The ad campaign, inspired by the film "Peeping Tom" (1960), offers some hauntingly beautiful photographs with a very sinister undertone. The original film tells the story of a voyeur who secretly films a prostitute, follows her into her home where he keeps the film rolling as he murders her. The whole scene is depicted through the lens of his camera's viewfinder; Klein pays homage to this very scene in the McQueen promotional video. You can see the Alexander McQueen video here
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| Left: Still from "Peeping Tom"; Right: Kate Moss stars in Klein's ad for McQueen |
I admit, I first saw the photos from the campaign and instantly loved them. Now understanding the tribute Klein and the McQueen brand made to this disturbing film, I am left disappointed. Why are there so many fashion editorials and ads featuring women as victims of sexual abuse, violence and specifically in this case, prostitution and murder? Although I don't view these disgusting cliches in the print campaign I am nonetheless dismayed at the sensationalism presented in the fashion video. Some of the best minds and talent in the fashion world collaborated on this project and this is the best idea they came up with to sell clothing and accessories? It all makes we want to scream.
I could go on an epic rant about the perpetual display of women in fashion as the rape-murder-hostage-victim, but frankly I am too tired today. Instead, I am choosing for a brief moment to share the photographs I at first innocently mistook as a loose homage to Bowie in "The Man who fell to Earth"/ Pris from "Blade Runner" vibe that made me smile.
