Beyonce labeled partly "Anti-Feminist" and a "terrorist" by feminist scholar

[rocktivity]

35. DING DING DING! WorseBeforeBetter and KittyWampus, you're our grand prize winners!

Last edited Mon Jul 13, 2015, 11:14 AM - Edit history (12)

WorseBeforeBetter:
Madonna opened the floodgates around when, 1984? Since those early MTV years we've been "treated" to Britney, Beyonce, Rihanna, Miley, Katy, Nicki, etc. I don't consider any of them to have truly impressive voices. But for Britney, I'd say all of these women are in control.

KittyWampus:
(Being) depicted in her underwear and other provocative outfits and states of undress over the years...certainly helps her career...

(To) what degree (does) her success exist only because she allows herself to be used in a particular way(?)

To which I'd like to add what I wrote in the DU thread I started about Beyonce's Time cover:

Why SHOULDN'T Beyonce "come half dressed?" Coming half dressed is the way she BECAME "influential!"

...(I)t (made) perfect sense to feature more of Beyonce's body...her "influence" was GENERATED BY her body.

MTV opened the floodgates with Madonna, drenching us in the notion that you don't need impressive vocals OR impressive music if you have impressive bodies, impressive wardrobes, impressive cinematography, and impressive publicists. Madonna started out as a "boy toy," and was last seen putting swastikas in her videos to generate attention.

There are two big disadvantages to being a video pop tart sensation. One is that sensations wear off, forcing you to stay competitive by placing a premium on evolving visually rather than artistically. (Otherwise you end up dead in the water -- and ripe to be traded in for a younger model.) And, of course, you also have to put up with being seen as a blight on women who are striving to be seen as "serious" about their work.

Consequently, I find Hook's talk of terrorism, imperialism, anti-feminism and visual assault to be the equivalent of swatting a fly with a heat-seeking missile. She's right about the capitalist patriarchy of the entertainment business being the root of the problem, but she's wrong to see it as the exclusive burden of black women. Its commandments are "Sex sells" and "Controversy sells" and "Do unto others as others have done unto others," none of which is news to Madonna, Britney, Miley, Katy, et cetera (Did you forget Lady Gaga, WorseBeforeBetter?).

They and Beyonce are just doing what it takes to maintain their fame, fortune and recording contracts. I don't believe they're interested in doing the alternative. And as for "control," I think it's safe to conclude that Miley is more interested in being the next Madonna than the next Adele!


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