The images in this photo spread in V Magazine's July 20, 2007 issue have been manipulated to portray decapitated and mutilated women stuffed into photos of expensive high heel shoes. One characteristic or even definition of pornography, as opposed to erotica, as defined by feminist anti-pornography activists, is that it sells the idea that violence, especially violence against women, is sexy.
V's web promos for this pornographic cross between editorial content and advertising explicitly claim that their depiction of hacked-up women is sexy. V called the piece, "Foot Fetish." According to the V website, in this layout, "Photographer Bela Borsodi points his lens at the season's hottest heels. Shoes have never been this sexy."
They further try to joke, "To get into Fall's most exciting shoes, you really have to go out on a limb."
I left a message for one of V's editors who I was told was on vacation and has not yet returned my call. An employee who answered the phone at V said they have received other complaints about the piece.
To protest, contact V Magazine, at 212-274-8959, or the shoe companies depicted in the advertorial, asking them to disavow using depictions of violence against women to sell their shoes: Diesel, Prada, D&G, Balenciago by Nicolas Ghesquière, Tod's, Dior by John Galliano, Calvin Klein, Giuseppe Zanotti, and Bally.
Originally posted on the Peacework Blog