M O D E L C I T I Z E N S
They don't get no respect. But supermodels
are more than mannequins — they represent
the possibility of grace in a humdrum world.
"Lisa Fonssagrives: A Portrait," edited by David Seidner. Vendome Press."Naomi," by Naomi Campbell. Universe. "10 Women," by Peter Lindbergh. Te Neues. By CHARLES TAYLOR a modest proposal: Anyone who writes about the vacuousness/overexposure/bad example/(your favorite puritanism here) of fashion models should agree to have the published piece accompanied by an author photo. Not so we can see whether the author is as attractive as a model (who is?). But so we can see how relaxed the author is in front of a camera, whether he or she can project mood and personality, or create the illusion of movement in a still photo. You can find reams of negative press about artists, athletes, writers and actors, and yet no author suggests of those people's abilities that anyone can do that. Yet it's commonplace to think that what models do doesn't take any special talent, isn't really work, and isn't worthy of serious consideration, though their talents have been worth the serious consideration of most of the great photographers of the century. Next: Yeah, models don't look like the rest of us. Deal with it. |