Drawing the Line: Blackface as Art in Beyoncé Photo
Shoot
In the 90th anniversary edition of L’Offciel
Paris, Beyoncé
posed in a photo shoot where she was in blackface, paying tribute to Fela Kuti,
a Nigerian musician and activist.
An article discussing the controversial issue claimed that: “the magazine
said in a statement that the entirety of the shoot was meant to symbolize a
return of Beyoncé to “her African roots (Steinmetz).” The fashion world is no stranger to the darkening of models,
however, this particular photo shoot caused a lot of controversy. Many people were triggered by the use
of blackface and offended that this would be considered high fashion. Interestingly, not all of the photos
were taken in blackface, and the one’s taken without black face made Beyoncé
look much whiter. These photos
provide an interesting example of the use of blackface on a black individual
who is also trying to appear white.
While this example relates to the idea of a black individual in
blackface it also points to Roediger’s analysis that “minstrelsy’s genius was
then able to be able to both display and reject the ‘natural self’, to be able
to take on blackness convincingly and to take off blackness convincingly” (116). What I find fascinating about this is
that Beyoncé seems to be “performing” both races. These photos illustrate that she can convincingly take on
blackness and then shed it for whiteness.
Even though Roediger is talking about white performers I think it
pertains to this situation as well. Furthermore, it seems that putting Beyoncé in blackface tries
to distance her from her blackness.
However, what does that say about Fela, the woman she is paying tribute
too? Does putting on the blackface
distance her from the woman she is representing? How does this photo shoot position her within racial categories,
or does she not fit into these binaries?
The article I used as a source:
1 comment:
This example of blackfaace within the fashion industry reminds me of an episode of America's Next Top Model from 2011, which featured models of different backgrounds portraying Michael Jackson. The photoshoot had the models embodying different eras of his life, making an effort to "channel" him and reenacting various Jackson-associated dance movements.
This portrayal gets further confused by the lightening of Jackson's own skin throughout his lifetime. While Jackson's choices in regard to his appearance were his own, there was no debate shown on the show about the validity or appropriateness of blackface. Though his skin might have appeared very pale by the end of his lifetime, Jackson was still an African American and the history of blackface was completely ignored by the show.
Rather than use the form to make some sort of commentary on the practice of blackface, fashion seems to use it as it likes without regard to historical implications. From spare use of models of color to shoots performing blackface such as with Beyonce or on America's Next Top Model, the fashion industry appears to be content with using blackness while still being able to "take it off" or maintain over-arching whiteness.
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