Warning... not so pretty.

[lithera]

I kind of went off on this yesterday after seeing some pictures of Christina Aguilera's new video yesterday. "What a Girl Wants" was insulting and pissed me off, but I could ignore the idea there that all a girl wanted was to get laid. This is even worse.

The new video is called "Dirrty". Yes, there are two rs. Why? I don't know. She's wearing a bikini and chaps. I'm really wondering why she's decided to go all out into trying to look like a ho. She's certainly pulled out all the stops between her and the image.

It came up on my video player this morning and I though I would give it a try, maybe it wasn't so bad. But feel free to go look at the lyrics.

Normally this thing doesn't get to me so much. I'm all for people doing what they want to. I have nothing against women stripping or even charging money for sex, if that's their choice and what they want to do. (Another long discussion for some other time, I think.) For some reason this in specific really hit a button with me.

Comments

*shudder*

[pamc.livejournal.com]

WTF... I hate this shit.

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

What kind of a message is this sending?

Re: *shudder*

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I'm not normally all up on this sort of thing. Normally, if someone wants to do something like this for whatever reason, it doesn't bother me. For some reason it hit a button this time.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Good question. I'm not the target audience.

Re: *shudder*

[pamc.livejournal.com]

The thing about it that pushes my buttons is that it's a woman activly setting back the struggle for equality. I'm all for the objectification of women under certian conditions... but that does not include prancing about like some no-self-esteem-having piece of sex meat.

That video is demoralizing. There is no reason given to respect her, even for her body. It's disgusting.

Salt n' Peppa where are you now that we need you?

[princessgeek.livejournal.com]

It's not really my style but I thought it was visually kinda cool. My 4 year old danced along with it.

What kind of a message is this sending?

[pamc.livejournal.com]

"Women are meat."

[fireballof3.livejournal.com]

Christina Aguleria = ho-bag.

[raphael96.livejournal.com]

I don't have the mac plugin to view the video.

Grrr

[sepulchrave.livejournal.com]

*yarfs in her trash bin*

[warpdragon.livejournal.com]

I didn't watch the video (good bandwidth on shitty machine at work; other way around at home.)

But the lyrics... wow, those are just plain dumb.

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't like ya nearly so much if you were...

[pullthestars.livejournal.com]

Not only is she dressed like a slut, she doesn't know how to spell. it's a pity, really.

[seanb.livejournal.com]

Ewww. Just ewww.

Marketing is sooo much easier if you know exactly what the public wants. It's even easier if you DICTATE what the public wants.
Step 1: Brainwash hordes of people.
Step 2: Pander to the brainwashed hordes.
Step 3: Profit!

[bittenbyangelus.livejournal.com]

Christina suffers from a bad case of noassitall, cause she gots no ass at all.

Re: *shudder*

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I miss them. But they've gone off to have kids and families, or so I recall.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

Heh.

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I just flipped when I saw it this weekend. I was like, "No way. NO WAY!"

[warpdragon.livejournal.com]

But... where do the underpants come in again?

[pullthestars.livejournal.com]

I submit this:
http://www.eonline.com/Gossip/Fashion/Archive/0,1642,373,00.html

it just keeps getting worse...

[mistergone.livejournal.com]

I can't understand what offends you.

Actually, I can't understand the lyrics at all.

Is that English? I mean, the lyrics don't say very much, except the words, "dirty" and "naughty" a lot. Maybe lack of content offends you?

Re:

[lithera.livejournal.com]

I think it's the sheer incomprehensibility of it all.

Re: *shudder*

[rfjason.livejournal.com]

WHAT?!?!?!

I've seen the video. I've read the lyrics. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this video. I do not see how it sets back "women's equality". If anything, it furthers it. Women are allowed (finally) to express their sexuality to the same degree as men. Believe it or not, some women want to get laid just as bad as us men do.

I look at this video, and I don't think "what a ho!" I think "there's a woman who's not afraid of sex. Cool!"

Objectification of women has nothing to do with women's equality. Pay, working conditions, voting rights, etc. are the target. If a woman wants to prace around showing off her body, making men drool over her, and generally enjoying the physical sensations of grinding with a brutha' then so be it. It doesn't make her less of a person, it doesn't make her a ho, and it doesn't make her a piece of meat.

What you have done, successfully, is to subjectify her. You've taken your personal opinions of what a woman should be and applied it here. You have a particular concept of how a woman should behave, and when Ms. Christina doesn't fit that concept, you condemn her.

Frankly, that's no better than a sexist attitude from a man believing that Christina should be a chaste little lamb, or his personal sex toy.

If you really believe in equality, then you'll let this artist, or any artist express themselves in any manner they would choose, just as any male artist would express himself in any way he chooses. You're welcome to your opinion of her person. However, you are not welcome to damn her because she does not fit your model of a what a strong, modern, self-respecting woman should be.

[rfjason.livejournal.com]

I think what bothers you is that we have been presented with an object of fascination with three major points:

1. Open, blatant sexuality is glorified where physically appealing people are enjoying each other in a carnal, consentual fashion.
2. Emotional and intellectual connections and impacts are removed or ignored.
3. Behavioral consequences (absolute or relative) are removed or ignored.

I think you react to this video the same way a dance club bopper would react to a Stephen Hawking lecture or an episode of Farscape: with complete disdain for it's presentational domain.

For you, sex is a different set of rules and behaviors than it is for the target audience of this video. For me, this video was a big winner. I enjoy the concept of sexuality without consideration for emotion or consequence. I liked the video, and what it represented.

Likewise, intellectual and emotional concerns apply differently to a cosmopolitan girl than to you. She may not have the appreciation for the depth or importance of the subjects relevant to you.

I can understand your reaction to the video. I used to share that reaction when I looked at NKOTB videos. There were a bunch of mindless idiots on stage, executing a choreographed set of maneuvers, reciting idiotic meaningless lyrics, and getting adored by MILLIONS of girls for it! Frankly, I was jealous, and angry that so many people would worship these morons. I masked it by exclaiming that they were all man-meat slabs being used by the music industry to further their illicit goals. I think I came up with some other excuses even stranger than that. But, really, all it came down to was my jealousy.

But, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Re: What kind of a message is this sending?

[rfjason.livejournal.com]

"women should be free to behave however they choose without societal judgements on their sexuality, promiscuity, or intelligence -- whether that judgement come from a woman or man."

I'm scared, Sarge

[quipper.livejournal.com]

I have read this whole thread, and I think that RFJason brings up some valid, well thought out points.

As scary as it sounds, I agree with him. Equality suggests that we get equal pay for equal work. But there is a large disparity here. My example is Spike. It's perfectly okay for him to be a sexual icon, but not Christina? Where's that fair? I've heard how some of my friends talk about him, or Vin Diesel.. like they're pieces of meat.

If you've got it, flaunt it. Spandex is a privelage, not a right.. but I think that Christina has earned her privalage.

The only problem /I/ have with her outfit is the yellow. Gah, didn't someone tell her she looked like a wasp?

Re: I'm scared, Sarge

[lithera.livejournal.com]

See, typically I don't have an issue with it. Like Shakira... I have no issues with her. Or just about any other woman in the world using her body to make money. I really don't care how they do it as long as it is a choice they have made.

I don't know. Something about this just made me twitch. I would like to figure out why this made me twitch and why nothing Madonna, Shakira, or even Britany has done hasn't. Maybe it's just something about Christina.

Re: I'm scared, Sarge

[rfjason.livejournal.com]

amen, sister.