Robert Mackey's article "Hungarian Fashion Photographer Defends 'Migrant Chic' Spread" was published by the New York Times on October 7, 2015. Norbert Baksa, a photographer with photos featured in Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Playboy, recently photographed a spread entitled "Migrant Chic." These photos, featuring high-end clothing, depict models in headscarfs and revealing shirts at a fence. Many people are outraged at this photographer for his blatant exploitation of the people who are currently struggling to get into Europe. Baksa has tried to defend himself, saying that these photographs were "meant to draw attention," and not "glamorize."
I completely agree with many people who disagree with the use of the migrant cause to sell clothes, and I hope that the brand and the photographer both suffer from this serious misdeed. Although this is really shocking, it is not the first time migrants have been abused and mistreated. During the 19th century, thousands of migrants were coming to the US, and due to the nativism sentiment of the American population, they were treated like "others," even though we are all at our core humans, and therefore deserve the same amount of respect. Although we did not take action against this back then, I think that now we can redeem ourselves by doing everything we can to help these migrants.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/08/world/europe/hungarian-fashion-photographer-defends-migrant-chic-spread.html?ref=world&_r=0
It is unbelievable that the photographer would use the migrant cause just to sell his clothes. I completely agree with you. Just like migrants coming to the U.S. in the 19th Century like you mentioned, the "statement" that this photographer is making is very offensive and hurtful to migrants.
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