At this point in history, it is impossible to check any form of social media or news site without seeing the Kardashian or Jenner name popping up. Recently, a new scandal has arisen within the family... and this time, it concerns Kylie Jenner.
Kylie is 18 years old, and just like her sister, is a model. The two have been both admired and envied by millions around the globe for their drop-dead looks and their incredible outfits.
Recently, Interview Magazine ran a spread on Kylie. In the images she is rigid, stiff, and plastic. She even taped her face in order to achieve the perfect hollowed-cheek look that is synonymous with dolls. According to the magazine, the shots play homage to British artist Allen Jones, who received recognition for his half-naked sculptures of women placed into submissive poses.
(Allen Jones with one of his sculptures. Interview Magazine tries to recreate this with Kylie)
Quite frankly, that should have been quite the scandal in itself. In this new age of women and feminism, it's astounding that a popular magazine would pay tribute to a man who disrespected an entire gender through his work. These images are not sexy in the way that they embrace the natural power and strength of the female gender. These images do not showcase strength. Jones's sculptures display women as literal objects. These images are derogatory and degrading. These images make women appear weak and reduced.
Two particular images have conjured up a different firestorm of backlash. These particular images focus on Kylie sitting in a gold wheelchair in fetish latex.
The photographer's use of the wheelchair is both incredibly distasteful and immoral. Since Kylie is meant to appear like a doll in the photo series, the photographer is saying that individuals with disabilities are props themselves. Dolls have no minds, they cannot control their bodies or their thoughts, obviously. By throwing Kylie in a wheelchair, the photographer is slapping the faces of the disabled around the globe. Steven Klein, the Interview photographer, is making a disgusting statement -- and whether or not it was intentional is irrelevant.
The disabled fight against a specific type of segregation themselves. Every day is a constant battle -- and that battle is not limited to the constant struggle with physically dealing with and maintaining their handicap. As if coping with the daily struggles of getting around wasn't enough, these individuals face the mean looks and comments of others.
Those who are disabled have to fight to be viewed as sexy in today's media. Take a look at any runway: there are maybe a handful of women and men who are in wheelchairs or who have other handicaps making their way down the runway. The stigmas these individuals face is honestly heartbreaking. Individuals can rarely even look the disabled in the eyes, much less celebrate them for their physical and internal beauty and their sexuality.
If Klein had wanted to showcase the beauty of those who have to live life through the assistance of a wheelchair, he would have photographed an actual disabled person. Therefore, he cannot even try to pass off that these photos are not immoral and degrading.
Kylie Jenner, golden wheelchairs are not the latest accessory. The disabled do not deserve to be reduced to your photographer's idea that the handicapped are merely mindless, doll-like creatures.
Kylie Jenner, a disability is not a fad.
