US Vogue September 2020 by Jordan Casteel & Kerry James Marshall

[Mody]

I find the comments are exceptionally harsh. While I get ppl want fashion but the reality is that Anna is in a no win situation here imo.
USA is heavily divided now which means regardless who she puts on the cover it will warrant a bloodshed
An abstract idea of black beauty even if it were an actually artistic portrait of an individual is a much safer approach And is a much appropriate choice than an actual person
It is in an actual form of art and imagination it could be Naomi or Aurora or even just an ordinary black women it is up to the readers to interpret it
It doesn’t come with any political view or history of any actual person which minimum any negative association to that person
It might be easy to point fingers at Anna but what is more appropriate?
Maybe I’ll be proven wrong idk Personally I don’t hate the cover Much calm and in a way genuine

 

[MON]

Will reserve full judgment after this gets officially released.

From where we are now, the effort is laudable regardless of the result (which leaves much to be desired). It features Aurora James, a black creative director, illustrated by Jordan Casteel, a black artist. That in itself warrants credit from my end.

The fact that it is Aurora James makes me feel like there's more. Though I feel like it's a series of covers illustrated by Jordan Casteel.

 

[honeycombchild]

If I was Aurora, or actually any other first time cover star, I’d be pretty peeved I landed on the cover with a bad illustration and not a photograph. Personally.

And for me that’s kind of what this is, a bad illustration. I don’t despise the idea of an illustration making a cover, but I would it to the exact same standards as any other Vogue cover. Let’s all hope it’s multi covers and there are other options.

On a final note, tell me why this cover couldn’t have actually been shot on her balcony, by a photographer? I presume it was drawn from life anyway and the backdrop/real life scene of this could have been excellent,

 

[Benn98]

I don't understand why some find the comments harsh, it's art. People, in general, tend to voice very clear opinions about art as opposed to photography for instance, where the clothing/subject/motifs/creator can often sway an opinion. I actually find the honesty very refreshing in a sense and it's not unique to US Vogue, the subject nor the artist.
Also, I seem to recall most on here instantly liked Vogue Spain's art cover, opinions were divided over Vogue Russia and Vogue Japan and most flatly loathed Vogue Australia's effort. I'm not sure why the standards ought to have been different this time around. Trust me, I'm 99% sure this artist would appreciate honest opinions on his/her work instead of saying something 'socially correct'.

My main issue with the artwork is that it's trying to be both representational and abstract at the same time. If you've spent so much time replicating the background perfectly, maybe do the same for her face because it simply doesn't look like her at all. But Vogue will probably be blamed for that again. LOL.

 

[TZ001]

They should bring back the artist who painted Jennifer Lawrence

 

[JohannesL]

I would take Naomi Epstein over any political correctness any other day. This is Vogue, which is synonymous with vanity, lavishness, glamour and elitism. PS, I am one of those progressive who detest the hypocrisy of dems and I read politics in twitter every day. Please keep Vogue with a capital F. This is where I look for fashion!

 

[MON]

I would take Naomi Epstein over any political correctness any other day. This is Vogue, which is synonymous with vanity, lavishness, glamour and elitism. PS, I am one of those progressive who detest the hypocrisy of dems and I read politics in twitter every day. Please keep Vogue with a capital F. This is where I look for fashion!

It's not mutually exclusive though. You can have a fashionable Vogue cover while featuring a non-problematic cover star (regardless of race). Vogue can remain politically correct while still being fashionable.

It's like agreeing to a Kellyanne Conway cover provided she wears head to toe couture and is photographed by Meisel.

Whether we like it or not, Vogue remains to be one of the biggest platforms out there. The accusations thrown at Naomi are serious. You don't want to be the magazine that gives her platform notwithstanding the allegations. There's a reason why Mario Testino et al are no longer found in the industry.

 

[Yohji]

Maybe it’s Aurora James? It also looks like a very familiar actress to me but I can’t think of a name

Perhaps Laura Harrier? That's who I thought it was!

 

[ThickGlossies]

oh god it's bad

 

[SLFC]

They should bring back the artist who painted Jennifer Lawrence

That artist probably wasn't black.

 

[reesewu]

View attachment 1155238

my own meme

Maybe this cover is supposed to be her as Blac Chyna?

 

[Mody]

I don't understand why some find the comments harsh, it's art. People, in general, tend to voice very clear opinions about art as opposed to photography for instance, where the clothing/subject/motifs/creator can often sway an opinion. I actually find the honesty very refreshing in a sense and it's not unique to US Vogue, the subject nor the artist.
Also, I seem to recall most on here instantly liked Vogue Spain's art cover, opinions were divided over Vogue Russia and Vogue Japan and most flatly loathed Vogue Australia's effort. I'm not sure why the standards ought to have been different this time around. Trust me, I'm 99% sure this artist would appreciate honest opinions on his/her work instead of saying something 'socially correct'.

My main issue with the artwork is that it's trying to be both representational and abstract at the same time. If you've spent so much time replicating the background perfectly, maybe do the same for her face because it simply doesn't look like her at all. But Vogue will probably be blamed for that again. LOL.

As a long term contributor of this fabulous forum As yourself I think we can at least agree that members here will have strong opinion about pretty much everything
That is part of the charm
Last bit of your comment pretty much supported my POV in a way ❤️
Anna is as of late being the target of controversy for the sake of controversy IMO

 

[Flamingjune]

You know what the saddest part of this is? That this could actually be real. It does look legit. I know the headlines are legit.

 

[Conbothsides]

The illustrator did such an amazing job, no one knows who she is. I guess it was meant to be just an artwork?

 

[crmsn]

So I posted this cover on my IG stories with a caption, "Guess who's not buying this year's September issue? Me."

And when I checked the people who viewed it, there goes the rumored artist who illustrated it. Humiliating!

 

[MON]

At this point, I wonder why Vogue is not officially releasing it yet.

It's everywhere now. The hype (for whatever reason) around it would have been long gone after they release it.. or maybe that's the point, let people hate it and guess if it's unofficial, then release it weeks after it has been dragged

 

[BlueRuin]

I think it’s a nice painting just not a nice cover. With the art direction/text over it just doesn’t work, really busy.

Also why people keep saying it’s Naomi, literally looks nothing like her and girl doesn’t live in Brooklyn.

 

[8eight]

I guess today is Vanity Fair release day. So Conde want that illustrated cover and issue to get attention today.

 

[jal718]

These covers have gone beyond horrific

 

[[Piece Of Me]]

I can't believe how anyone could see Naomi in this, lol.