Continuing with today’s discussion in class on advertising stereotypes, I wanted to mention a cover on Vogue that developed alot of controversy over the summer.
This image of basketball player LeBron James with model Gisele Bundchen developed much controversy. Critics felt that it was perpetuating racial stereotypes. Many have referred to this cover in relation to King Kong, because LeBron poses in a gorilla-like manner, as he dribbles a ball with supermodel Gisele in the other hand relating to the damsel in distress. A Magazine Analyst, Samir Husni feels that the photo was done deliberately and considering Vogues history when they publish the magazine there is always a lot of thought put into it. This in fact related LeBron it to King Kong showing that black men always want white women. On the contrary LeBron James was comfortable with the cover and said that he receives both positive and negative publicity and who cares what people have to say.
Two readers commented in USA Today saying
One said:
“This cover is very hurtful to the white basketball players. It screams that only blacks can play basketball, be successful and that white women would choose a black man over successful white man. I am boycotting Vogue from now on.”
Another reader said:“He’s a basketball player who is known for his abilities…what kind of face should he be making? He is in his element, whether black, white, or purple, he IS a basketball player. It’s not like they took just some tall black guy and made him wear a basketball uniform and have a blonde jumping up and down for him. Sheesh. People need to seriously get over themselves and stop taking things so seriously.”
My personal opinion:
I remember when I saw this magazine at Publix a store in Atlanta Georgia and a white woman said isn’t this true, I’m not to sure what she was implying, but I was very offended by the cover as a young African American woman, and didn't not particularly like the portrayal of our black men, which showed similar characteristics of a Gorilla. Whether Vogue did it deliberately or not, there are always two sides of the spectrum that the mass media should take into mind when delivering to the public, of course this is never an easy task. I just thought it was interesting to post, especially in relation to our class discussion.
5 comments:
in my opinion it is not the fact that the cover shows a black man with a basketball that is stereotypical, it is due to his beastly demeanor and the fact that he can easily be related to King Kong. King Kong was known for being a savage and the white woman under his arms doesnt help either. I feel the cover may have been taken to literal yet some of the imagery can not be ignored. Had it been a successful white basketball player would there be a black woman in his arms? Would he be making a face like that or standing with good posture smiling probably twirling the basketball on one finger??
I agree with you because the issue at hand was the way LeBron James was asked to pose. There are a few pictures because you know at photo shoots they take multiple pictures, and it seems like in most of the pictures his pose can be related to King Kong. Therefore, it makes you wonder what exactly was the goal at hand for Vogue magazine, and what did they really want to portray.
This cover on Vouge Magazine is so stereotypical of the balck man playing this beastly role and the white woman playing the innocent role, which this goes back into BOAN times. I agree with Shaquenda beacuse if you think about how the cover would have looked from the other side of the spectrum "white" the photo would have definitely looked different.
I honestly believe that the cover of this vogue magazine is pure advertisment although I can understand why one would think differently. Its an issue that shows how one can stay fit and and maintain a body as slim and muscular as LeBron James and the model Gisel. LeBrons posture on the cover is a bit disturbing but I just look at it as him being a beast in which he is known for being on the basketball court.
Post a Comment