The most controversial editorials

[Deleted member 1957]

wow that ed with the gun trotting men would be extremely controversial in today's world

 

[MulletProof]

If we could travel in time, publish politically-toned 1969 stories NOW and publish our 2010 stories in 1969, they'd be both more inappropriate than just tasteless. Not sure how to put this eloquently but I don't think fashion has become any more sensitive/daring about approaching political or social matters in the last 40 years.. it's the state of society what has changed perceptions only, our own associations derived from our own environments and what the media has in store for us and decides to accuse of 'wrong' violence.. cause there's always two sides of it, the uncomfortable but justified type of violence and the violence that's considered barbaric and has no chance to ever be placed in the same category as the first one (the 'classy' one back in the 60s, armed forces walking into another country wasn't particularly popular among young people, I don't think it was something you wanted to associate your 'cool' magazine with, same for dictators.. which were abundant at the time.. it was those who dared to revolt against armies or resist for their own people and wave a few romanticised ideals in the meantime what must have been seen as both exotic and admirable at the same time.. and obviously fashionable by a magazine under someone like Vreeland.

Forty years later, it's still the same, except the coin's been flipped.. still guided by appearances, people seem to have more sympathy for a uniformed violent army than a violent masked group of 8.. when a name like terrorist chic is suggested, I can't help to laugh at it and think how much the media has done to us and to that term that the name is only expected for a story like String Revolution but not for this one.. and obviously, like I said several pages back, I can't help to keep thinking how the involvement of mainstream fashion magazines is limited to always be a timid mirror of what happens and is accepted by society, I don't expect it to rival The Economist but just at least expose things in a way that doesn't make you feel like just because you like fashion, you're supposed to look at political conflicts with a lighthearted, 'look at what these guys wear!' while sucking a lollipop type of attitude.. I know they're different industries and you shouldn't compare but cinema seems to have more faith and pride in their own voice, despite also having to sell and also being limited to project themselves to a screen, not even a want-it-or-not daily need such as clothes.

 

[TianSoFine]

Can we just rename this thread "controversial editorials"? I think it's nice to have editorials from different decades so we can compare then and now.

 

[YoninahAliza]

it's the state of society what has changed perceptions only, our own associations derived from our own environments and what the media has in store for us and decides to accuse of 'wrong' violence.. cause there's always two sides of it, the uncomfortable but justified type of violence and the violence that's considered barbaric and has no chance to ever be placed in the same category as the first one (the 'classy' one)

I agree with you for the most part about controversial editorials except for one thing. I personally don't think that violence is ever justified. All violence is the 'wrong' kind of violence. It doesn't matter what it portrays its still wrong because someone is getting hurt. Perhaps, I am naive or something but I believe that what editors choose to publish in their magazines does have an affect on how people view the world- so why continue the hate and violence? Just because they can make it glamourous doesn't mean it should be.

 

[MulletProof]

All violence is the 'wrong' kind of violence. It doesn't matter what it portrays its still wrong because someone is getting hurt.

Hmm, yes, that's a rational thought, and that's why I mentioned the media arbitrarily deciding (by interests, pressure or any other factors) what type of violence is portrayed as unacceptable and the type of violence that's portrayed as the uncomfortable albeit justified mean for a happy end.. also known as the 'justified' violence (explicitly? the war on terror). And fashion magazines just following through and saying oh yes we agree, these are the guys with cool outfits fighting for something interesting and currently approved.

 

[YoninahAliza]

Hmm, yes, that's a rational thought, and that's why I mentioned the media arbitrarily deciding (by interests, pressure or any other factors) what type of violence is portrayed as unacceptable and the type of violence that's portrayed as the uncomfortable albeit justified mean for a happy end.. also known as the 'justified' violence (explicitly? the war on terror). And fashion magazines just following through and saying oh yes we agree, these are the guys with cool outfits fighting for something interesting and currently approved.

Ahhhh.... now I understand your point better. I just got it a bit muddled up!

 

[tigerrouge]

In terms of fashionable terrorism, I have lost count of the amount of magazine articles that treated the situation in Northern Ireland as a vicarious way to recreate, in their own words, the emotive storyline of something you might see at the cinema.

There was a terrible one in Allure, where a woman compared the experience of fasting on a spa retreat to the ordeal undergone by the Hunger Strikers. I was going to write a letter to the magazine before I figured, if you're the editor who gave the green light to print that in the first place, you couldn't possibly grasp what's being said.

Too busy being swept up in emotive fantasies of Irishness - but always at a safe distance away from the daily reality of living there, a perspective which is overwritten by the dramatic nostalgia produced by people who left for New York twenty or thirty years ago, and who can't quite find enough of a good reason to return, but see plenty of profit in mining their background for tales that fit with the fashionable perspective.

 

[LeBonChic]

Venus in Furs
Vogue Italy Nov 2010
Ph: Steven Meisel
Styling: Karl Templer
Models: Freja Beha Erichsen, Alla Kostromicheva, Andrej Pejic, Iris Strubegger, Iselin Steiro, Michael Tintiuc, Tomek Szczukiecki

There is a religious hint here or is it just me ? Jesus's crucifixion.


zfashionblog.wordpress.com

 

[BetteT]

I totally see it. Good eye! However, it's fairly subtle, I think.

I wonder if this was planned or just accidental? Any other images in that editorial that spoke of "Christianity" or "religion"? Or is this the only one?

 

[tigerrouge]

If the story of Jesus was reinterpreted to show him as an aimless-looking groupie with nothing better to do in life than sprawl around on the floor with his followers, and fall asleep on the cross, it might look something like this. I actually wish the editorial had gone down that road, it might have held some interest for me.

 

[BetteT]

You are correct, tigerrounge ... the theme is not about Jesus, afterall. I found more pics from the editorial here: #87 . So, I can see now that the editorial isn't actually on a religion theme ... it's only this one shot that seems to evoke that image.

But your theme would be interesting ... and very controversial.

 

[TommyAlbania]

if this image would really have a religious theme, i guess it would be about jesus allegedly relationship with maria magdalena stupid thought???

 

[ultramarine]

Lets keep on topic people!

And religious editorials .. hum ... do you think some mags from different countries are more risque in the matter of pushing the envelope editorial-wise ? (for example, Vogue Italia vs Vogue US).

Do they cater to different interests?

I guess the taste level would be different ... but its ultimately the people behind the mag who choses what to put in it ...

 

[YoninahAliza]

I don't doubt that magazines from different countries are more risque and push the envelope more, especially a lot of european magazines. I think its has to do with how people from these countries are raised. American's tend to be more prudish and conservative in some aspects, I think its in part because of our Puritan roots, so therefore their magazines are also often going to be less daring. However, Europeans are often more open with sexuality and pushing boundaries so it will also be reflected in their periodicals. I think many Americans would be shocked to open up, say Vogue, and see full on nudity. Thats not to say that it doesn't happen but not as often as in other editions of Vogue.

 

[Petit Lucille]

Could it be a sing of respect, looking up to the ethnicity, or i'm just being naive?
Of course, it doesn't look well if you consider there must be 1% of editorials with dark skinned models... And most of it goes into the Vogue Italia Black Issue, wich shouldn't have to exist.

 

[StoneSkipper]

I don't see any of those as controversial at all. If anything, they're trying to address an issue, retract a reality. I think the only one that actually offended me was the Numéro one with butt naked R'el Dade next to Melodie Dagault clothed. That was pretty disgusting.

 

[Bgeltunsd]

Not quite editorial but has any of you seen the gift/jewelry section of this month's french Vogue?
The girls photographed are around 6 years old, with vamp-ish make up and seductive poses. Way out of line. I'm in no way prude, but this is borderline child p*rn*gr*phy.

 

[zacatecas570]

I found this a little controversial a lot of Catholic things going on
Model: Natasha Poly
Ph: Mario Sorrenti
Mag: V Magazine

Especially in this video


and this image representing "Piéta"

daylife

wikipedia

also this image, and the ones in the video with the gun

reallifeiselsewhere.blogspot.com

 

[YoninahAliza]

Whoa! The image with the guns is sure striking, but not in a good way. It certainly alludes to martyrdom or Jesus's death. Sometimes, you really have to question what the editors were thinking when they produce certain editorials....

 

[Petit Lucille]

I think those ideas aren't controversial after being repeted so many times.. If anything, they are more of a classic!!