Jezebel 
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New York, 8:58 PM
Thu Nov 26
3 posts in the last 24 hours
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10/16/09
So that whole "We only did it 'cuz it was fresh and edgy" argument is officially stale and about to get sandpapered down? #stevenkleinblackface
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#2 and #3 in particular have a very submissive, powerless vibe to them. Am I alone in seeing themes of slavery in these images? A very specific male gaze is at play here; one that is looking at a dolled-up, dark-skinned, female that is essentially at his feet. Not good.
There are so many offensive elements in the photographs, and even if I were to overlook the objections that I take, I still don't feel as if they are successful fashion shots. #stevenkleinblackface
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10/16/09
That makes it bother me less, I think. Some poking around on Google indicates that this fact is in the book, along with some history, including a mention of the Trail of Tears. So he didn't do it in a bubble of isolation, which helps a lot. #stevenkleinblackface
10/16/09
I don't really know where I'm going with this. Just thinking aloud, I guess. #stevenkleinblackface
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Completely fucked, of course. #stevenkleinblackface
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And, link: [www.thedailybeast.com] #stevenkleinblackface
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10/16/09
And really, are they arguing LEVELS OF BLACK FACE? Really? #stevenkleinblackface
10/16/09
"Who knows what they were thinking," said Beth Ann Hardison, Naomi Campbell’s former modeling agent and perhaps the industry’s leading advocate for diversity. "I think they were just being creative, I don’t think they’re trying to poke at a race…I can’t say they weren’t. If they made her brown the whole time, but the white paint—I don’t know what the fuck they’re trying to say, I’m completely confused."
As for Agins, that's her gig. I have a huge amount of respect for her, but I am a little surprised by her views on this. As much of my education was spent dissecting fashion advertising/editorials and focusing on cultural/historical/social themes, I can kind of understand how she reacted with a shrug of the shoulders. The fashion world seems to think race, sexuality, violence, etc. are not hands-off, and after awhile you start to have shock fatigue. This does not explain away this particular infraction, nor does it diminish people's various reactions. #stevenkleinblackface
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10/16/09
intersectionality is not a one way street. #stevenkleinblackface
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10/16/09
That's not to say Carine Roitfeld and French Vogue, or in this case, Franca Sozzani and Italian Vogue, are off the hook. But likely the concepts for these shoots were not merely dictated to Klein by the magazines. It was probably more of a collaboration between Klein, the stylists, and the art directors involved.
10/16/09
I can understand how a photographer may want to evoke past iconic images or create a fully realized world for their photos. I just wish there was a continuity expert of sorts who could at least raise a hand before these things get to print to say "hey, people MIGHT really be offended by this." #stevenkleinblackface
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