English Version | Backstage: The Nonsense Issue

What happens backstage at Vogue, doesn't stay backstage at Vogue. Here's your all access to the nonsense issue.

Nonsense

Preposterous. Illogical. Unwise. Irrational. Crazy. Silly. Insane. Incoherent. Foolish. Bizarre. Stupid. The next time you find yourself in the middle of a wacky situation, something you have never seen before, something that is hard to believe in, you do not need to hold onto one simple word. There are plenty of synonyms for being able to say: “That’s ridiculous!”

Theatre of the Absurd

Yup, that’s a saying. Coined in 1961 by Martin Esslin (1918-2002), an Hungarian critic rooted in England, Theatre of the Absurd references the work of several playwrights from different nationalities connected by the absurd allusion to unexpected elements of the human life, even if doing so through completely separate formats. Their main focus was an existentialist approach, achieved by manifesting what happens when the human existence is seen as nonsense or purposeless, thereby resulting in the dissolution of communications. This edition places a little of theatre in everything, but it doesn’t reflect exactly its definition. Here there is always space for dialogue, never lacking communication. Simply check the editorials beginning on page 230: they may not have the framing that you would be expecting regarding the styling and mood board; however, when it comes to talk, each picture is worth a thousand words. And none of it gets lost.

Small step for Man…

… and a giant coat for our editorial staff. Even though we may be living summer at its peak (some days more than others, actually), the warm astronaut coat from Balenciaga that Ann-Sophie Thieme wears in one of our fashion editorials for this issue appeals everyone. Before being photographed for one of the covers of The Nonsense Issue, the garment stepped first into the hearts of the staff at LightHouse Publishing. 

Way, what way?

All roads lead to Rome. However, for a few seconds, none seemed to be leading up to Portugal. While finding Portugal in the travel blacklist of many countries, several editorials of this issue were at risk of not happening. Fortunately, what was lacking in sense of opportunity was gained in adaptability and the problems were solved, one by one. If not, there would have been some blank pages to go through - which, in an issue about nonsense, would have been pretty absurd, right?

Did you know that…

… the world is filled with ridiculous curiosities? Here we randomly leave you with some of them. The context? Non existent. But what sense is this suppose to make?

1. In ten minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all of the world’s nuclear weapons combined.

2. It is possible to push a cow up the stairs, but not down. 

3. A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out. 

4. Our eyes have the exact same size since the day we were born. Nonetheless, our nose and ears never stop growing.

5. The world’s most common name is Mohammed.

6. Los Angeles full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de la Reina de Los Angeles de Poriuncula, which can be shortened up to 3,63% of its size: L.A.

7. Tigers have not only striped fur but also striped skin.

8. Polar bears are left-handed.

9. Peanuts are one of the ingredients for making dynamite.

10. All clocks in Pulp Fiction show time as 4:20.

Originally published on Vogue Portugal's The Nonsense Issue, from july/august 2021.