What do monsters look like? Everybody else.
This is the Rolling Stone issue with the Boston Bomber on the cover. The cover has elicited much protest, and many outlets have refused to sell the issue. Rolling Stone has been accused of portraying the bomber as a rock star/celebrity. That same photo appeared in the New York Times—no one objected because the NYT is journalism while Rolling Stone is supposed to be pop culture. In fact Rolling Stone has had a long history of excellence in journalism; it’s just that we always associate it with rock stars. And the investigative report by Janet Reitman is first-rate. It drives home the point of the cover: that nice-looking, popular young men with plenty of potential can become mass murderers just like that.
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July 25th, 2013 at 11:10
My first thought was, Oh it’s Kick-Ass.
July 25th, 2013 at 15:04
But isn’t the point of putting someone on the cover to highlight precisely the fact that they’re NOT like us? Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, what have you, they’re NOT and never will be like “everybody else.” If they were, then why would they even be on the cover?
I’ve read the piece, and I do agree it’s excellent though.
July 26th, 2013 at 05:03
I remember reading somewhere that the way to minimize acts like school shootings, bombings such as these is to localized the mourning and don’t treat the terrorist like a celebrity.
Rolling Stone could have used a different cover.
Just my 2 cents.
July 28th, 2013 at 00:06
jessica: I agree with you about Rolling Stone. It’s sad that it has been boxed into “entertainment mag” when it does have a history of good journalism.
It’s just too bad that they are getting flak for this article, though I suspect it also has to do with the fact that the brothers ARE gorgeous – and hence, additional “rock star” associations.
giancarlo: while I don’t necessarily think Rolling Stone should have used a different cover if it is supported by a good article, I think you do have a point in that media (overall) has sensationalized these massacres almost to the point of making the terrorists seem like celebrities. “Almost” because I don’t think media people intend to make them celebrities, but the coverage does influence that notion, especially for impressionable viewers.