I don't usually have much to say about male models but this eye wear ad from DSquared2 really demands some special attention doesn't it?
There's been a lot written about the tendency of some in the industry to fetishize and glamourize violence against women in fashion. While it may be easier for some to write off ads that depict women fighting each other (as in DS2's clothing ads with Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista,) adding a man to the mix changes the tone abruptly.
I mean, I don't even know what to say about this one except, what was everyone involved thinking? I look at DS2's "sexy" domestic violence and wonder what the target audience is. I guess being controversial for the sake of being controversial is the low budget way of generating press in a bad economy.
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I haven't seen this ad actually published yet. And even DS2's main ads with Naomi and Linda haven't appeared in American Vogue or Vanity Fair. I can see where this ad might cause a stir if it was published in one of the aforementioned mags but I doubt it will see the light except for some obscure men's fashion mag.
Especially problematic is the racial aspect intersecting with the abusive feel. Not only does he appear to be pressing violently against her neck and her faces shows some apprehension, he's a tattoed black male and she is a white women. We all know the history of representation here. Not cool, dsquared, not cool.
I just don't understand the praise they received for diversity. I mean yes, they did cast a male show a couple of seasons ago with all men of color, but this was around the vogue italia issue and a hip hop themed collection. I mean I'm not sure if diversity is good if it is just reaffirming stereotypes.
What is going on here? Is he supposed to be punching her in the neck?? It looks like his hand was (badly) Photoshopped in there, like it's floating in the ether. And what is the white blob under Evangelista's head? Is that her chest, back, shoulder..? This whole ad is just a mess. If they would have left Tyson and his shoulder there alone, it would have been a much more striking image. (Although if you ask me, nothing could save those awful glasses they've got him in.)
It's almost impressive the way they have managed to layer a lot of fucked up things into a single photo. Glamourization/eroticization of violence against women? Check! Reinforcing of stereotypes that black men are to be feared? Check! Clinging on to the archaic notion that white women secretly desire domineering, violent black men? Check!
It really does seem like controversy for controversy's sake and that is truly pathetic. These are two exceptionally gorgeous human beings who could probably make the average reader want to buy an empty box they claimed to have breathed in and this is the way they choose to present them? Get a clue, dsquared. And some sensitivity training while you're at it.
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