An online magazine editorial, portraying female victims of violence, is receiving a huge backlash on the Internet. Online Bulgarian magazine 12‘s latest beauty editorial called Victim of Beauty shows photos of models with a black eye, slit throat, severe burn and torn flesh.
In Bulgarian — a warning for the online photo spread translates: “Recommended Parental Controls: pictures are not recommended for persons under 16 years. And for the faint hearted.” The editorial was shot by photographer Vasil Germanov. Makeup on the six models was by Daniela Avramova.
Angry viewers are taking to the website’s comment section, Twitter and other outlets to voice their dismay with magazine.
One commenter on the website writes, “This is the glorification of violence against women dressed up as ‘art.’ It is demoralizing to women and offensive to anyone who has ever experienced violence. Use the pictures for a campaign against violence against women. Otherwise you must expect to be condemned for trying to cash in on something that is so reprehensible.”
However, the magazine stands by its photo spread showing models in H&M skirts and clothes by Iabel Capasca. Editors in Chief of the magazine Huben Hubenov and Slav Anastasov said they don’t think the photos promote violence or abusive behavior in any way.
“Quite frankly, we do not think that there is a person, who will see the photographs and automatically assume that violence is okay,” Hubenov and Anastasov wrote in an email.
Though photos show women who are beat up and cut, the magazine editors say they never mention domestic violence or reference to “pain inflicted by men on women.”
“Yes, if someone is hyper-sensitive to trauma, we agree that this shoot may provoke their inner demons, invoke unpleasant memories, and we apologize to anyone who feels offended by it, this was not our intent,” they wrote.
The editors believe the global response to the editorial piece is an “overreaction, adding, “We have to clarify, that even though this shoot is talking about violence in general, and pain as part of beauty, it does not talk exclusively about domestic violence, or pain inflicted by men on women. That being said, the overreaction from the other side of Atlantic surprise us, and frankly – scares us.”
Do you think people are overreacting to this beauty editorial? Share your thoughts with us — does these photos glamorize violence against women?
[Mashable]
