Rihanna's photo shoot!

Rihanna has turned heads this week as the British GQ magazine has been suspended around media websites. On the cover of the December issue of British GQ Rihanna posed nude with snake hair and a python around her neck. Rihanna tweeted prior and post photo shot proclaiming her love for such a dangerous species and power, which only added to the controversy surrounding the photo.

This photo is very symbolic; Brummett explains that symbols can express various things. Medusa who is notorious for not only being beautiful but also turning those who looked at her into stone creates a very intense photo. The big question is what is Rihanna trying to get across? This has been very controversial and has many people wondering what she is symbolizing. Interpreting this photo is difficult due to the number of symbolic principles. However, the red flag that is apparent to me is what her tweet stated after she took the photo. Rihanna states “Medusa head on me like I’m ‘luminate!!!!” One of the biggest controversies in R&B history is the notion of the illuminati, an organization that is said to be a secret organization of the most powerful and influential elite in the world.  This organization has demonic ties and is very satanic. People attribute very negative connotations to the illuminati and by her so boldly stating what she did it draws very negative attention. After reading her tweet, looking back on the photo it seems as if her attentions was to draw attention and get people to over think her intentions.

Assuming the photo would get attention the photographer posted a side not as to why he chose Medusa. He sates that he has been working on a project for four years in which his subject matter has been Medusa. There might not be any meaning to Rihanna’s photo, but she did want attention and now she’s getting it! 

PHOTO: http://omg.yahoo.com/blogs/celeb-news/watch-rihanna-photo-shoot-might-turn-stone-211704055.html

Prince Harry

Culture is “that which sustains and nourishes those who live and move within it” (Brummett, 2011,pp. 21). Although we Americans have an interesting culture of our own, something about other cultures seems to intrigue us. With the recent wedding of Prince William and Kate, American’s are especially interested in the culture of England. This week on Yahoo’s trending page the one of the top listings is “Who is Prince Harry’s Girlfriend”.  As American’s being exposed to this life style of the royals helps us become more “cultured” (Brummett, 2011).

Prince Harry is being featured on magazines and websites due to his “serious” relationship with a girl who reporters call “anti-Kate” (Famous Relationships. 2013).  Cressida Bones is not as well now as Kate Middleton, however, with the talks about a wedding she will soon be a very hot topic. As expected Harry has found interest in a girl who is nothing like Princess Kate. Cressida comes from an aristocratic family and enjoys the finer things in life; she is always at high-class clubs living the life of the rich and famous (Famous Relationships, 2013). However, her wardrobe suggests otherwise, this blonde beauty is usually seen in grungy, layered clothing and never appears to look “classy”. Personally I feel that Cressida knows that she has a hard role to fill and a lot to be compared to, in her case it seems as if it would be easier to be the complete opposite of the notorious Princess Kate.  She was also photographed before her relationship with Prince Harry and seems to have not changed her appearance just because of the role she is now playing as the Prince’s girlfriend. This could both the positive and negative.  It is good to see that she is not changing who she is just because of who she is dating, but also for Prince Harry’s sake investing in a more classy wardrobe would help him and her receive more positive publicity.

References: 

Barry Brumett, 2011, Rhetoric in Popular Culture, Third Edition

Famous Relationships, 2013, Inquisitr,  Website:http://www.inquisitr.com/984414/cressida-    bonas-who-is-prince-harrys-girlfriend/