viz.

(Video Credit:  QueenBeyonceStan, Youtube)

These images have been circulating just about everywhere, but the subject matter seemed particularly appropriate for viz.  In this photo shoot for the French magazine L'Officiel, Beyonce has been styled in looks that evoke "authenticity" African dress, and in some of the images, Beyonce's face is deliberately darkened.  The shoot--in keeping with one of the themes of Beyonce's newest album--was meant to play tribute to Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. 

I want to offer these images with minimal commentary other than a few questions.  Are these images creepy in a cultural appropriationist sort of way?  Does it make a difference that this is a French magazine rather than an American one?  Is Beyonce's mixed race heritage a factor in how we might read this as Lisa at Sociological Images suggests?  And is this use of blackface ironically progressive in a context in which fashion mags regularly lighten the complexions of darker-skinned celebrities, Beyonce included?  I've included a L'Oreal ad where Beyonce is clearly whitewashed for comparison. I believe her skin is darkened in only the last two photos in the L'Officiel series.

(Image Credit:  QueenBeyonceStan via Tom and Lorenzo)

(Photo Credit:  ONTD via  Jezebel)