I apologize, I really should realize that I don't have enough history or credentials talking about more serious issues here to have my comments taken, well, not at face value, which could be interpreted differently, but without suspicion. And making an offhanded comment about something potentially loaded is never a particularly good idea.
So. Allow me to elaborate. It bothered me hearing people talking about Britney Spears being fat more than anything else, or how she shouldn't be showing it, blah, blah & cetera. While males and females are often objectified, it is, in this culture, much more true with women (though men are fast catching up). And there is often a double-standard when it comes to what is acceptable in appearance between the two. I saw her performance, I'd agree with most of the consensus that it was a poor one(I used "flaccid", by the way, meaning limp and weak, really not anything else. Probably shouldn't have, but I like that word). But it's sad that she seems compelled to try so hard to stay edgy and sexy when it looks like she really doesn't want to, and then gets slammed for it on the basest level. Where I felt the subject of the Rihanna video became related is in the objectification part. I think the problem mostly comes in when talking about an individual, here Rihanna, rather than saying I am dismayed by objectification as a generality, the ways that sexuality are sometimes used and abused. Though this is, of course, a huge topic in itself, as Allecto pointed out, loving consensual self-exploitation or exploration. The lines seem to sometimes be very blurry between the public exploration of one's own sexuality and either possible or implicit societal patterns of oppression, and often destructive power structures, expressed in these actions (god what a bulky sentence). And of course people often push and play with those power structures on purpose when performing, or in their daily lives.
And. People generally considered "attractive" are more commonly successful, as it has been for a long time, and probably isn't going to change anytime soon. Is that good or bad? I don't know. Both, maybe- but it just is, in the meantime. Attractive people are just as often talented as anyone else, and they shouldn't be penalized for being attractive, but they will succeed more often because of it. But it's not necessarily attractiveness that I'm talking about so much as what's around it. I find it also typical and kind of sad that yet again, whether or not she is talented, her sex appeal—and the exploitation of that— is what will most likely get her the farthest. I still think that's kind of true, but maybe not a fair way to frame it; without talent she probably wouldn't get nearly as far and she should get credit for it. And I suppose, credit for skillfully using her sexuality as well.
I think many of the things that are generally deemed "sexy" or "attractive" are at least somewhat influenced by societal norms and are self-perpetuating. What I don't like is the narrowness sometimes of the self-perpetuating parts. If Rihanna is going to be sexy in a video, of course she's going to wear these particular types of outfits, because that's what's expected, really. She's absolutely entitled to do it, and maybe she's having a fucking ball doing it, and she is made of win and all that, and good for her. I don't condemn her for it. It's not that she is doing anything wrong, really. I guess I'm just bitching about the structure around all of it that is so limiting to everyone, to a certain extent. How objectification is so intrinsic in culture, and so ultimately inextricable from it. But that is life, that's the way it always is, so really why am I bitching? I think if people want to change things like that, all they can do is just do bits to steer things a tiny bit when they can, and hope they're doing the right thing. At least, that's my opinion. But I don't know that I'm right, or right-thinking, so feel free to address what you don't like that I'm saying, I'll try to explain or reflect on it.
Anyway, that's kind of what I was talking about. Shouldn't expect you to take that away from a short post about a video, though. |
