Saturday, 15 September 2012

Was the Spanish magazine trying to make a point? and if so.. what was it?

To discover that Princeton and Harvard Law school graduate, and Americas 1st lady Michelle Obama was portrayed in a Spanish magazine as a half naked slave was of no major surprise, more disappointing really. It's common knowledge to many people ( whether they admit it or not) that racial prejudiced is rife, and unfortunately common enough to become.. well common...subliminal.. yet occasionally quite blatant.
What a common identity does is attempt to naturalise, and neutralize something...to desensitise.. disconnect emotional or rational responses to a point of apathy and eventual acceptance.


There's quite alot to like and admire about Michelle Obama (that's just my personal opinion based on what I've read, heard and see) I like her vibe. She's an intelligent lady, inspirational to many, delivers a great speech, looks good, and comes across very genuine, and down to earth, cool mother and wife.
So, what was the point, if they had one.
Spain has an interesting African history though right.





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2 comments:

  1. Reggie16 September 2012 at 12:49

    It would be nice to hear the thought processes of the person that first came up with the image and the person who made the decision to place it in their magazine.

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  2. Dawna16 September 2012 at 13:49

    It really would Reggie.
    Apparently the original was released in 1800, by a French artist Marie-Guillemine Benoist, and titled the portrait D'Une Négresse.

    I’ve read that it was viewed by some as a inspiring image because the country had abolished slavery six years earlier, and the portrait was thought of as an uplifting symbol of both women's and black people's rights.

    So yes, it would be nice to hear the 2012 version.

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