Oil Spill Editorial Hits Pages Of Vogue Italia

Refinery29:

There's no denying that these images from the oil spill editorial in Vogue Italia's August 2010 issue are beautiful. The 24 pages of Kristen McMenamy, shot by Steven Meisel, are realistic interpretations of images of injured, oiled animals that have inundated the news media since the Deepwater Horizon explosion in April. As beautiful and provocative as they are, we can't help but feel uneasy.

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Comments

[yallerdog]

09:30 AM on 08/11/2010

Beautiful? A model hocking a loogie ? From now on whenever I see a beautiful woman spit I will think of the environment. Yeah, right. It reminds me of the Anti-Fur movement years ago when a bunch of models thought it was so cool to strut around naked to protest. Then 6 months later they are strutting down the runway in furs. So superficial.

[copelli21]

10:48 AM on 08/09/2010

I say well done, Vogue Italia.

It should seem "f*cked up* because the BP/Gulf Coast situation is f*cked up.

They could not have picked a more perfect model than Kristen McMenamy.

If those pics make someone pause and feel uncomfortable, then they've done their job and made their point. And at the very least they've brought some attention to a environmental catastrophe that should have the world pissed off about the continued abuse of our planet.

[JJovana]

10:13 AM on 08/09/2010

If this was in an Art magazine, there would be zero controversy. Italian Vogue has always taken pretty serious issues, and spun them into an artistic expression, and most of the time, its disturbing to see. There is no way that Vogue "glamourized" oil spill. These images are highly disturbing, only making the oil spill crisis look even worse than it is.

Fashion is art. Most people seem to forget that. Art has captured moments in history we'd rather forget, but lets not forget so that history does NOT repeat itself.

This is a great spread, unlike the American "jumping model" Vogue issues time and time over.

Hollywood glamorizes teen pregnancies, alcoholism, drugs, rehab and war all the time. Hows this any different?? Atleast this is pretty freaking disturbing.

[tikkipembo]

03:00 AM on 08/09/2010

The images are haunting and disturbing, but that's the point. Vogue is using its medium to try and bring awareness to its audience. Whether or not you believe it's art (as art is in the eye of the beholder), these are strong images - juxtaposing beautiful gowns/clothing with the devastating oil spill... to depict the tragedy and mess that is in dire need of help.

[SylviaWrath]

02:41 AM on 08/09/2010

I do not find the the idea of using an environmental disaster to hawk fashion products beautiful. I find it disturbing and insensitive.

[unimatrix0]

01:14 AM on 08/09/2010

Thanks BP, mermaids are now extinct. I guess Disney needs to re-make the Little Mermaid. If they can kill off Bambie's mother, I guess Ariel in an oil flood will work too. The poor children.

[BlackYowe]

09:00 PM on 08/08/2010

Obscene is the word for this.

[suemj]

06:31 PM on 08/08/2010

This is truly gross! Looks like a corpse found on a mound of garbage. A fashion statement, or an environmental statement? I don't know if that's what people want to see in a fashion magazine. Maybe they should stick to focusing on clothes, and leave other statements to newsmags.

[JJovana]

12:04 PM on 08/09/2010

If other newsmags were relevant or important. They are all plagued by garbage of Palin and Kardashians.

[suemj]

12:09 PM on 08/09/2010

I have to say that you have made a very good point JJovana! Important newsmags. have resorted to garbage about legitimate stars, and non-celebs. like the Kardashians.

[angiesplendor]

06:07 PM on 08/08/2010

This photograph is disturbing to me. What's the point? A mermaid beached because of the oil spilll? I'm sorry I don't see the "art " in this. I don't see any subliminal message in any language from it.

[Giverny]

03:28 PM on 08/08/2010

marketing gimmick? What are the parties using it for? drill baby drill? pulaease

[runner 08]

10:46 AM on 08/08/2010

On the source page that this HP article lists to, I found the comment section intersting.

a few comments make teh point that fashion can be used to bring awareness to a tragedy -- those posts make a logical case for the stylized depiction of a horror in the editorial page of Vogue -- and they do make some good points.
...but an answer to those comments defending this fashion editorial really nails it beautifully, to pparaphrase: sure, using stylized photography to point up the horror of the oil spill is a valid, artistic way of communicating perception of the tragedy, but then the value is ruined because the editor of the spread then uses it to hawk self-tanner and the lipstick the model is wearing.

It could have been a strong, visual statement, but the way it was presented just makes it another crass instance of commercialism using tragedy as a marketing gimmick.

[kcinpa]

03:40 AM on 08/08/2010

Um, I would not categorize these pics as being "beautiful." They look like pics taken of bodies washed ashore at a crime scene.

[Nathaniel Mills]

11:42 PM on 08/07/2010

Irony's been bred out of us. I hope I.V. will pierce America's 'vein'.

[PelePele10]

10:21 PM on 08/07/2010

Oil spill chic huh? After the 'wonderful' Africa issue they gave us two years ago, maybe Niger Delta chic will be next? You know...just to get that 'edge' in ...fashion wise.

[ynori]

09:47 PM on 08/07/2010

Directions to model: Okay, lie there. Now lie there with your mouth open. Now lie there with you mouth closed. Now lie there with your eyes open. Now lie there with your eyes closed. Now lie there with your mouth open and your eyes closed....whoopeeeeee

[Giverny]

03:24 PM on 08/08/2010

Your lack of empathy and compassion for humanity and wildlife is only exceeded by your arrogance to the industry of fashion and it's commentary of loss. If this is the best you can do then you are sure to have a position waiting for you at British Petroleum. The images are sensational and heart rending if you have seen any of the documented death on the coast.

[ynori]

03:44 PM on 08/08/2010

LOL! You're probably right. The directions to the model were probably more like: Remember, we're shooting this for VOGUE--the first and finest source of information for all things fabulous, fierce, and environmentally conscious! Our readers have been waiting for weeks for our stylistic take on the massive death and destruction in the Gulf! So put on this $30,000 designer dress and remember to look like a hot mess while you lay there with your mouth open and your eyes closed!