Vanity Fair's March Cover: What Would Richard Pryor Say?

Did Vanity Fair editors think about Richard Pryor when they planned their March cover? The late comedian once observed that the sci-fi film, "Logan's Run," was loaded with cultural subtext because blacks weren't in it. The futuristic world of the 23rd century was depicted as for whites-only, and Pryor, wielding the n-word like a knife, said:

They had a movie of the future called "Logan's Run." There ain't no n-- in it.

I said, "Well, white folks ain't planning for us to be here . . ."

If Pryor were still alive, what would trigger his mockery? Vanity Fair's February cover featuring former golden boy Tiger Woods defrocked into a shirtless hoodlum? Or maybe the mag's March cover where darker-skinned women apparently aren't up-and-coming stars in the "new Hollywood." Vanity Fair lauds "Twilight's" Kristen Stewart, "The Wrestler's" Evan Rachel Wood, "Bright Star's" Abbie Cornish, "Dear John's" Amanda Seyfried, "Alice in Wonderland's" Mia Wasikowska, "Zombieland's" Emma Stone, "An Education's" Carey Mulligan, "Frost/Nixon's" Rebecca Hall, and "Up in the Air's" Anna Kendrick as the "dolls" to watch.




Does the Vanity Fair cover reflect a fresh Hollywood or an old one, air-brushed for 21st century tastes? Or is it fair to single out this cover?

A multi-dimensional conversation is on the "Entertainment Weekly" site. A sampling of the comments:

CeCe

Mon 02/01/10 5:22 PM

They could have include some women of color.

Celia

Mon 02/01/10 5:48 PM

Zoe was in the 2008 Hollywood issue, but it would've been nice to see her on the cover since she's been so big this year. Star Trek AND Avatar and she's not even mentioned.

Charlie

Mon 02/01/10 6:52 PM

Saldana would be nice (or, for that matter, Gabourey Sidibe.)

whatevs

Mon 02/01/10 5:50 PM

Women of color? What is this, 1920?

llevinso

Mon 02/01/10 5:56 PM

Actually whatevs, WOC is the correct term. Maybe you should go dig around on some social activism blogs and you'll see it everywhere, trust me.

Sara

Mon 02/01/10 6:24 PM

Really! I love that this comes out in February, too. We just took a step back Hollywood!

Jeez

Mon 02/01/10 7:12 PM

I knew someone was gonna make it political. Get a life.

Yiu28

Mon 02/01/10 6:45 PM

You guys are great. I was so sad when I saw this article. I'm glad that I'm not the only one who had similar thoughts. I just couldn't get pass the sameness of the spread. I like all these actresses but couldn't they find at least one other woman with a darker shade or a size 6?

.Angie

Mon 02/01/10 6:54 PM

America Ferrera had a great film career prior to Ugly Betty and now that the show has been canceled I'd definitely look out for her in a big way! She's gorgeous and sosososo talented that, unmistakably, she will be the face of new Hollywood.

Also, this isn't about new people and giving them props, it's about who will still be stars in 10 years. For example, 10 years ago I bet we would have seen Katie Holmes, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, etc...for this same cover with the expectation that one of them would be actively making quality, well-attended films currently. In actuality, none of them are...