way more applaudable to me than what we see in Joan Small's editorial which is so stale, I can't stand it.