Dec. 2, 2006
Making an inappropriate fashion statement
This just in: recently, two teenaged girls from a local high school were kidnapped, blindfolded and held hostage by approximately eight male assailants during the school day. Fortunately, they were rescued before any physical harm ensued, though the extent of the emotional harm has not yet been determined. Details after this commercial.
While this may sound like a shocking promo heard during the evening news to keep viewers tuned in, those in the know will find that the intro does not lead into a story of courage and endurance. It simply describes the performance that Blair's fashion club conducted during the club showcase in the gym on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving break.
In the skit's introduction two female Blazers were pushed and dragged to the center of the room by a group of teenage boys. The two girls were then forced into two chairs where they were "tied" in pantomime. They were rescued by a group of strutting, fashionable, girls who "fought" off the attackers. Directly after their rescue from their assailants the fashion show began.
While the introduction of the show may have been a way to catch the audience's attention, many people in the audience felt that the performance alluded to an attempted rape, and that the club crossed a line by introducing their show in such a manner. The pantomime shocked media specialist Lisa Hack, who believed that using rape as a way to catch the audience's attention was inappropriate. "A rape scene shouldn't be the opening act to a celebration of talent," she stated.
She was even more struck that the club seemed comfortable with using an introduction that she said could easily be interpreted as an attempted rape. "People are so used to images of violence in music lyrics, music videos, movies, video games, etcetera, that violence isn't shocking," she said.
Unlike Hack, SGA President Eric Hysen said that the display was in no way meant to suggest a rape. "I'm almost positive that that wasn't their intention," Hysen said.
Junior Nayane Henriquez, a member of fashion club, says that the performance was meant to illustrate females overcoming various hurdles. While other Blazers concluded that the display was inappropriate, Henriquez disagrees, stating that the club designed the skit while aiming for a positive message. "I thought that they were just trying to do something positive," Henriquez said.
Regardless of the fashion club's intent, be it a display of talent or a display that was demeaning to some, the club made a serious error in conducting a performance that would be offensive to so many.
Though the performance managed to catch Blazers' attention, it was not the kind of attention that anyone should desire. Instead, it raised the question of what is appropriate during a school function that is supposed to be fun, spirit-boosting experience, not something that echoes last week's episode of "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."
While this may sound like a shocking promo heard during the evening news to keep viewers tuned in, those in the know will find that the intro does not lead into a story of courage and endurance. It simply describes the performance that Blair's fashion club conducted during the club showcase in the gym on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving break.
In the skit's introduction two female Blazers were pushed and dragged to the center of the room by a group of teenage boys. The two girls were then forced into two chairs where they were "tied" in pantomime. They were rescued by a group of strutting, fashionable, girls who "fought" off the attackers. Directly after their rescue from their assailants the fashion show began.
Senior Ele Rubenstein plays a drum solo during the Jazz Combo's performance at the Club Showcase Wednesday afternoon. Click for more photos.
While the introduction of the show may have been a way to catch the audience's attention, many people in the audience felt that the performance alluded to an attempted rape, and that the club crossed a line by introducing their show in such a manner. The pantomime shocked media specialist Lisa Hack, who believed that using rape as a way to catch the audience's attention was inappropriate. "A rape scene shouldn't be the opening act to a celebration of talent," she stated.
She was even more struck that the club seemed comfortable with using an introduction that she said could easily be interpreted as an attempted rape. "People are so used to images of violence in music lyrics, music videos, movies, video games, etcetera, that violence isn't shocking," she said.
Unlike Hack, SGA President Eric Hysen said that the display was in no way meant to suggest a rape. "I'm almost positive that that wasn't their intention," Hysen said.
Junior Nayane Henriquez, a member of fashion club, says that the performance was meant to illustrate females overcoming various hurdles. While other Blazers concluded that the display was inappropriate, Henriquez disagrees, stating that the club designed the skit while aiming for a positive message. "I thought that they were just trying to do something positive," Henriquez said.
Regardless of the fashion club's intent, be it a display of talent or a display that was demeaning to some, the club made a serious error in conducting a performance that would be offensive to so many.
Though the performance managed to catch Blazers' attention, it was not the kind of attention that anyone should desire. Instead, it raised the question of what is appropriate during a school function that is supposed to be fun, spirit-boosting experience, not something that echoes last week's episode of "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."







Discuss this Article
the fact that the women were empowered at the end was a nice attempt at redeeming the act, but the fact that they did it with fashion and sex appeal only perpetuates the sexist image.
And even though it might not have been the club's intent to have it be seen this way, I found that it was definately implied to my eyes. When I saw it, I was fairly disgusted with the little skit, but I guess the whole fashion deal later on made up for it. People have perceptions to think this way, then so be it. I just want the club to be aware and think it out before acting on it. And that it can have more than one meaning then just 'catching the Blazer's attention'.
i place the blame not only on the club's members, who clearly know nothing of the seriousness of sex-related crimes, but also on the ignorant and insultingly insensitive sponsor as well as anyone who played a part in approving the skit.
i also take hysen's comment rather roughly. has someone written a formal complaint to the sponsor yet? i'd like to add my signature.
to anyone here who claims that they did not think the skit was at all related to rape: your opinions are invalid. many african american and african students take huge offense at the use of the n-word, and no one has the right to tell them to "get over it" or "lighten up." similarly, if you are not offended, you have no right to tell those who felt hurt, offended, embarassed or angered that they are taking the matter too seriously.
OH! One last thing, props to Bridget, well written article.
I don't know what the fashion club was going for with their little skit, but I highly doubt it was meant to simulate a gang rape.
Also, I think it's strange that you're taking this so seriously, and going ahead with publicly upbraiding the Fashion Club without asking one of them what they actually intended. One would think that would be the first step in writing an article about this subject. I mean, that does make sense, right? Logically any journalist interested in writing a fair story would, of course, go straight to a member of the fashion club and simply ask “what exactly did your skit mean?” But somehow this article simply attacks them without giving them a chance to defend themselves. It seems most unfair. By the way, this article seems to me to be guilty of the same crass sensationalism it tacitly criticizes news networks for using to entice viewers. In conclusion, shoddy journalism and hypocrisy!
U GUYS R REALLY BLOWIN THIS OUTTA PORPORTION
THEY HAD NO INTENT ON DISPLAYING A RAPE, I AGREE WITH RAPE BEING A SERIOUS ISSUE
BUT I DONT CARE WHO WROTE THIS OR EDITED IT YOU WHERE CLAPPING AND CHEERING ALON WITH EVERY1 ELSE WHILE THEY WERE GOING THROUGH WITH IT .
I WAS THERE WHEN THEY THOUGHT UP THE IDEA AND I THOUGHT THERE INTRO WAS PROBALLY ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ENTIRE SHOWCASE.SO HOP OFF THE BANDWAGON FOR ONCE AND GIVE PROPS WHERE ITS DUE
AND IF U GOT A PROBLEM WITH IT YOU CAN BLINDFILD ME.
Try telling that to a rape victim, I'm sure that they will agree with you one hundred percent.
You are a fool to thing that rape is something that can be brushed away as "no big deal".
"the club made a serious error in conducting a performance that would be offensive to so many"
How was fashion club supposed to forsee this? I'm sure if they did think it would offend anyone, they wouldn't have performed it in the first place.
The skit was not totally irrelevant considering the song playing in the background.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and interpretations and how some people interpreted it as rape is beyond me. Everyone is going to be offended by something...
i saw a bunch of guys shoot imaginary basketballs and "tie" girls up on chairs
all the while with overly loud music in the background
lol
How is the argument against "portraying rape" (some people seem to think it was, some think it wasn't. That's irrelevant) that it happens in the real world? They made their skit about something that happens in the real world.
To Offended: I am sorry you were raped, but you more than anyone should realize that it does happen. Maybe this skit (and especially the discussion resulting from it) will help raise awareness of the problem. But again, it happens. Not trying to be mean or anything but usually it's best to actually think about something harmful that happened to you. Sometimes all you want to do is forget something but that can have some negative consequences down the road. Yes rape is a problem in the real world, this wasn't real rape, and it did NOT send the message that rape is a good thing. So I fail to see the big deal.
I didn't say that rape is no big deal. I said that the portrayal of violence for a school production is not a big deal. There is a huge difference.
Consider some of the best arthouse movies ever made. A few of them feature rape ; the french Irreversible is a prominent example. I doubt this many people would be insulted by a movie portraying rape - what is different here? Only that we are school students, but all of us will be "of age" in just several years, so it makes no sense to "hide" the instance of rape in the real world.
Besides, the point of the scene was NOT that "rape is not a big deal." The scene was clearly about female empowerment, too, as the other girls rushed in and rivaled with the guys. I for one thought it was pretty well done.
"it makes NO difference whatsoever what the club intended. what is important is how the club's actions were interpreted." -- also disgusted
I agree with 07, how was the Fashion Club supposed to know their skit would cause this much controversy? You cannot expect them to be psychic; if their skit offended you, the Fashion Club obviously did not mean it. They are trying to get people to join their club, not protest it.
And I agree with someone who posted way at the beginning, I thought the girls were tied up because they had no fashion sense or something.
As for me, I spent half of their performance trying to figure out what the purpose of the opening skit was.
The skit was OBVIOUSLY imitating Kelis' song and music video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If anyone has a problem, it should be with them imitating Kelis, being a female herself who wrote "blinfold me"!!!!!!!!!
Get the info straight!!!!!!!!!!!
They were acting out the SONGS, and while i didnt necessarily think it was good myself, they were not doing anything perverted. u people are misinterpreting everything! have you ever heard of a little something called a "SONG".
and to the author, why didnt you interview the whole fashion club ir just its leaders? that is unfair and thats why the most important thing (the song) was overlooked by you. do some basic pop culture research.
u have a problem if that looked like a skit a potential rape. and violent men as one person said? how stupid.