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posted by MH
Aug 10, 2007 10:48AM
I sort of hate it when you have a brilliant photographer like Terry Richardson, a model like Lily Donaldson, a fabulous wardrobe, and the best anyone can come up with is totally freaking cliched shots of New York City with location-appropriate styling. I mean, animal prints and white pants for the Upper East Side, luxe downtown for the bridge shot? Shock me shock me shock me. I don't think this can feel fresh even to the Japanese.
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posted by Eriko
Aug 10, 2007 1:07PM
Kate, did you just suggest Japanese Vogue can't use correct grammar in their spreads?
I can assure you that Japanese people with any knowledge of English know the difference between "America" and "American."
Whereas you don't know the difference between a smart observation (Faran) and an asshole (you, Kate).
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posted by anon
Aug 10, 2007 1:09PM
i guess the concept/styling is cliche to us, the americans, but you have to remember it's for vogue nippon and the japanese are obsesssssed.
also this edit starkly contrasted to a few of the others in that issue, most of which were dreamy and fabulous so the b+w here played off well.
also terry richardson fashion eds pretty much suck unless carine roitfeld and lara stone are involved in which case awesomeness!
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posted by Faran
Aug 10, 2007 2:29PM
Hey Anonymous -
I wish everyone knew as much about the different Vogues as you! We wanted to make sure we included the magazine's correct name (Vogue Nippon) with it's country, so Vogue international newbies would have all the information.
And I think the above fight is about stereotypes and ignorance, not grammar?
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posted by fleur de lys
Aug 10, 2007 2:33PM
Anonymous, Nippon is actually the Japanese word for Japan. The French refer to Japan as Japon.
Sorry, as a language nerd, I had to clear that up. :)
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posted by guest
Aug 10, 2007 2:35PM
wait there are people who read your site that don't know the difference between all the Vogues....that's a fashion crime that needs addressing!!! The different editions & the international affiliations (Russian Vogue & the Brit squad, French Vogue & Fabien, etc) is part of what makes it all so interesting!!!
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posted by Eriko
Aug 10, 2007 2:49PM
Kate, my English is great, thanks - unlike your attitude, which sucks.
Also, my comment was about your ignorance, not about "Japan's Vogue Nippon," which seems fine to me - like when British papers say "American Vogue."
Again, my issues are with your brazenly prejudiced attitude, the post is fine.
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posted by keane
Aug 10, 2007 2:58PM
Kate, what does grammar have to do with a linguistic difference between Asian languages and English? Nothing, that's what. The r/l distinction is absent in Asian languages and consequently is difficult to pick up later in life, so Asians who learn English as a second language have difficulty rendering the different sounds. Pronunciation is one thing, grammar is another. If you want your blatant racism to sound even remotely credible, try, at least, to recognize basic distinctions between various aspects of language.
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posted by Faran
Aug 10, 2007 3:07PM
Hey Kathryn,
When our site relaunches this fall, everyone will have to register. But unfortunately, I didn't build the site, I just edit it, and there are many things in our framework that just aren't possible yet.
As for deleting comments, most readers of this blog are incredibly smart and cool, and capable of moderating themselves.
What's too bad is that even though the readers are amazing, the small percentage who choose to comment are often in fourth grade.
We've had issues with "Kate" - also known as "Bella" and "Maddie' - before, and we'll be blocking her from the site by the weekend.
Meanwhile, I'd encourage the rest of you who read but don't always comment to get involved - if the quality of discussion on the blog changes, I believe the 4th graders will dissipate, or choose to show a different, smarter, cooler side of their anonymous selves.
As for the "freedom of speech" comment, you can say whatever you want on your own blog - but certainly not on this one.
xo F.
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posted by booski
Aug 11, 2007 7:59AM
Faran,
VERY well put. Your writing is smart in the choice of content, way in which you approach your writing, and in your response to commentary.
As for the shoot, I think the clothes are amazing and show off the American background. Since this is for a Japanese audience, the clothes are also reflecting the setting in which they're placed. Therefore, contrary to being trite in placement (i.e. animal print on upper East Side), they're giving the Japanese readership an idea of the type of neighborhoods in which the shots took place.
Love it.
posted by h
Aug 10, 2007 10:44AM
The pictures were taken in New York, maybe that's what they were thinking?