The 2016 Pirelli pin-up calendar makes a splash
If, like me, you’d never heard of the Pirelli Calendar before – it’s an artful pin-up calendar dating back to 1964, published yearly, and known for its limited availability. It also typically features semi-naked, sexualised women. Until now. The 2016 Pirelli Calendar has been unveiled, revealing a growing shift, both aesthetically and culturally.
In place of the usual stock-standard model types, next year’s calendar features portraits of a range of well-known women, from all backgrounds and of all sizes.
Included are: artist Yoko Ono, musician Patti Smith, author (and photographer of the project) Fran Lebowitz, athlete Serena Williams, comedian Amy Schumer, actor Yao Chen and investment banker Mellody Hobson.
Many are calling it a powerful statement on how the focus on women in the public eye is changing. After a long (and ever-pervasive) history of being marketed as objects and valued largely on appearance, women are now being regarded more like subjects, with their own identities and the right to their flaws.
It's a long way from last year's version (and all prior versions too), most notably because all the subjects (except Schumer) are clothed.
"I started to think about the roles that women play, women who have achieved something. I wanted to make a classic set of portraits. I thought that the women should look strong but natural and I decided to keep it a very simple exercise of shooting in the studio. This calendar is so completely different. It is a departure. The idea was not to have any pretense in these pictures and be very straightforward," said Lebowitz of the project.
“Beautiful, gross, strong, thin, fat, pretty, ugly, sexy, disgusting, flawless, woman. Thank you @annieleibovitz” tweeted Schumer following the shoot.
What do you think of the dramatic shift the calendar has made from pin-up to postmodern feminism?
Comedian Amy Schumer
Tennis star Serena Williams
Chinese actor Yao Chen
Amelia, what are you doing? You're playing havoc with the BP of the YLC male population, I can see them reaching now for their heart pills!