Beyonce's New Album Cover

[DrPhil]

Welp, Beyonce's no longer doing blackface (remember the only other thread I've ever created on Beyonce).

I think the new album cover looks nothing like her in terms of facial features and shade of skin. It is beyond the usual airbrushing and color shifting. Since coincidences and accidents tend not to happen for such things, I do believe this was intentionally done. But, intent can rarely be proven so I'll just go based on outcome. It is funny looking and convenient.



http://www.thegrio.com/entertainment...-conundrum.php

What say you, GCers?

[knight_shadow]

When I was reading about this, many people were saying things along the lines of "Her transformation into a white woman is complete."

It just looks like an extra-bright light to me *Kanye shrug*

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

When I was reading about this, many people were saying things along the lines of "Her transformation into a white woman is complete."

It just looks like an extra-bright light to me *Kanye shrug*

DOH!

[Munchkin03]

It looks like a super-bright, low-contrast photo to me--even the weird hairshirt she's wearing looks bleached out. If they were really trying to lighten her up, they'd have used other techniques.

[DrPhil]

That darn technology that sometimes makes people darker and lighter. It can't be stopped! Even for the biggest and wealthiest celebrity album covers. The world is definitely ending.

[Xidelt]

The first thought that popped into my head when I saw the cover was "Is that Shakira?"

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

It looks like a super-bright, low-contrast photo to me--even the weird hairshirt she's wearing looks bleached out. If they were really trying to lighten her up, they'd have used other techniques.

I'm tempted to throw in a "Ditto" hear because this was my first thought. "She's just super washed out from the lighting." But it's a professional photo. They know how to not do that, but they did. Maybe a clever way of intentionally lightening her without looking blatantly intentional. Eh Phil?

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by Xidelt

The first thought that popped into my head when I saw the cover was "Is that Shakira?"

Me too

[MasTNX]

Originally Posted by Xidelt

The first thought that popped into my head when I saw the cover was "Is that Shakira?"

That's what I thought too. Which is an interesting comparison because my linesister and I have had many conversations about how artists like Shakira and Beyonce have dyed their hair blonde and made themselves more racially ambiguous seemingly to attract a larger audience.

I couldn't help but see the irony in the movie Dreamgirls as Jamie Foxx moved Beyonce to be the lead singer when he realized that her lighter skin and less soulful voice got a better reaction from white audiences. It reminded me a lot of Destiny Child's journey.

But who knows, it may just be the lighting of photo shoot and some photographer's artistic vision.

[PiKA2001]

I don't necessarily see this as Beyonce trying to look white, but she does seem to be playing with her image and sound, trying to be more edgy. Which is almost expected in the music business. Everyone from David Bowie to Madonna to Lady Gaga has altered or changed how they look in photo-shoots and music video's sooooo.... why can't Beyonce?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

Everyone from David Bowie to Madonna to Lady Gaga has altered or changed how they look in photo-shoots and music video's sooooo.... why can't Beyonce?

...why can't Beyonce what? She has changed her look a few times over the years. That isn't what this topic is about as far as I'm concerned.

David Bowie, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Grace Jones have all changed their looks a few times to be more edgy and androgynous (gender). Bowie, Madonna, and Lady Gaga didn't stop looking immediately identifiable as white and Grace Jones didn't stop looking immediately identifiable as Black. In fact, racial and ethnic minority performers are more likely than white performers to become more racially unidentifiable.

Originally Posted by MasTNX

That's what I thought too. Which is an interesting comparison because my linesister and I have had many conversations about how artists like Shakira and Beyonce have dyed their hair blonde and made themselves more racially ambiguous seemingly to attract a larger audience.

I couldn't help but see the irony in the movie Dreamgirls as Jamie Foxx moved Beyonce to be the lead singer when he realized that her lighter skin and less soulful voice got a better reaction from white audiences. It reminded me a lot of Destiny Child's journey.

I agree.

Originally Posted by MasTNX

But who knows, it may just be the lighting of photo shoot and some photographer's artistic vision.

You say all of that and end with "who knows...may just be the lighting...." That's how these dynamics persist in entertainment and other institutions. We can't prove it in most cases and there's just enough uncertainty to make people conclude with "who knows...I guess I'll move on."

Originally Posted by christiangirl

I'm tempted to throw in a "Ditto" hear because this was my first thought. "She's just super washed out from the lighting." But it's a professional photo. They know how to not do that, but they did. Maybe a clever way of intentionally lightening her without looking blatantly intentional. Eh Phil?

It looks like a photo shoot with the bright lights. Even attempting a "photo shoot look" has the outcome of making some people wonder who she is and "what" she is. Surface-level racial and ethnic neutrality and comfort accomplished.

Originally Posted by Xidelt

The first thought that popped into my head when I saw the cover was "Is that Shakira?"

That's arguably what the duet they did together was expected to accomplish. They look alike and both of them are "racial and ethnic minority enough" to be "racial and ethnic minority" and "neutral enough" to be "neutral."

[katydidKD]

http://www.thegrio.com/assets_c/2011...auto-16884.png

That one looks more intentional than her album cover

Edit: this one too http://static.becomegorgeous.com/img...pping_legs.jpg

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by katydidKD

Edit: this one too http://static.becomegorgeous.com/img...pping_legs.jpg

BUT LOOK AT THE OUTFIT. #gaymoment

[psusue]

Originally Posted by Xidelt

The first thought that popped into my head when I saw the cover was "Is that Shakira?"

I thought Ke$ha.

Originally Posted by katydidKD

That one looks more intentional than her album cover

Edit: this one too http://static.becomegorgeous.com/img...pping_legs.jpg

In this one she looks a little like a more normal Gaga. Weird.

[pshsx1]

But look at her promo photos which came out in December from her tour.





Her new album cover is purposely washed out. That's obvious. I think people are looking into "becoming white" too much.

And then there's the promo picture for her new single. Still golden brown: