Thursday 9 September 2010

Dior's Controversial Campaign

Quentin Shih's new "Shanghai Dreamers" work, using Dior models and clothing has caused controversy as some have accused it of being racist. The images feature row upon row of identical (as in digitally reproduced) Chinese men and women dressed in 1960s and 70s Cultural Revolution garb, and a single, tall model dressed in Dior.


Personally, I think the pieces are beautiful from am aesthetic point. Are they racist?  I can see how you'd think that, but that would be a narrow view. It's unfair to say they're racist because they are identical.. the.Chinese themselves play up their image of unity, take their opening of the Beijing Olympics for example. The mass could stand for China's more Communist history. It could even just be about Dior alone, indicating that their clothes are one of a kind. There are too many angles in my opinion to simply declare them racist, especially since the artist himself is Chinese.