Blackface
The New Trend?
Model Querelle Jansen stars in the May 2013 issue “Heritage Heroes” It's relatively a retrospective editorial of Marc Jacobs’ work for Louis Vuitton. The styling of each look is, we guess, somehow meant to illustrate the inspiration of a particular collection. Marc Jacobs found inspiration in African-American cultural icons for his Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 collections–Grace Jones and Josephine Baker, respectively. Vogue Netherlands decided that the best way to convey those inspirations would be with some white models, black face paint and wigs of what appeared black hair and worn throughout.
Blackface: performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky on the plantation" or the "dandified coon".
The Bootylicious singer of a white descendant was featured
on the March 2011 issue cover of the French magazine L’Officiel
Paris with her face darkened to pay tribute to Nigerian musician and human rights activist Fela Kuti.
The editorial images attempted to
emulate Beyonce, who has
noted Fela Kuti as an inspiration for her
forthcoming album, “Far From the
Glamorous Sasha Fierce” and an approach
to more of "her African roots.”
Ganguro = Black Face?
Ganguro Girl
Japanese Trend