http://viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/old/taxonomy/term/885/0 en http://viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/old/content/beyonce-blackface <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4y_pdF8kQb4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><i>(Video Credit:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/QueenBeyonceStan"> QueenBeyonceStan</a>, Youtube)</i></p> <p style="text-align: left;">These images have been circulating <a href="http://tomandlorenzo2.blogspot.com/2011/02/beyonce-for-lofficiel-magazine.html">just</a> <a href="http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?s=beyonce">about</a> <a href="http://jezebel.com/#%215766257/beyonces-face-voluntarily-darkened-for-fashion-shoot">everywhere</a>, but the subject matter seemed particularly appropriate for viz.&nbsp; In this photo shoot for the French magazine <i>L'Officiel, </i>Beyonce has been styled in looks that evoke "authenticity" African dress, and in some of the images, Beyonce's face is deliberately darkened.&nbsp; The shoot--in keeping with one of the themes of Beyonce's newest album--was meant to play tribute to Nigerian musician Fela Kuti.&nbsp; </p> <p style="text-align: left;"> <!--break--><!--break--></p> <p style="text-align: left;">I want to offer these images with minimal commentary other than a few questions.&nbsp; Are these images creepy in a cultural appropriationist sort of way?&nbsp; Does it make a difference that this is a French magazine rather than an American one?&nbsp; Is Beyonce's mixed race heritage a factor in how we might read this as <a href="http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/?s=beyonce">Lisa</a> at Sociological Images suggests?&nbsp; 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?&nbsp; 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 <i>L'Officiel </i>series.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/files/Beyonce.jpg" width="650" height="910" /></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><i>(Image Credit:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/QueenBeyonceStan">QueenBeyonceStan</a> via <a href="http://tomandlorenzo2.blogspot.com/2011/02/beyonce-for-lofficiel-magazine.html">Tom and Lorenzo</a>)</i></p> <p style="text-align: right;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><i><img src="http://viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/files/Beyonce%20loreal.jpg" width="590" height="800" /></i></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><i>(Photo Credit:&nbsp; <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/26508631.html">ONTD</a> via&nbsp;<a href="http://jezebel.com/#%215033940/photoshop-of-horrors"> Jezebel</a>)<br /></i></p> http://viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/old/content/beyonce-blackface#comments africaness beyonce blackface fashion race Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:00:00 +0000 ladysquires 700 at http://viz.dwrl.utexas.edu/old