These are usually housed on the Rants & Raves section of the blog but the odd one will make it to this feed just for the hell of it :D
Rant #1
Sex sells.
What exactly? Dignity? Pride?
I'm just gona say it. I'm definitely no prude, but I, as a (relatively) young female in the 21st century, am growing tired of seeing Rihanna rippling her bare bum up at the screen, and Miley shoving hers into unsuspecting males as they go about their business. I mean come on girls! Complete abandonment of potential impact other than "I'm super hot aren't I?" for you and your music? Is this what years of women fighting for independence, respect and equal rights has led us to?
I suspect that some people think that it IS an expression of independence to do exactly as they please with their bodies and on some level I agree with that. I am also a huge supporter of freedom of expression and of the creation of art. But let it be for something with meaning, let there be a reason, a depth, a cause, a belief, a concept, a passion. But sex just for sex's sake? I'm bored already. There is no shortage of over-sexualised material on the internet and on our TV screens, but these ladies are musicians. Not strippers...musicians. As a friend pointed out, a lot of strippers hate their jobs, but have found themselves in that position, struggling to make ends meet for their kid at home and the bills they have to pay. Rihanna, a millionaire, in her latest video, Pour It Up, bounces provocatively on her throne, bare legs spreadeagled surrounded by strippers while putting money in her mouth. Euww. Hell knows where that's been. Perhaps in a real strippers thong. Sigh.
I suspect that some people think that it IS an expression of independence to do exactly as they please with their bodies and on some level I agree with that. I am also a huge supporter of freedom of expression and of the creation of art. But let it be for something with meaning, let there be a reason, a depth, a cause, a belief, a concept, a passion. But sex just for sex's sake? I'm bored already. There is no shortage of over-sexualised material on the internet and on our TV screens, but these ladies are musicians. Not strippers...musicians. As a friend pointed out, a lot of strippers hate their jobs, but have found themselves in that position, struggling to make ends meet for their kid at home and the bills they have to pay. Rihanna, a millionaire, in her latest video, Pour It Up, bounces provocatively on her throne, bare legs spreadeagled surrounded by strippers while putting money in her mouth. Euww. Hell knows where that's been. Perhaps in a real strippers thong. Sigh.
I digress...
I'm under no illusion that the music industry bosses are only too thrilled to utilise these women's eagerness to bare all, as Sinead O'Connor rightly pointed out.
Don't get me wrong here, I don't have a problem with nakedness, some of the most beautiful fashion shoots are those that capture the female form, like how Peter Lindbergh captured Cara Delevigne back in April of this year (see below). But in my opinion they are shot tastefully, yes sexy but also portraying sophistication. After looking at fashion shots like this, I always feel inspired. After looking at the Miley Cyrus 'hotel shots', I feel unclean, and I furiously wish I could unsee things.
As I look at the soul-less look in Miley's eyes (of course that might have been the joint), it leaves me wondering where we go from here. Because, whether I or anyone else likes it or not sex sells. It has done for a hundred years since the dawn of advertising.
Miley Cyrus and her Wrecking Ball video generated almost 20 million views in 24 hours. More attention means more revenue for record label bosses leaving those musicians who are relying on primarily just their music to capture investment and secure their future trailing very far off in the distance as unattractive candidates for majors to support. 200,000 views you say? Pah. Take your top off and we'll talk.
Here's to a revolution:
FROCKSTAR SUPPORTING NEW MUSICIANS. NAKEDNESS UNIMPORTANT, OPTIONAL AND ENTIRELY AT ARTIST'S DISCRETION.
Check out Peter Lindbergh's shoot with Cara Delevigne:
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