Italian Vogue Criticised for Fashion 'Torture' Shoot

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I know we sometimes joke about suffering in the name of fashion, but personally, when I say that I'm normally referring to a few hours too many in pointy stilettos, not being roughed up by the police.

In Vogue Italia's 'State of Emergency photo spread, which appears in this months issue, however, models are shown being beaten, kicked in the throat, terrorised by dogs and generally abused. Yes, it seems there really is a fashion police, and man, do they take their job seriously. The photos, by Steven Meisel, have been heavily criticised in the media for "glamorising torture". Vogue Italia have so far failed to comment. So, a harmless piece of art or a seriously disturbing depiction of suffering as somehow glamorous? There are some scans here, for your viewing pleasure.

Italian Vogue Criticised for Fashion 'Torture' Shoot - Comments

jahmal clemons

I love this shoot. And leave it to vogue italia to push us. You would never see this type of intensity in any issues of american vogue. Ever. I love it. Real models and not a actress in sight.

GJ Hallam

1. In my opinion, the images are comewhat inappropriate. The idea should probably have been filed under "ideas we aren't actually going to go ahead with".

2. I can see where they're coming from - in part social comment (it can be argued that this is not the role of a fashion magazine), in part "Hey, let's be EDGY, I know what's EDGY - police brutality and the current high security level. Yay! Edgy! Woo!" (and this is the sort of posing which in a funny way actually is appropriate *within the fashion bubble*).

3. Professor Bourke's linked article deliberately misuses language for shock value, and I don't approve of that. The pictures do *not* show *torture*. They show *brutality* and *rough treatment*. The two are not the same. The models in the photos are in situations representing being arrested (with rough treatment), or being treated with suspicion by airport security, or being trained by police marksmen. None of these constitute torture. I feel it's obvious that the inspiration does not come from Abu Ghraib, contrary to Prof Bourke's assertion. If the inspiration were from Abu Ghraib, where are the hoods, the electrodes, the naked pyramids, the forced sexual humiliation? Prof Bourke suggests that the presence of a dog and a female aggressor (the model at the shooting range) is enough to claim inspiration from Abu Ghraib. That's a very flimsy argument which gives abnormal privilege to one single reading of the piece. YMMV.

Chuggeh

I didn't see it as being shown in a positive manner at all. I saw it as a comment on the society we're living in today- the heightened security, the sense of paranoia, etc etc. To me, it's acting and it's art, designed not just to showcase new clothes but also to provoke thoughts in the reader. Fashion magazines have a right to look at the issues in the world, too. It's not always about the latest dress.

Mirym K

It is NOT a beautiful or glamorous thing when people actually are beaten or tortured, so I'm not okay with it being shown in a positive manner like this.

Yes, the shots are pretty, but the message they're sending isn't.

Chloe

I thought some of the shots were very interesting and I really liked them, but I thought some were very strange and distracted from the outfits, but overall I thought it was well done.