Vogue Italia’s Stunning & Haunting Gulf Oil Cover & Photoshoot [Photos]

These haunting photos were taken by Steven Meisel for the August 2010 issue of Vogue Italia.   The images of  Kristen McMenamy are realistic images of injured and oiled covered animals.  (more photos under the fold)

The stunning photos have caused controversy are they really to bring awareness to the devestation of the Gulf Oil spill or they simply a publicity stunt to attrack readers ?  What do you think?