So, I typed in India Vogue and found a most offensive article featuring Indians, who were clearly destitute, modeling exorbitantly priced bags, umbrellas and bibs. The New York Times article first gave quotes of someone denouncing the ad, then a rebuttal from the Vogue India editor and then it went on to give information about the rising middle and upper class in India. The last portion took up most of the article. Instead of exploring the deeper issue of class inequality, the New York Times focused on the capitalistic endeavors of these high fashion companies. Well, the article IS in the business section, so I guess it should explore these capitalistic endeavors. What I would have liked to see is this article somewhere else with a deeper analysis of not only the pictures, but the cover of the magazine in which these pictures were included. Why is the cover in ENGLISH if it is VOGUE INDIA? Who is this magazine really targeting? Why is a white woman scrunched between two Indians? What does that say about the position of "whiteness" in India? Why are these women almost being used as "background images?"
Jezebell, a feminist site, answered my questions in their two seperate analysises on both the magazine cover and the pictures (http://jezebel.com/5044233/vogue-india-puts-fendi-bib-on-impoverished-child-critics-freak & http://jezebel.com/gossip/emerging-markets/vogue-india-debuts-with-australian-blonde-on-front-bleeding-heart-inside-313729.php). Why are Fendi bags being put on destitute people? Because fashion is about exclusivity. There needs to be a "lower" in order for one to be "better." Why is the white person in the middle? Because whiteness = priveledge. Why is the magazine in English? Because English = priviledge.
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