Can I get an "AMEN, sister"!

This ad is in Vogue too, and there have been similar ones in months past. It's a series, and I must say that this is the most disturbing, but the past ads show numerous women surrounding a man in a similar position.

Oh I am totally with you on this one, Cara. Holy hell gimme somma that!!!

And people need to lighten the fuck up! It's called A-R-T.

They were watching a soccer game and she stole the remote, is all.

People are assuming incorrectly if they think women condone this type of thing. They don't. If they do, there's something very wrong with them (sexual addicts, stupidity, not raised well, no respect for themselves etc...etc....). No woman wants to be attacked or forced to do anything.

Depicting images of women being raped isn't art M... Im sorry for you

This is so insulting to survivors of rape. This is not funny at all; and those of you with the "lighten up" attitude clearly are as childish as the writer of this piece. This is playing to the worst stereotypes about women and rape.

Conservative estimates say that about 1 in 5 women will survive rape in their life time; so considering this statistic think about potentially how many of your readers are survivors? Sincerely, this is irresponsible and thoughtless. Shame on you all!

I am assuming people will continue to be inconsiderate, childish jerks and go on the attack...further proving why so many people do not tell their friends and family about being raped. Those of you that defend this are probably the last people in the world anyone would come to for comfort.

Oh and the idiots that pretend to be survivors that defend this-you are the lowest.

Lighten the f*ck up people! It is not rape and people who think it is need to pull their head out of their ass. Tell you what. Get a copy of the Esquire issue that this ad is in and take a look at the Dolce & Gabbana ad on the page before it. A guy on the ground with another guy stepping on his chest. Gasp! Violence! Violence on one page and rape on the next. Esquire--a nationally known and read monthly magazine--is really slipping!

Like I said pick your head out of your ass.

Jorge, I'm assuming you're male, correct? So this concept is pretty much off your radar, I'm assuming. Yes -- some men are raped as well, and it's just as mortifying. but most men are idiots to this concept, because they're rarely in a position to be raped (unless they are children or teens).
Bottom line -- there shouldn't be ANY depiction in ANY magazine or otherwise of ANYONE getting forced to do ANYTHING -- especially rape! The fact that you think that Esquire is highly reputable and should therefore NOT be under scrutiny is completely idiotic! That comment does not help your case! So perhaps YOU are the one who needs to "pick YOUR head out of YOUR ass" and pay attention to how ridiculous the media can be about forced sex!

Cara - those of us who have brains appreciate your added note at the bottom of your piece, but I have to ask -- if this image was not meant to depict rape, what was it meant to depict? The creators of the image OBVIOUSLY knew this "art" would be controversial, so why would they think that, if not to insinuate rape. It's clear to me that this woman is being held down. It is also clear that the men around her are not smiling or laughing and neither is she. SO it's not really depicting fun or frolic now is it? It's clearly an image of group domination and submission. The viewer is left to their imagination and the creators KNEW it would evoke controversy!

Its so obvious what its depicting its just ridiculous to debate it. Its even more ridiculous to say well that there is a similar picture with a man surrounded by women. Sorry, its just not the same. The same way that a picture of a noose next to a black person and lets say a chinese person. Clearly, not the same. So, if you want to say that you are not offended, then thats fine but do not pretend that this image is NOT meant to convey gang rape. Dolce and Gabana are the biggest dumb ass hos. To their credit, they are so enamored with themselves that they have managed to offend just about every group. Hate them and their tacky ass clothes.

I love your point TBone. This is the kinda point I encourage for the nature of this post. Perhaps you are onto something with the submissive angle. But do you feel that being dominate or submissive is the same as or equal to the offense of rape? Genuine question. Yes, obviously this ad was meant to cause a ruckus. In the trade there is that old cliche of "There is no such thing as bad press." Maybe that is what they were going for. To stir the pot. Those that take offense have every right to protest, but those who don't take offense have the right to like it.

Wow. I would not mind being in that girl's position.

All those guys are really really hot.

...
Anyways
I don't think the image depicts rape. Really. Like Cara said, the woman does not appear to be in distress. And it's not rape if the girl doesn't say NO.

i see nothing wrong with that.

Even if there wasn't a big hooplah going on about this ad, I would still find it creepy. . . The rhetoric is too suggestive.

It actually took me a while to get what was supposedly going on....I didn't see rape, just a fantasy submission/dominance thing going on. I doubt any women that are raped look as calm as the model does.

Cara -- submission and domination can be a part of healthy fantasy between two CONSENTING adults. However, if there is ANY question whatsoever as to whether an image involves someone who is NOT consenting, then it needs to be questioned. This image can go either way, and the creators of this photo knew that when they made it. They wanted to leave it open for interpretation. Well they did JUST THAT. And some "interpreted" this as rape, because there is no indication otherwise. Those who are offended have every right to feel that way. Just as the magazine has a right to publish what they want to publish, so the public has JUST as much right to protest. For those who don't understand this -- I'm truly questioning not only your age, but your maturity level as well.

I have thankfully never been raped myself, but three of my closest girl friends have, so I understand the controversy over an image that seemingly glorifies something as horrid as rape, BUT...as someone who works in a creative field, I understand the reasoning behind this kind of controversial advertising, and every single angry person on this message board and elsewhere is making the trouble for the designers WELL worth it. True, often times there is no artistic merit behind controvery and it happens in fashion more than anywhere else...but the artist's job is to innovate, and in a culture as jaded and apathetic as ours, innovation has come to equal sensationalism. But people should stop, think, and look at the big picture. What is in this photograph really? All I see are some greased-up models in Italian ready-to-wear. It's a fantasy, a game, a marketing ploy. And all of you uptight fogies are playing right into their hands.

Tinz -- Dead wrong! Even in the name of "marketing and creativity" there is such a thing as accountability. And just because someone considers the marketing and/or creativity to be offensive doesn't mean they're necessarily "uptight fogies", but rather free-thinking human beings. And one would only be "playing right into" the designer's hands if one actually thought how cool and sexy these ads are. Those of you who think that way are actually the ones falling into their shit. The rest of us are smart enough not to endorse this type of advertising and not to buy their ridiculous clothing.

"If having a bunch of hot sweaty men so overcome by the image of me in a black D&G gown that one of them forces his glistening, sculpted arms upon me is wrong, then I don't want to be right."

Definitely, AMEN SISTER!!!!!

I don't think it glamorizes assault/rape at all. I think it insinuates guys getting turned on by watching a couple together though. It's one of those artsy fashion photos so you have to take it with a grain of salt. Who knows? He could be her boyfriend and they are going to get it on, in public. Either way, you know all of those guys are GAY anyways...most male models are. It's in the constitution. Hehe

xxoo-Angel

Key word there Angel --- "FORCE". Not cool! Must be desperate for attention, if you think that's cool.

the woman dose not look to be distressed by it, if she was, then ok, it would be rape.

my sister has a good theory... it is a woman who is all dressed up, walking by a construction site, and the men whistle at her. She then has a fantasy of being with one of the men, while the others watch in jelousy.... it never happened, we just get s snapshot of her thoughts. (I dont know where she finds good looking constructions guys in a group like that.. but again, it is fantasy) there are somepeople who are in to diffrent kind of bedroom encounters, and DG seems to play on them often.

it's an advertisement.. if you are offended, simple do not shop with them, and turn the page.

if you are offened, do no buy their clothes.

Having been a victim of rape, i see nothing at all offensive in this photo. It's titilating, for sure, but to me, i see it as more a sub/dom/exhibitionistic scene with a bunch of bored guys who look like they couldn't care less about the two exhibitionists in the middle. It's also a very well executed and awesomely technical shot (the flow of the shot is amazing and really sweeps the eye over the whole scene...as well as getting your attention).

If we can't even hint at something as simple as a sub/dom relationship in the media, for fear of upsetting people, you defeat the purpose of art and free speech. If it offends you, turn the page. Seriously. I highly doubt that some guy who would never ever think of raping a woman would turn to this and go "Oh wow, rape is really awesome and cool". It's so mild, even for a sub/dom pic.

As for this comment from adrianachristensen:

"And it's not rape if the girl doesn't say NO."

Are you serious? Really? because what about people who are drugged or drunk beyond belief? What about those who are bound and gagged without consent? What about someone who is mute or paralyised by fear and can't say the word "no" or any other word? Because by that statement, they just gave their consent. I really have to wonder about your intelligence and maturity level with that statement.

What a bunch of dumb-asses -- Here's the basis of your argument -- if you don't like something, don't look. Ok, so if it were a bunch of black men in chains next to a white guy with a whip, would we all be outraged about the slavery inuendo, or would we all just be stupid and say "it could be a fantasy and maybe they're all gay" or "maybe it's just bondage". WHATEVER! We all know what it's insinuating. Quit acting like you don't. Be respectful for once instead of trying to be cool.

1 even if it were a gay fantasy, they would not put a black man in chains yada yada, cause then all the black rich people would stop buying thier clothes. They said "oh, it's cause I am black" for everything, god forbid i give their screaming kid a nasty look, they think I am racist.. they cant accept I hate all screaming kids (sorry, bad experiance at Target today)

I THINK IS FUCKING HOT!!!

ahem.
It can't be a rape scene, all those guys are... er... "batting for the other team" as it were... The one guy is probably just helping her stretch a ligament or something.

hell yeah that picture is HOT. I didn't think rape at all...I thought damn look at all those beautiful people... I thought it was a great ad.
Sorry!

I'm totally against rape, don't get me wrong, but what I don't understand is people whining when they've been slipped the date rape drug. Come on! You don't even remember it! If you didn't get an STD, pregnant, or miss Desperate Housewives you have no reason to complain as loudly as normal rape victims!

I should add that I was joking.

The image is being entirely over intellectualized. If the man were smiling and not wearing sun glasses it would be a display of vouyerism, not rape. If the woman were on top it would be a display of women's sexuality, not rape.

It's a picture that people read too much into, which is exactly what D&G wanted. Now I've seen the picture at least five or six times and instead of feeling demeaned or degraded as a female, I want to do some high end retail shopping.

Also the "It's not Art...M" comment, many artistic movements have been centered around the subjection, subjugation, and sexual domination of women. For probably the most recurring and recognizable example look into dipictions of "The Rape of the Sabines," which has been a constently emergent theme across many European art periods, stemming from images created through the visualization of Greco-Roman history.

Also, the imagery of submission and weakness of the female is often cited as being one of the problems with modern popular cultural advertisements. Heavy black eyeliner is representative of black eyes, skinny women do not look healthy, etc., etc. You can buy into the over-intellectualization of pop culture, but really what it boils down to is the fact that there are much bigger things to worry about, and the fight for women's rights really isn't going to be stunted by a woman in a hot dress with a man between her legs.

Who is to say she's not an "empowered new-aged woman" who is happy to have taken someone home? Self interpretation is one of the keys to ambiguous representation.

Hey Just a Girl --

Your comment is kind of funny, being that no one on this blog has "intellectualized" this image more than you. Reread your comment. There is nothing "intellectual" about saying hey -- some people see this as rape or forced sex and are offended by it, so have some respect".

Those models are majorly lubed to look fake sweaty. And it's totally "rape chic." I mean, not even in a subtle way. Those guys are all waiting to get their excessive sweating on all over that female model.