(no subject)

[d_aulnoy]

Now, I'm a geeky politically conscious critic who's pretty sensitive to visual imagery, but I have to say, my first reaction to [Poll #1155636]

Comments

[owlfish]

My first reaction is that it's misogynistic - woman as property.

[dhole.livejournal.com]

My instincts say it was trying to say something along the lines of "Huge muscular guy is huge and muscular. Glamorous model is glamorous."

That said, I don't think the comparison is out of bounds; the huge muscular guy, is, in fact, huge and muscular, and he's making an angry face. And he's got a pretty woman draped across his arm. Race aside, I don't think movie monster comparisons are coming entirely out of left field, just given that. I don't think that it was intentional: If they were going for a monster movie feel, they'd have used a smaller fashion model, and he'd probably be carrying her.

But the thing is, in the US, now, there are plenty of people who aren't going to be leaving race aside. And I don't think that we're at the point where you can have a black man and white woman cover shot without thinking about how people expecting racism are going to look at it. The "more civilized" picture is a lot worse than the one they used; it doesn't have any movement, and the thing huge guy is bringing to the table is athleticism . But they certainly could have tried harder.

[schrodingersgnu.livejournal.com]

Heh - I'm reminded of the old SNL skit with the ref.
"what do you use to fill up your body where the soul would be, human excrement or dog excrement?"

[papajoemambo.livejournal.com]

I think the fact that the critics are bemoaning the fact that the "nicer" cover wasn't used is very telling as well. Both covers are equally offensive, but I'm equally disappointed that one where class stereotypes are played out seems preferable to the critics in question.

In the "nicer" cover, the black man is subordinate to his rich, white, model companion. In the "racist" cover LeBron James and Giselle are at last standing on the same foot, even if one is apparently more aggressive in the manner in which he does so.

Again, as stated elsewhere, it's a dog plop versus a man plop, but I'd prefer the man plop, frankly, if a choice had to be made.

[servalan.livejournal.com]

Can I vote that it'd be "none of the above" if people weren't crazy.

Actually, I rather like the cover. It's got great juxtaposition and shows that this issue is for everyone while still being both fun and conscious of women's fashion. Also, it's such a romance novel cover. You've got the seriously strong and manly hunk with his willowy on-a-pedastal woman. Why are there no Fabio comparisons or Laird of the Highlands or something?