Why Bother with WeiWei?

Props to Dazed for a cover that doesn’t skimp on celebrity culture — or powerful photography — but offers a statement, amplified by this confrontational gaze, about politics and human rights. Sadly, too many corporate media cover stories — given the opportunity to elevate the public dialogue — are driven by the former but only pander to the latter.

At a moment when the American government compromised by the pro-business White House makeover and the amount of leverage China has when it comes to American finance, why mess with WeiWei?

(photo: unattributed online)