Vogue Arabia November 2023 : Stand for Humanity

[KoV]

I don't think what Vogue Arabia is saying should be deemed particularly controversial. Like considering the source I'm actually shocked by how very carefully worded their Instagram blurb is. Neither Hamas nor Israel are mentioned by name and they decry terrorism and call for a peaceful resolution - which won't happen, but it's a nice sentiment! These are sort of universal values. Yes, I know there's some subtext and I have to say I personally don't agree with it, but obviously the team there has a regional POV I don't share. This still feels sensitive and fairly diplomatic. They dedicate the issue to Doctors, Nurses, and Journalists in Gaza - a war zone! - and pledge their support for Doctors Without Borders. If they are financially supporting a relatively neutral org that does a lot of good all over the world and is currently helping innocent civilians, that's more than lip service or just politics. So good on them, if that's the case.

 

[Hchloe]

It's Vogue Arabia, not Vogue Israel. God forbid they focus on their own people.

 

[oaklee91]

I stand with Israel and the right to defend itself from terrorists who have kidnapped and murdered innocent civilians including those from foreign countries who have no relations at all with the conflict.

 

[BlueRuin]

I stand with Israel and the right to defend itself from terrorists who have kidnapped and murdered innocent civilians including those from foreign countries who have no relations at all with the conflict.

Thank you for letting us know.

 

[tigerrouge]

Bringing it back to magazines, the question is - in 2023, what can they possibly offer in a situation like this?

While I'm aware this particular edition is a partnership with a regional media company, Conde Nast's product line is generally a bunch of underfunded Vogues that can barely bring us basic fashion content, let alone any form of genuine news reportage or elevated commentary from an unconsidered angle. They just coast along on the same cheap sentiments that are in abundant supply on the internet.

Does Vogue Arabia have to say something? Magazines are owned by media companies, and media companies have interests. Their output is always a compromise between what people at the top want, and what they think the audience wants. This could be a one-issue balancing act, where they make carefully-worded references to the situation, so that everyone realises they have ‘addressed it’ but in the mildest of terms possible, so that online anger can be kept to a minimum.

We all know nobody looks any further than the front page of most publications that get posted on the internet, so whatever sentiments the magazine wants to advertise have to be up front to work. Once everyone’s had their say about the cover, will anyone in the wider world care about the actual content of this issue?

 

[Lax89]

First of all Vogue Arabia is not in control of who lets in Palestinian refugees. Second of all, if the magazine continued like nothing was happening, the other half would be up in arms as to why they are silent - like Marie Antoinette’s let them eat cake.

Well then the "stand for humanity" is hypocritical, no? What is Vogue Arabia going to do? Are they gonna provide food and medicine to the people in need? Are they going to pay for airplane tickets? Same thing as when people put in their Instagram "I stand with blah blah blah". Doesn't change ANYTHING. Actions speak louder than words
I don't want a fashion magazine to push a political agenda. There are political magazines for that

 

[MulletProof]

^ I mean, it's a crisis in their region. Not unlike the insane amount of Covid covers we got 3 years ago. I don't see it as a big deal because hey, it's a textile lol. The blabbering on the IG post is really just.. the usual social media strategy and also the agenda Conde Nast has been pushing for a while which is a double-edge sword because how could they say no to this or ask them to turn a blind eye (as all the corrupted left-wing and right-wing media in the West right now) when they literally made commodity activism a requirement in fashion, a part of the transaction to be featured in their magazine. Every cover out there, even if it's a model hugging a bag, it's repackaged like 'hug your bag but hug your commitment to social justice tighter!'. It's stupid and disingenuous but nothing the others are not actively doing and directly related to current regional issues so what disqualifies Vogue Arabia? what makes their participation in the dynamics established by a Western company more hypocritical than say, American Vogue, crying for equality as they sell $50k pieces lol..

 

[Serend1pity]

Uh, this is really bad. No words about the killed Israelian kids, women and men (many in a barbaric way). No words about the hostages. Shameful only to see the one side.

Isn’t that inherent in the call for peace and humanity. No one is standing up for terrorism we’re asking a supposedly democratic country to at lea st try to find non violent methods of collective punishment

 

[Serend1pity]

Anyway I think this is a beautiful show of solidarity and call for peace. Israel are really showing themselves yet again and I’m sure Anna is furious at this cover given her silence

 

[Nimsay]

I think we shd focus on the matter at hand. A fashion magazine cover. As a cover it has a stoic feel. I did read the beautifully written tightly worded blurb and was not offended by it.

My personal feels dont matter. This is fashion nothing personal.

 

[Deleted member 116957]

So... does this issue have any content?

 

[gunsnroses]

I’m actually shocked they did. It’s a nice surprise. They’ve also included paintings of some of the brave people on the frontlines in Gaza.

 

[Thefrenchy]

Did anyone try the chicken? I thought the chicken was lovely.

Not going to comment on the conflict, and I've never flicked through an issue of Vogue Arabia. Therefore, I don't know if they often focus on non-fashion related topics.

In general I'm never a big fan of fashion magazines tackling such important issues between 3 handbags and a double-page LV ad.