Nods to Pop Culture and Film History
Occasionally, issues reference iconic cinema moments—like Eyes Wide Shut, Blue Velvet, or 70s exploitation films—through styling and visual cues, These nods speak to a cinephile audience and enrich the viewing experience, They also demonstrate the editors' love for storytelling across visual genres.
In the recent issue of Vogue, a photo shoot features Kendall Jenner modeling an outfit that references the blue velvet dress from David Lynch's film "Blue Velvet". The piece is inspired by a scene in which Dennis Hopper character Frank Booth forces Isabella Rossellini character Dorothy Vallens into a seduction scene in his dark basement den. In the fashion spread, Jenner poses seductively against a red curtain background, recreating the mood of the original movie. It recalls the uncomfortable tension between Jenner and her ex-boyfriend Devin Booker while also evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue. This type of homage shows how pop culture can influence fashion trends and reinvent them in new ways. The styling and photography are reminiscent of the director Stanley Kubrick's use of color and lighting in "Eyes Wide Shut," adding an air of surrealism and horror to the images.
In another example, musician FKA Twigs created an album cover for her song "Cellophane" featuring herself with her face obscured behind a mask made to look like those worn in the film "The Man Who Fell to Earth." The music video further explores this theme with futuristic sets and costumes similar to those used in Ridley Scott's science fiction classic. These nods to iconic films add depth and complexity to the project, drawing on specific moments and feelings from different genres to create something entirely new. They showcase Twigs' creative vision and cinematic influences while demonstrating how art can be interconnected across mediums.
Finally, some artists incorporate elements of exploitation cinema into their work as a way of challenging taboos and pushing boundaries. In one piece featured in Dazed magazine, artist Sophie Calle creates a series of photographs that recreate scenes from 70s exploitation movies such as "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" and "Deep Throat." By subverting these tropes and making them her own, she explores power dynamics between men and women and questions what it means to be objectified or dehumanized on camera. This type of reference speaks to a wider cultural conversation about gender roles and sexuality in media. It also highlights how pop culture can shape our perceptions of desire and attraction.
These references are not just for fans who get it—they enrich the viewing experience for everyone involved by connecting them to larger cultural conversations about art and storytelling. Nods to popular culture demonstrate an editorial team's love for storytelling across visual genres while engaging readers in a more immersive way. Whether they are subtle or overt, these homages elevate fashion shoots and music videos beyond simple advertising campaigns into works of art with layers of meaning that transcend time.