Racist Intrepration or Fierce Fashion Photography?

Although, I would be a little frighten by the mass and muscle of the Mandingo Warriors; I wouldn't mind trading places with Gisele Bundchen and I'm sure plenty of other women would agree--Whew! Where is my fan!?Besides, the eye candy of the Mandingo Warriors shown in the fashion photography, do you think there is a racial interpretation between African- American males and Caucasian women? Personally, I do not discriminate against love and see no problem with interracial dating and marriage, as long as both individuals truly and deeply love each other. However, I do have a problem with African American men being portrayed only as hustling sexual icons. I mean...Yes, women are attracted to men sexually, but let's not forget about the intelligence, the drive, the motivation and strength to succeed in life. After researching this photo shoot spread, it seems as if some people felt the photo spread intrepreted racial stereotypes of African- American men dating Caucasian women.
What do you think?
Racial interpretation? Or, fierce fashion photography?





Photographer: Solve Sundsbo

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great article! It makes you read between the lines when it comes to fashion imagery. I dig it.

Anonymous said...

Definitely “fierce fashion photography.” These photos are in no way meant to promote “interracial dating,” serve as “racial interpretations,” build on stereotypes, or anything remotely close to those ideas. In fact, the issue of black and white at this level transcends what you propose in your article. The photos represent art and beauty. And I believe the photographer was only trying to capture elements of contrast: light and dark (shadows), white and black (skin), male and female (forms), soft and hard (body types). It would be a bit of a stretch to equate this to anything other than art.