Vanity Fair: The Pretty White Girl Issue

[eternitygoddess]

am so mad that all of these girls are white, why didn t they include Gabourey Sidibe she s probably a better actress than all of them put together, how many of them have been nominated for an oscar!!??!!
i lost respect for Vanity Fair

Repost from magazine thread:

Gabourey Sidibe only has one movie under her belt, while the girls on this cover already have a longer, more impressive list of film works. Plus, I don't think Sidibe will be around for very long, since there are very few roles in Hollywood for her to play (for obvious reasons).

Oscar nominations aren't any indicator of career longevity or permanency. If you're meter is solely based on Oscar nominations, then they should include people like Keisha Castle-Huges in there too.

To quote Luxx:

As much as I do think that a cover with diversity would have been more interesting, the argument for Gabourey is flimsy at best, she is a one film wonder until she does another project. All of these girls have payed their dues in some respect.

 

[honeyisle]

I find it very interesting that some think that right off the bat Gabby isn't going to have longevity in Hollywood. It's such negative thinking. She may not play the lead "starlet" all the time, but I think the woman has natural talent and there will be a place for her. Let's see what happens before we automatically right her off because she doesn't fit into some preconceived idea of what a leading lady should be.

This cover was so unoriginal.

 

[pacersfanatic36]

There's definitely a two-pronged problem here (diversity in Hollywood and representation on magazine covers). I can't say that I'm surprised that only White actresses are on the cover. Sadly, relatively few young actresses of color leap to mind. But, I have a hard time believing that the women featured on the cover are all there because of merit, perceived longevity, and undeniable talent.

More than anything else, the choices feel very uninspired. Some of the women look interchangeable. Actresses who have been working forever are touted as new and exciting (as Les_Sucettes and sepia pointed out). Critically acclaimed actresses like Saoirse Ronan and Dakota Fanning are missing. No one could seriously claim that these 9 actresses alone represent the future of Hollywood. Then again, the Hollywood covers usually feel stale to me.

Representation on film is more important to me than magazine covers. And until Hollywood realizes that there can be more than one of us at a time (Paula Patton is not "the new Halle Berry." We don't need a "new Halle Berry"), we'll keep seeing covers like this. That is not to let Vanity Fair off the hook at all.

*****************

I know she's had a breakout year, but I think Zoe Saldana's too "old" to be on this cover. She's 31, and these actresses are playing high-schoolers. That's one of the reasons I was surprised to see Abbie Cornish featured, and one of the reasons I've never cared for the Young Hollywood issue. There are few great parts out there for young actors. So, these covers always feel limited, irregardless of talent, to "people who are well-known, our idea of pretty, young, and not on Disney or Nickelodeon." I never feel like Vanity Fair's breaking anyone new. Featuring Anna Kendrick after her performance in "Rocket Science" would be brave. Featuring her when she's tipped for an Oscar nomination is anything but. This has been mentioned before with regards to Vanity Fair, but shouldn't they be trying to create new stars (as opposed to rehashing old ones)? Isn't that what they used to pride themselves on?

 

[Nemova]

I just wish Freida Pinto was on the cover. Nothing else.

 

[Fashionturnip]

i'm so surprised at how little attention Zoe Saldana is getting for someone in the highest grossing film on earth.

omg so true, i know she wasnt 'in' the film, but she had a pretty significant role!!!

 

[JennyV_1185]

Amazing! I absolutely agree. I really would think the publishing industry would get in with the idea that their target markets are beginning to diversify. It's not about just appealing to the rich women that you want money from, but those who turn to you for inspiration and will read your magazine for the content. The black, hispanic and asian markets are an ever growing presence in the state. Lets get with it VF!!

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Ultimately, it's not about the cover- it's about the fact that, other than perhaps Gabby Sidibe, Zoe Saldana, Rinko Kikuchi and Freida Pinto- you'll be hard pressed to think of a minority actress that's getting a lot of buzz and great roles. And how convenient is it that, for the most part, there's one go to young actress for each major demographic? One actress for each race is absurd. Does there need to be a token black girl on a Vanity Fair cover in which half the subjects will pull a Gretchen Mol and drop off the face of the earth within a few years? No. Do there need to be changes in the way roles are distributed in Hollywood, in the opportunties afforded to young actresses- and actors- of color? Absolutely.

 

[before]

I suppose after a shirtless Tiger Woods, I shouldn't be surprised with what VP has served up for us this time. Perhaps we've become too dependent upon PC but I cannot follow those that don't find the cover a big eyeroll. So it's understandable to not see Gabourey because she's reached her "peak"? But if instead of Gabourey there was a an actress her age but white and skinny and Oscar nominated for her first role, she, also, would not have been on the cover? I don't think so. Exactly why shouldn't have Zoe shared the cover if there are other repeaters? As for Freida Pinto, I don't have much to say for her acting, but she was a big deal a year ago and she's carved her own niche. The cover choices are great and deserving but was there really no room for more? But I suppose they didn't fit the description:

In the accompanying article, Vanity Fair writer Evgenia Peretz calls out the young cover stars by their best attributes: "downy-soft cheeks," "button nose," "patrician looks and celebrated pedigree," "dewy, wide-eyed loveliness," "Ivory-soap-girl features"—which sounds like an uppity white-girl stereotype, someone we've all become very familiar with seeing on the big screen, nothing new about it. Roles for black, Asian, and Latin actors are scarce in Hollywood, but surely Sidibe, Zoe Saldana of "Avatar" and "Star Trek," and Freida Pinto of "Slumdog Millionaire" are having their moment. Vanity Fair may have been looking for the most promising batch of talent for their issue, but they should have been looking for a diverse group of women as well.

yahoonews

 

[KhaoticKharma]

Speaking of Zoes... where is Zoe Kravitz? She's doing a major national ad campaign, has had supporting movie roles, and is currently filming a leading role- not to mention she's got that "pedigree" that Vanity Fair seems to love so much. Why shouldn't she be on the cover, too?

 

[Label Basher]

Since when did I start this thread

Some of my other posts must still be in the mag thread so now it won't make sense what I've been saying.

Whoops

 

[Les_Sucettes]

I think some people fail to understand that the real problem is not an all white cover, the real problem is when ,much more exciting actresses and recognized everywhere as such, that happen not to be snow white, are not included and their space is taken by fillers or people that have been around for ages. I think Vanity Fair needs to be confronted and criticized by their choices. Was it an aesthetic choice? Did other skin colours ruined the young republican's girlfriends feel of the cover? Do they think pastel clothes need white skin?
Or are they grooming the next generation of Jennifer Annistons/ Gwyneth paltrows/ Kate Hudsons, that regardless of their talent can rotate as Vogue covers in the future because they are vanilla?
It just makes no sense.

 

[Caroliiine]

Well, it's not so much "Vanity Fair: The Pretty White Girl Issue", it's "Acting in Hollywood: The Pretty White People Profession". This VF feature just highlights that, although I don't think they're completely devoid of blame.

There are quality actresses that aren't white, they're just not getting a chance to break into Hollywood. It's hard because films are dominated by Caucasians. Most actors start out by playing small parts, ex. a brother/sister/daughter/son of the main character... but an actor who isn't white won't get cast in it because the main character is white.

And it doesn't help that when non-Caucasians are cast, it is usually a very stereotypical role. For example, the fierce/sassy black best friend; the super-geeky Asian; etc... Even in secondary/supporting roles, I never see non-Caucasians in a position of power, like the main character's boss, teacher, most popular girl/boy in school, etc. And because Hollywood typecasts certain ethnicities, it's very hard to break out of that and get a leading role.

More casting directors/writers/directors/producers need to do blind casting; ex. not think of a race when they are casting a role, similar to Grey's Anatomy's casting.

 

[softgrey]

why would zoe saldana be on a cover with a bunch of teeny boppers...
if i were her agent i wouldn't agree to that at all...
she should get her OWN cover....
not share with these kids...

that's all i have to say about this...
the rest has already been said...
VF is a wasp-y mag....like town and country...
it is what it is...and it's very good at that....
but it isn't for everyone...it's elitist...
even the writing is ...
it's intended to be that way...
it's not 'people magazine' intended for the average walmart customer...
so don't be suprised when it does what it has always done...
it's a country club...and all the usual rules apply...

 

[Mantha]

I agree that the cover should've been more "diverse" but i blame first and foremost Hollywood for not giving actresses of color their chance in the industry.Sorry for the bad english.

 

[CheapNCheerful]

Well, it's not so much "Vanity Fair: The Pretty White Girl Issue", it's "Acting in Hollywood: The Pretty White People Profession". This VF feature just highlights that, although I don't think they're completely devoid of blame.

There are quality actresses that aren't white, they're just not getting a chance to break into Hollywood. It's hard because films are dominated by Caucasians. Most actors start out by playing small parts, ex. a brother/sister/daughter/son of the main character... but an actor who isn't white won't get cast in it because the main character is white.

And it doesn't help that when non-Caucasians are cast, it is usually a very stereotypical role. For example, the fierce/sassy black best friend; the super-geeky Asian; etc... Even in secondary/supporting roles, I never see non-Caucasians in a position of power, like the main character's boss, teacher, most popular girl/boy in school, etc. And because Hollywood typecasts certain ethnicities, it's very hard to break out of that and get a leading role.

More casting directors/writers/directors/producers need to do blind casting; ex. not think of a race when they are casting a role, similar to Grey's Anatomy's casting.

ok so explain Denzel Washington? Morgan Freeman? Will Smith?
Im sorry I cant think of actresses at the moment...

I dont believe in being PC just to be PC... If you want the 'world to be fair' then EVERYONE earns their praise the same way, NO MATTER the COLOR of their skin...

And what does being Jewish have to do with these actresses? I saw that in someones post and found that offensive...

 

[before]

DW, MF, WS, are black and "A-listers" but really how many more can anyone else name? Reminds me of an article I read on will smith who is a box office success in the US but has a slightly harder time acheiving the same success in foreign box offices because people are not used to/comfortable seeing a black man in a leading role (ie hero) in a high budget production. But in the end, how many people would have bought this cover one way or the other? Not many.

 

[CheapNCheerful]

Everyone keeps talking about why didnt they make the cover more diverse, well name me other actresses you would have put on the cover then besides Zoe?

I agree with someone who posted VF has a target audience just like any other magazine or movie or tv show... AND yes these are top actresses in the industry right now who ALL have movies coming out in 2010... Not moviE, movieS and are getting AMAZING reviews for their roles in those movies...
They are all within a particular age range and have a similar following so to speak...
Should they NOT be on the cover because they are all white? I mean what kind of bs is that?

 

[CheapNCheerful]

PS the name of this thread is offensive as well

 

[Nemova]

^The name is meant to be a criticism to the Vanity Fair cover, I'm guessing.

 

[clocked]

the name of this thread is obnoxious. you just have to go into the board to see the wank on them being all white...just name it as it is, we get it!

IA with the discussion of Gabby being on there - she's probably going to end up being a Jennifer Hudson, 1 Oscar (or nom) & she can't find many roles after that. Not to say she isn't a good actress, roles just aren't really up for grabs for obese black women out there, no matter how good an actress, sadly. It's the whole industry, not this one issue. We've seen this kind of issue before from them, people..

That being said, Abbie & Mia totally deserve being on there. Mia was amazing in In Treatment (SO underrated BTW), and I'm sure she'll be perfect in Alice in Wonderland as well.