Naomi Campbell | Mert & Marcus | Interview Magazine Oct 2010

Let’s get beyond the fact that temper-tantrum prone Naomi Campbell may not be the best black model to deliver the powerful message of this Mert & Marcus editorial for Interview Magazine October 2010. Consider the possibility that you need a supermodel, Amazonian woman to get the job done, and Naomi more than qualifies.

What’s the statement here? We think it’s far more complex than Naomi being a dominatrix to male model Alex Kovas — although that’s the standard read. Is Naomi the Russian state — communism — suppressing freedom of religious expression? Maybe.

Is she just taking out a Russian mobster and her next hit is Rome via Sicily? Maybe.

Is Naomi rolling up here sleeves and taking charge —  as so many women say we must — of a totally screwed up world, full of bloodshed over religion and other isms? You’re getting warm for our interpretation.

Even Fall TV networks are changing the message to a return of super-hero women who kicks butt and save the world from bloody, religious-driven, fundamentalist, male principles. Just for the record, the Vatican has no historical problem with mobsters, as long as they contribute to church coffers and take communion on Sunday.

Are we seeing the revenge of black women, who have ‘had it’ with patriarchal, conservative religion assigning them scorching hussy libidos and loose morals? That’s warm for us, too, because even the cardinals need a slap on the head over their historical treatment of black and Hispanic women. (Note: white women have our own problems with the patriarchy, but let’s distinguish between this reality and an even worse one for Naomi Campbell’s great-great grand mamas and their historical kin.)

Is the patriarchal mobster lifeless, and Naomi is dragging around his dead body in some strange sexual fetish?

We have multiple interpretations of message here, but anyone who suggests this is just simple BSDM isn’t worth his/her editorial salt. Readers who reduce the discussion to Naomi Campell’s obnoxious phone throwing behavior need to clear cobwebs from brain and assume a global, thinking perspective.

Interview magazine tries to communicate significant, topical messages. Whether they succeeded or failed in this editorial remains open to discussion. Anne    Images via FGR

For those who believe the Interview images are only about Naomi taking down the Russian mafia, in some fantasy superhero set of images, revisit ALL the images from Mario Sorrenti’s editorial of Guinevere van Seenus for 10 Maazine Fall 2010. In America any degree of intellectualism in fashion and popular culture is anathema. This single image sums up our editorial position at Anne of Carversville.

Guinevere van Seenus | Mario Sorrenti | 10 Magazine Fall 2010