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Montgomery Blair High School's Online Student Newspaper
Dec. 2, 2006

Making an inappropriate fashion statement

by Bridget Egan, Online Art Editor
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.
Senior Ele Rubenstein plays a drum solo during the Jazz Combo's performance at the Club Showcase Wednesday afternoon. <i>Click for more photos.</i> Ellie d'Eustachio
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

  • yo on December 2, 2006 at 5:00 PM
    why does everything have to be taken so seriously these days? the fashion club probably meant no harm, so why are you exploding this skit into a "rape scene"? i think people are overlooking this way too hard, like youre specifically looking for the slightest meanings or hints that dont exist. maybe the girls were tied up because they had bad fashion taste
  • peace love and ooees on December 2, 2006 at 6:37 PM
    i totallly thought the same thing during the clubs showcase. props to the author for writing about it.
  • Come on on December 2, 2006 at 7:01 PM
    The "rape" was not such a big deal. I doubt anyone found it offensive; it was just a short interesting skit.
  • too much on December 2, 2006 at 9:37 PM
    you and the others who were "shocked" by this obviously did not get the purpose of this performance. it wasn't about a fake rape, people are just overreacting, it was about the young women being empowered. They weren't going to take it anymore so they went and stopped the young men. i don't honestly think that you believe one word that you wrote in this article. They "saved" the girls anyway. I watched it too and I did not think it had anything to do with rape. That was not the first thing that came to my mind unlike some students and librarians. Assuming that the only thing that these students can think of is rape to get somebody's attention is almost insulting the intelligence of all of the young women and men who worked very hard to present this in front of the school.
  • Senior Girl on December 2, 2006 at 10:21 PM
    I was surprised that the SGA let this act go on. I don't see how it could be seen as anything but a simulated rape attempt. Kudos for addressing this issue, Bridget!
  • Disgusted on December 3, 2006 at 9:04 AM
    I agree (for once) with Ms. Hack. Fashion Club is all about having good taste...and this was an extremely tasteless, not to mention embarrassing, opening to what could've otherwise been a decent show.
  • Senior on December 3, 2006 at 3:12 PM
    Whoa! I missed the club showcase so I don't personally have an opinion on this, but was this as dramatic and offensive as Ms. Hack and Bridget describe? Or were most of Blair's students in agreement with Hysen? Interesting . . . I'd like to hear more.
  • senior on December 3, 2006 at 6:44 PM
    even if it wasn't a direct reference to rape, i still found it an offensive portrayal of women being blindfolded and overpowered by a group of violent men.

    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.
  • Offended on December 3, 2006 at 8:29 PM
    To all those who do not believe this scene was offensive: I was raped two years ago and seeing the fashion club's performance made all those memories of that night come back to life. If you say that I am taking this too seriously you are incredibly inconsiderate. While I am sure that they did not mean the skit to be so offensive, they should have had the common sense to see how it would be perceived by others. And sure, the other girls "rescued" the captive ones, but why couldn't they have just had the scene where the guys and girls fight? Why did girls being tied up have to be involved at all? I took a lot of offense at this skit and I am furious that the SGA allowed it to be performed. It hurt me personally I know others that were hurt by it as well. I would like an apology by both the fashion club and the SGA and I cannot understand why anyone would find this skit entertaining.
  • another thing on December 3, 2006 at 8:41 PM
    why did they have to add that? they are the fashion club. let them go on stage, struck their too-tight clothing to bad music and go off again. what did the simulated rape scene add to anything? they really didn't need that. they should have just done what they normally did.
  • &#12469;&#12463; on December 3, 2006 at 8:48 PM
    I would agree with Hack on this. Even though you might think people are 'overreacting', people should know that these kinds of things do happen in the real world.
    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'.
  • also disgusted on December 3, 2006 at 8:53 PM
    absolutely agreed. what the club did was terribly offensive. it makes NO difference whatsoever what the club intended. what is important is how the club's actions were interpreted.

    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.
  • Missed Showcase (View Email) on December 3, 2006 at 9:54 PM
    I'm not sure if people are actually just blowing this way out of proportion, or if it really was offensive, as you can see by the name I am using in this forum. But anyways,first, if the attempt was to show "women empowerment", as a feminist, I would have to say there is a better way of doing it, A MUCH BETTER WAY, and this attempt sounds pitiful. Second, what does that skit of anything to do with fashion? NOTHING AT ALL! The skit was so irrelevant, so the club shouldn't have done it in the first place.

    OH! One last thing, props to Bridget, well written article.
  • ...you're serious? on December 3, 2006 at 10:22 PM
    First off, what?!
    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!
  • i was in the showcase (View Email) on December 3, 2006 at 10:37 PM
    WOOOOOW
    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.
  • lmao on December 4, 2006 at 12:35 AM
    how many people were actually paying attention...
  • by the way on December 7, 2006 at 12:28 AM
    it looks to me like the guys in the "fashion" club are wearing normal clothes. only the girls were trying weird things. granted, i do think "weird" is the right word, as i'm not one to support the idea that clothes are important, but hey... just a thought.
  • to on December 7, 2006 at 1:10 PM
    "The "rape" was not such a big deal."


    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".
  • 07 on December 7, 2006 at 2:45 PM
    I didn't find the performance offensive. In fact, I believe those who found it offensive were thinking too much into it. Fashion Club did not intend for it to come across as rape.

    "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...
  • lol on December 7, 2006 at 6:18 PM
    i didnt understand the skit at all, lol
    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
  • Libertarian (View Email) on December 7, 2006 at 8:35 PM
    Personally, I didn't really like the skit. It wasn't all that entertaining IMO, but regardless...

    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.
  • Re:to on December 7, 2006 at 11:53 PM
    "You are a fool to thing that rape is something that can be brushed away as "no 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.
  • Someone you may know on December 8, 2006 at 4:59 AM
    To also disgusted:
    "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.
  • fed up on December 8, 2006 at 8:47 AM
    the fact of the matter is why did they have to put that in a at all? I mean, they are the fashion club, not the thespians. again, I'm sure they didn't mean to simulate a rape scene, but the fact is that they could not have been that stupid to not see how it would be taken. It was stupid that they put that in and they really should just apologize for it. It obviously offended a lot of people, so just apologize and get it over with.
  • To Libertarian on December 8, 2006 at 9:06 AM
    Trust me, I know that rape happens, but that does not mean I appreciate seeing it performed for the entertainment of my high school peers. I am part of a program that goes around and talks to middle school girls and boys about rape, so don't worry, I'm not denying what happened to me. And it is a big deal just because so many people are upset. It doesn't matter if we are right or wrong in this matter because rape is such a sensitive subject. The fact is that we are upset and hurt and all I want is them to apologize. Is that a big deal?
  • Louis Wasserman (View Email) on December 8, 2006 at 11:51 AM
    I don't see how Fashion Club could possibly NOT realize the connotations of what they were doing. How could they possibly plan such an act without recognizing the blatant implications of their opening performance?
  • Someone you may know on December 10, 2006 at 6:25 PM
    How come no one was outraged during the actual performance? I was looking around [because I really didn't see the point in the opening scene at all] and everyone around me was either confused or just not paying attention.
  • do u watch tv? on December 20, 2006 at 5:00 PM
    Wow!! This article is soo wrong!!!!!!!!

    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!!!!!!!!!!!
  • biased article on December 20, 2006 at 5:11 PM
    this article is biased! now you trying to make people beleive it was supposed to be about rape. you people are so emo and wrong!

    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.
  • Foundation before pressing opi on January 25, 2007 at 10:10 PM
    It was very interesting how you, as a journalist, did not name any sources other than Hack as morally opposed. And yourself of course. I can sympathize with the pressure to squeeze out another Chip's piece, or just seeing this topic as a easy piece on the side, so what I say may sound completely unfair and rude. I just feel with the standard Chips seems to hold itself, they should put equal effort and research into every piece no matter how insignificant it might appear. But most especially an editorial. Anybody can have an opinion. In order to have a solid, newsworthy, credible editorial, you must have some key elements. 1) A valid or reasonable opinion to act as the foundation that’s logical at least. 2) Evidence to support that opinion 3) Sources to validate your view and confirm information (but heck, that’s for any article I suppose) Okay, you had an argument. It was feasible and logical, but so is saying the skit was symbolic of reporter kidnappings in Iraq. Hence the importance of number two. But you ran in to problems there. You had to prove it was rape. However: 1) It wasn't violent. (struggling sure, but was anyone hurt? no. come on. no guns knives, punching, etc. we know what violence is.) 2) It wasn't sexually suggestive. ( I think we know what is and what isn't. this clearly wasn't, no argument) 3) It was 100% PG These are the things that would amount to rape. If you can blatantly deduce these components of sexual assault, your argument is dead. The only thing you could do was infer based on the scenario and genders of the characters which still isn’t enough evidence. But like I said, you can infer just about anything and still have no justification. But somehow you deduced rape. Not enough support, no foundation, and a lack of thorough knowledge of the subject as well (not bothering to ask about the song or communicating with more informed members of the club who choose the songs, you spoke to her but the sponsor didn’t organize the routine). And you only quoted Hack in your defense. I know a lot of people are agreeing with you, but did they REALLY infer rape, on their own, before reading this? I doubt so. Unless the club did something blatantly suggestive, (kidnapping happens all the time in films for little children, and that's probably the biggest inference you could pull out just by what they acted out.) I don't think it's fair to call them out. They were acting out a hip-hop song apparently, which probably would have been made evident with more information and background on the subject. Sorry for being harsh, but everyone, as you can see by the multitudes of comments, takes Chips pretty seriously. You guys did a great job; I think you just slipped up on subject matter this time around.
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