The ads for Dior's Shanghai collection (titled Shanghai Dreamers) have been released and they're causing a bit of a stir.
Both Jezebel and Shanghaiist have pointed out that while the (unsmiling) white models are clad in the collection the Chinese models have been cloned- in smiling, happy conformity around them.
The photographs are beautiful but left me with a lot of uncomfortable questions.
Is it a commentary on the oppression of communism? And if it is- why are the models who stand out primarily Caucasian? Wouldn't it be better to feature a Chinese model standing out in the couture? Are the "Shanghai Dreamers" Chinese women dreaming of standing out-by being white?
Or are we reading too much into it? Are we too sensitive? Should we just take the "Shanghai Dreamers" photographs as beautiful and leave it at that?
