Violence against women as fashion

Photos from a competition on the show, America’s Next Top Model, at Zap2It.com, where the models' challenge was to look beautiful while dead. Not just dead, but murdered.

I don’t even know where to start. Seriously. Violence against women as fashion. As beauty. As the ultimate pinnacle for a successful model to ascend—or descend—to. (As they are already abused by the industry)? Hmmm – as the ultimate pinnacle for any woman to ascend/descend to?

The comments from the judges are posted to the right of the photos. Holy shit. I am still trying to gather my thoughts to form any kind of coherent reaction. Right now I am just pissed. And disgusted.

Jennifer Pozner has posted an excellent commentary regarding these photos and the television show at WIMN's Voices. I agree with much of what she has to say, and she has managed to say it with more grace, insight and eloquence than I can muster right now.

Certainly, critical and thoughtful examinations of the positions and mutilations the women’s bodies themselves are interesting and important. But I am also very interested in the spaces in which these women have been situated (not to mention the situation/space of: in the photos-as a model-in a judged contest-in a nationally broadcast television show. Wow.) What does this say?

I am going to ponder this for a bit and will post more on this later (I think). Feel free to share any thoughts you might have on the matter, too.