Just Another Vanity Affair

The first article in the July 2007 issue of Vanity Fair is an extremely odd, conflicted one. Its title, "Its Bono, on Line One," is sprawled across a photo of an empty photo shoot setup, giving the impression of a clean slate, perhaps for Africa. Lisa Robinson, the author, begins with a small introduction explaining the special issue's 20 different covers, taken as a group of well-known people has a "conversation" about Africa. She does not provide their names, instead introducing them by their relation to the continent or livelihood, making them seem more personable. A quote from Annie Leibovitz, the photographer of the set, ends the brief article praising the group's effort to "make Africa better, get Africa self-sufficient, and try to get rid of AIDS on the continent." As it turns out, several of the 21 people featured in photographs and captions on the following 4 pages do specifically identify their "cause" in Africa as the treatment, prevention, and research for the cure of AIDS/HIV. Not that this an undeserving cause, but Leibovitz's choice to identify the whole group with possessing the sole aim of "ridding" Africa of AIDS makes her sound as if she had not read the captions underneath her own photos prior to publication. However, it was the author's choice to use this inaccurate, disappointing quote in the piece, which ultimately reflects a poor decision on her part. While Leibovitz may have dropped the ball on the quote, her beautiful photography all but makes up for it. The way these 21 people are paired not only illuminates each of their distinct personalities, but allows the reader to compare and contrast the two characters. Chris Rock playfully pulls the ear of Warren Buffet while a serious George Clooney speaks in hushed tones to Jay-Z on the next page. Each photo has its own appeal while adding to the overall aesthetics of those on the page. While the layout of the piece is balanced and fun to look at, it does more to idealize these celebrities for their contribution than it does to educate on their causes. The togetherness displayed in the pictures is not reflected as well in the paragraphs about each person's involvement with Africa found below them. Alicia Keys, who performed a concert in South Africa for a nonprofit, describes the continent as having a "resilient spirit" and claims it gives her a "sense of purpose," language that is reminiscent of the wise Africa stereotype. Iman, who Keys was paired with in a photo, might not share that view, as she describes her Africa as "rich in human resources and in dignity," not something that exists to provide a sense of purpose for an American musician.