Vogue Magazine Casts LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen in Remake of King Kong
How I Stopped Loving the Internet and Learned to Love My Neighbor
What the Vogue cover-shoot became is a rally point for those looking for any excuse to be offended. The criticism is that the photo makes James look like King Kong abducting Fay Wray as played by Bundchen. What it really looks like is a wafer-thin super model air-brushed in beside a professional basketball player playing basketball. There isn't a Cavaliers' game played where James doesn't look exactly as snapped on the Vogue cover.
Let's try to look beyond the racial divide that still exists the world over and take something away from this furor that can be applied to life. In general, life teaches us these things.
Prejudice is human nature
People read what they want into any writing. They will interpret photographs through their own refractive lenses. They hear conversations only in the context of their agenda.
Were they the subject of discrimination? Race is their issue. Were they jilted by an ex-lover? The evils of the other gender are their issue. Were they passed over for promotion because they are a woman? Sexism is their issue.
These are all valid issues that must be dealt with by a civilized society. Maybe without these one-note champions, we would not think about them as often. Maybe that's a good thing. Maybe these people just get tiresome and grate on my nerves.
Chips are shoulder pads
Everyone has a hot-button topic. Abortion, race, sex, politics, and gender issues can flare most people's feathers. Some just get stuck on one issue. Political pollsters even have a term for people like this, "one issue voters." Twice today I got stuck behind cars with anti-abortion bumper-stickers plastered all over them. It's easy to guess who they are voting for in the next election. It's even easier to get their blood pressure above 140/90.
People like this have the ability, nay the ingrained desire, to turn every conversation around to their issue. The local bus stop is the perfect place to greet those of the one-track mind.
"Nice weather we're having. Spring is really going to be great this year. My bulbs are blooming beautifully."
"Unlike those poor unborn children who will never bloom because their mother is an irresponsible, murdering whore."
"O...kay, I'll take the next bus. You go on ahead."
Now I'm late for work, but I have avoided a 20-minute tirade with Anti-abortion Annie. While waiting for the number 917, this was the next conversation I had with a very large, black man.
"How about Cleveland? They looking good for the next hoop season?"
"What's that supposed to mean? You calling me an ape? Just because I'm black doesn't mean I play basketball. It doesn't mean I'd sell out like LeBron James either."
"Sorry angry black man. I just thought your jersey with the big 23 on it might mean you're a fan. I'll just move down wind so I don't offend you with the load I just made in my pants."
What have we learned?
Primarily, I need to stop taking the bus. Other than that, people who have a one-dimensional view of life are boring. Others don't want to hear you drone on endlessly about "the man" and how he's keeping you down. We can have that conversation in moderation. I'll even be happy to stuff some envelopes to get some laws changed. Just please stop dropping by for lunch with the same stories about how 11 million babies were killed last year. I'm trying to eat my egg salad sandwich.
What others are saying
The most insightful article about this was Am I supposed to be mad about LeBron? by Fox Sports' Jason Whitlock. I think we all need the handbook called for by Mr. Whitlock. If I knew the rules, it would save so much nervous energy. I'm not sure what the protocol is. How do I ask the rap-blaring, smoke-filled low-rider with dubs beside me at the traffic light to turn it down without getting shot? I need that handbook.
In the meantime, I'll just keep stumbling around, writing and dreaming that someone really gets what I intended to write. The reality is, life is like the scene from Goodfella's where Henry tells Tommy, "You're a funny guy." Someone is always looking to take offense.
Published by theBarefoot
Finally I'm right. Finally you're wrong. Finally I dance with confidence to songs that sing of hope and love and truth. When you're nothing, you're still something. You're molecules. View profile
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- Bundchen was so thin that her friends used to call her Olive Oyl.
- Growing up, Bundchen wanted to be a professional volleyball player.
- LeBron James appoves all things bearing his likeness and was not offended by the photo.
33 Comments
Post a CommentDude, you have said the things I would like to say, but sometimes cannot without coming off as heavy-handed. You are absolutely dead on about how some folks are just looking for any excuse to pick a fight. Sometimes, the internet reminds me of the political equivalent of a redneck bar, each observation being the equivalent of "you lookin' at muh woman?" Lighten up, everybody!
The 'cover' I'd like to see is Barry Obama, with a Wright snarl, clutching that lil Yalie waif Hillary. Bill and Jimmy Carvell could be circling around them in smokin', sputterin' Sopwith Camels. (Oh, and Barry's main squeeze, Michelle, would have to be in there somewhere, wearing a blue dress...) Another write as entertaining as whip cream with a cherry on top, 'Bare' - as usual (smile)...thank you! M
By the way, I do see what people mean about accusing Black men of playing basketball, however, there are some situations where it's just uncalled for. We had a Black History potluck at my job and one of the executive assistants saw a brotha taking down streamers. She goes "You're so tall. You play basketball, right?" as if being tall and black was automatically equals basketball player. It's like saying "You're white and male, so you must be rich, right?"
I can see both sides of this article. While I don't follow sports and just Googled this article for the first time, I wasn't thinking King Kong or racism. I was just thinking "He looks dumb." Personally, I'd have preferred him wearing a suit and looking classy, as he does here (http://www.nbaobsessed.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/lebron-james.jpg). Apparently Vogue didn't think that was possible: to highlight someone's talent without making them look goofy doing it. By the way, his posture here is like any other man's. I think it's easy to say people are looking for racism when they very rarely run into it. Yes, there are those who run into it regularly who would be more apt to point it out, but this time, I just think Vogue had poor taste. However, I did laugh at the bus passengers. Now THAT was funny.
Clarification - I have not personally witnessed people getting so worked up in my grocery store about any particular issues and the women confronting the manager were saying that this was the "king Kong cover" because the news SAID it was.......and so forth. Guess they missed the news reports about Demi Moore's controversial Vanity Fair pregnancy cover, eons ago, which was in full view in our grocery store without complaint (none that I heard but then....I limit my trips to the grocery store, as my family knows because they can cook and shop, too).
Very interesting yet controversial article, thats right up my alley these days! Thanks for sharing!
I didn't see the vogue cover and yes I live in a cave. lol even though I didn't see the cover your article gives me enough information that I don't want to see it. Plus I agree with you, I don't want to get caught up in a conversation about abortion or racism with strangers just because they feel like making sure the whole freaking world is informed of their opinion, as if I give a crap. great article Randy.
As I responded to the article when I saw it in MSN...You can clearly see the terror in Giselles face at being touch by a black man. Quick, grab a pitchfork and lets badn together and get that monster! I think it is great that Vogue's publicist managed to to get this whole ball of wax rolling, because no way some regular guy looked at it and got offended. Loved your article especially you conversations with the bus people. Umm Hello, you don't talk to those people- the one time I smiled at someone on the bus I got invited to a star trek convention. true story.
Anyone else think there is a Vogue publicist somewhere who crafted this entire assinine interpretation of the cover?
To me, this is one of Annie's more boring shots and it shows a guy with a basketball looking excited and a supermodel looking out of place. If I need a road map to tell me how I should feel about a picture, maybe the picture isn't that great to begin with.
E your mom called. She said she wished she had aborted you in college.