JUST A THOUGHT..

OLIVIA COPE. LONDON. MEDIA STUDENT.

IN CONCLUSION..

From my research I have found out that there is a definite lack of black models in high fashion. The reason as to why this is can never be summed up into one factor, as different people have different ideas and suggestions. To conclude however..

In the opinion of most writers, authors, celebrities and journalists:

- White models fit the demographic audience of high fashion magazines.
- Black models in high fashion magazines are limited to big names.
- The lighter your skin, the more appealing you are.

In MY opinion:

- There is a lack of black model agencies and co-operations that successfully represent black women.
- Years of traditions towards stereotypes. 

Above: SECONDARY RESEARCH 011: This above YouTube video shows: “Clips from a documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color - particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture.” The clips are taken from ‘Dark Girls,’ an independent film released in Autumn/Winter 2011. The video was posted in June 2011.

Although I was pretty much done with my secondary research I came across this video a couple of months ago and recently remembered it, discovering it was incredibly relevant to my research project. It links in well with my third primary research and what I mentioned at the end of it in how the print media’s perception of beauty and the lack of dark-skinned models in fashion can seriously alter people in society views and opinions; having a knock-on-effect of dark-skinned black girls self-esteem and self image.

I found this video useful in coming to some kind of conclusion for my research project. I have discovered various reasons for the lack of black models in high fashion and print media, and how this can affect black woman living in our modern-day society.

Above: PRIMARY RESEARCH 003.

High Fashion Magazines: [Define]: High fashion magazines (i.e. Company) feature the latest or most admired style featured in articles and photographs. 

Gossip Magazines: [Define]: Gossip magazines (i.e. More) feature scandalous stories about the personal lives of celebrities. This genre of magazine flourished in North America in the 1950’s and early 1960’s. These magazines traditionally included more lurid and explicit content than did the popular newspaper gossip columnists of the time, including tales of celebrity homosexuality and illegal drug use. Nowadays they also include fashion and reality stories.

PRIMARY RESEARCH 002: The above video is a vox pop I have made asking people their opinion on race in high fashion magazines such as Vogue or Cosmopolitan.

[Define]: Vox populi, a Latin phrase that literally means voice of the people, is a term often used in broadcasting for interviews with members of the general public.

I found doing this video interesting as it gave me a variety of beliefs in a way which is more creative than a questionnaire. Both, however, are useful.

I found editing the above video difficult as the system I use was slow and old. Although once I did it I was proud of the final result.

[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

Above: A short video of me explaining the research I have conducted so far and what research I plan to do in the future.

SECONDARY RESEARCH 010: A GOOGLE SEARCH OF BRITISH MODEL AGENCIES..

My fifth secondary research was a Google search of black models and how little of them are available to the public on a first-hand basis. However, not only is there a significantly low number of well-known black models in high fashion, there is also a small number of model agencies in Britain which cater for black models.

Type into Google Search ‘British Model Agency’ and the options that come up have website which feature a majority of images which are white models.  Even those black models sown have highly European features and hairstyles, with lightly-toned skin colours.

The lack of model agencies found when searching for those that specialise in black and other ethnicities (apart from Caucasian) is shocking. This could be used as a useful argument as to why there is such a shortage of black models in high fashion. Without anyone willing to represent them and make them feel okay to be ‘different,’ how are black models supposed to ever make it big and break the stereotype? Especially those like Alek Wek?

[Flash 10 is required to watch video]

Above: SECONDARY RESEARCH 009: A short video log about a chapter on race and magazines I read out of ‘Out Of Focus - Writings On Women And The Media’ by Kath Davies, Julienne Dickey and Teresa Stratford.

SECONDARY RESEARCH 008: In this video, Naomi Campbell is quoted saying that “Black models are being sidelined by the major modelling agencies. It is a pity that people don’t appreciate black beauty.” The video is short, and the narrator gives a short insight into how Naomi Campbell feels about black models, the lack of them and how they are represented in Britain and across the world. The video was posted on 25th February 2009. I found this video useful and interesting because although Naomi is quite a European style model, she still cares a lot about the future of black models and is “militant and she is committed to fighting discrimination against black models.”

Above: Is this a good image young, black woman and girls in Britain and the rest of the world?

Above: Is this a good image young, black woman and girls in Britain and the rest of the world?