Radar Aims High, Hits

Well, no one is ever going to accuse Radar of elevating the discourse: For this month's issue they go lowest common denominator via the tried-and-true custom of superimposing heads on other people's bodies who happen to be naked. In this case, they are inflicting the execrable Tom Ford/Keira Knightley/Scarlett Johanssen Vanity Fair cover on us yet again, this time with images of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Rudy Giuliani. Ew. Though it has obviously achieved the desired effect — Radar's Tyler Gray has already been on MSNBC twice this morning to discuss it (and the politics-themed issue it graces). Folio's Dylan Stableford notes that it's a gimmick that works (he calls it a "Roshan tradition" thanks to the Tom Cruise/George Lois cover, though really the tradition seems to be photoshopping, given the Paris Hilton/George Bush, Prince Harry and Colin Farrell covers), but the question is, will it actually sell? It's not a very, er, appealing cover image — MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski looked at it, expressed revulsion and said "Get it off the screen" — and she tasked Gray to come back to her after it had hit newsstands to report on whether people actually bought it, because she had her doubts. There's no question that it's a mesmerizing image — you really can't look away, possibly because Rudy's head just looks so natural on Tom Ford's skin-crawlingly skeevy body — but it will be genuinely interesting to see how that translates into sales. So far, not surprisingly, it's translating into buzz. The devil's in the follow-up.

p.s. In case anyone's wondering, I don't particularly feel like Hillary's being objectified here — it is clearly a spoof, and hey, she looks pretty good. It's actually Obama who comes off worst, smooth and feminine and clearly not part of the conspiratorial whispering going on quite literally over his head. Sort of not something that emphasizes his raw strength as a candidate — a message that targets one of his weak spots. Whether or not that was intentional, that's an element Radar captured surprisingly effectively.

Hot On The Trail [Radar]

Related, because I can never erase that searing image:
Tom Ford's skeevy, lecherous Vanity Fair [Tomatoes Are Delicious]

Also related in superimposed heads on magazine covers of naked-ish people:
ETP Photoshops Radar, For Kicks [ETP]

Comments

[faust2001]

I love the headline underneath Obama: "Who would Jesus vote for?"
Jesus--yet another exploited naked guy.

[deckard70]

Instant classic. Loved the original Vanity Fair cover and Tom Ford's obliviousness to how it was in bad taste, and I am loving this parody because it is *unabashedly* in bad taste. Spy magazine, we miss you.

[xargaw]

I wish they all would sue, but that would only keep this disgusting display in the media. The best thing that could happen would be if they didn't sell a single copy. The public has the power or the purse if they would use it.

[deckard70]

If you could get all three to autograph this cover, it would be worth a ton! Even without their signatures it is a great cover. Well done.

[wheelskeepturning]

This brings political ridiculousness to a new level. I think they should all sue the magazine for using thier images in this way and profiting from it.

[jungpatawan]

Makes me think Adam, Eve and the snake.

Notice how even in satire Rudy is clothed? I'm guessing even the faux image of him naked made the compositors throw up in their mouths a little.

JP

[johnnyjust]

You don't like this, but I bet you loooooved the Miller "Gay Last Supper" poster.

Hyp-o-crites.

But no surprise. If Hillary looked half this good Bill wouldn't have Monica'd.

[wheelskeepturning]

No, I thought that was disgusting also. If you want to be creative why not think up your own original ideas?

[prscnt1]

HuffPo should not cover this type of nonsense. If you are looking ofr traffic - the naked traffic - put links to hustler, playboy and other smut.

[skyreader7]

Good idea. Putting up these links would raise your readership.

[Average]

Must be a NO CLASS publication.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Ewwww.

[CeeCee]

Double EWWWWWWWWW

[OckhamsElectricRazor]

Ah Hillary: What a babe in so many ways!

[mellene]

The New York Times reports that Radar Magazine, the snarky pop culture glossy magazine is being financed Yusef Jackson, the son of Jesse Jackson. I guess we now know that what they did to Imus might be nothing compared to what will happen to Jesse Jackson and his son this go around. What a hippocrite.

[TWOSHORT]

This is a Black owned and run company putting out bullshit like this?I'm 53 i remember when jeese was poor like most in america who wasn't an actor or that it.Where did he get his money?making deal's for black vote's?

[Waitaminute]

Who really owns this magazine? GOOGLE IT. notice how many of the SURnames don't sound black. It looks like the blacks at the magazine are OWNED!! THEY AIN'T RUNNING SHIT!

[Berce]

More Republican trash. Not funny.

[mellene]

What a disgusting cover. Have Guiuliani naked if you're going to have the others that way. I can't believe the baselessness to which the Republicans will stoop to try and win the White House. They have no morals, ethics or values period.

[OneWoman]

How come Rudy, i.e. the white guy, gets to keep his clothes on?

I could discuss how this cover is essentially a visual depiction of gender and racial power relations in our culture; but I'll spare everyone.

Have a nice day.

[noamjunior]

not only a visual depiction of gender and racial power, but a REINFORCEMENT

this is GOP propaganda, pure and simple

[Bacowall]

OneWoman..­... I have to agree with you on this one.
How does Rudy get to keep on his clothes?
This makes a bad political statement on our culture.
www.vernasmith.blogspot.com

[deckard70]

Because Rudy is in the position that Tom Ford was in on the original Vanity Fair cover. On the original, Tom Ford was clothed and biting Keira Knightly's ear -- and he took a lot of well-deserved flack for it. Now Radar is parodying the bad taste cover, but this time they are making it clear that it is in bad taste.

[knosiswar]

I Find it hard to take a magazine seriously with a cover that's as immature as this one. I imagine that with corporations running magazines with an MBA manager and the cheapest and most inexperienced labor to be found, this is the product you wind up with. That's the problem in media. When I took the tour at CNN, it was very telling to see the early 30's females only news producers sitting at their desks deciding what was news and what was for lunch. Not that females can't do the job, but they will do it differently when they are only competing with females. They play it too safe too much.

[SensibleAmerican]

I want to see some Barack Hussein on Guiliani action with Rudy dressed up in drag! Also, Mrs. O on Ms. O would be just fine (Michelle on Oprah)!

If such sickness needs to be posted here, might as well vitiate it even more ...

[vitasackvillewesttexas]

gee sensible. seems like you'd be the first to want to see barack displayed out in this fashion considering your endless barage of anti-barack comments really aim for his backside.