Photographs That Disturb Me
There is a rather famous quote that goes something like this, “Opinions are like a**holes…everybody’s got one.”
Without further ado, here’s mine.
I don’t like photographs that depict women as dead.
Especially FASHION photos.
As a matter of fact, they make my blood boil. It further infuriates and confounds me that women go along with this most blatant example of obvious misogyny by either posing for the photographs OR by creating these images themselves.
It seems, at least in fashion and certain parts of India, that the only thing better than a super skinny, barely post pubescent female is a DEAD female.
Disclaimers and caveats.
The two photographs I am featuring in this post were taken by a young, female photographer that I greatly admire. Her name is Zhang Jingna and you can find her website here. She has incredible lighting skills and unique visual ideas. I follow her on Flickr and do not intend to stop.
I am not singling her out. She is but one in a sea of photographers and models who participate in this genre – Guy Bourdin and Izima Kaoru spring to mind. Nor am I suggesting that Ms. Jingna is in any way responsible for the fate of young women, or anyone else for that matter. Her photographs merely illustrate my point.
Photograph by Zhang Jingna - From A Beautiful Death photo spread in Filler Magazine
Such a sweet, compliant little lady. She hardly even took up any space at all, and then had the good grace to DIE young, before she could get old enough and wise enough to question the colossal line of BULLSHIT being spoon fed to all females about how our most important attribute is our YOUTH and BEAUTY. Outside of that, we’re just not worth much.
So what’s a little death in the name of beauty and fashion? After all, someone has to be the standard bearer. And goodness gracious me, we can’t have grown, world wise women out there LOOKING RIGHT BACK at us, now can we? Catch ‘um young, kill ‘um quick.
Photography by Zhang Jingna - From A Beautiful Death photo spread in Filler Magazine.
What’s the Difference Between High Fashion and the Taliban or Foot Binding or Bride Burning or Arranged Child Marriages or Sex Slavery?
Not much. They all, so far as I can see, rely on extremely young, vulnerable girls who are given into these situations with their families consent, if not their outright control. Not much has changed really, since women were supposedly emancipated. We just dress them nicer and photograph them better.
WOMEN BUY IN AND PERPETUATE.
But we are NOT all ‘little women’ lacking in education or opportunities to broaden our horizons and OPEN our minds. The lion’s share of the blame must be laid squarely at the feet of ALL adult women who sit in silence and say nothing about these appalling images, which are not so disconnected from the actual treatment of females in the world.
Before you spend your money on luxury goods, perhaps you should take a closer look at how they’re advertised. And while you’re at it, LADIES, take a closer look at how you’re willing for yourself and your daughters be treated.
A gilded cage is still no less a cage.
Lessons from Bull Durham.
Perhaps the words of Annie Savoy from the movie Bull Durham could serve as a guide:
“You did not get lured. Women never get lured. They’re too strong and powerful for that. Now say it – ‘I didn’t get lured and I will take responsibility for my actions’.”
