It is inviting sighs and lots of 'everyone has written about this today' comments and statements of how bored Twitter is already of this. But while I have seen a few blogs and tweets being quick off the mark to note the problems with Lily Allen's new video, I have seen far more tweets, blogs, comments and articles celebrating it. Both sides (and it does come down to 'sides', nothing divides like pop culture) seem to be touting feminism. So why the divide?
The video opens with Lily apparently undergoing some sort of cosmetic surgery in order to make her figure suitable for this comeback. It's witty, as a middle aged man wonders how someone can even allow themselves to get like that Lily mumbles that she's had 2 babies. So far, so funny.
The video opens with Lily apparently undergoing some sort of cosmetic surgery in order to make her figure suitable for this comeback. It's witty, as a middle aged man wonders how someone can even allow themselves to get like that Lily mumbles that she's had 2 babies. So far, so funny.
However (yes however) cut to a music video playing in the operating theatre which, through the magic of film, Lily enters and alarm bells start to ring. Now, I know this is intended as a piss take of the Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke MTV performance and the Blurred Lines video, with Lily learning how to twerk, fronting a posse of back up dancers, all of whom are women of colour and dancing in front of balloons that spell out 'Lily Allen has a baggy pussy'.
And you know what, that's fine. If I were still a student I might be sighing in a tortured fashion "That's so obvious" but I'm not. I'm cool with that. But I am not sure Miley, Robin Thicke or music execs are going to be particularly offended by this video, nor learn any error in their ways (I will leave it to you to decide whether they need to, because that's a whole 'nother article on slut shaming and the like). Because they aren't really ridiculed in this. Though it's given people such as Emma Barnett to meanly touch on Miley's declaration that she is one of the biggest feminists "The song couldn’t have landed at a better moment. What with a new sick-inducing Miley Cyrus headline every day."
A peculiar reaction to those pointing out that this video is problematic is that we, the undersigned, are being bad feminists for attacking other women. When in fact all the video and for that matter song lyrics have ended up doing in the name of IRONY (all caps, Alanis definition) is attack other women, specifically women of colour. Dressed in skimpy outfits, pouring champagne on each other and shaking their asses while Lily sweetly sings: "I don't need to shake my ass for you because I've got a brain." Do you see? HA-HA, IRONY.
And you know what, that's fine. If I were still a student I might be sighing in a tortured fashion "That's so obvious" but I'm not. I'm cool with that. But I am not sure Miley, Robin Thicke or music execs are going to be particularly offended by this video, nor learn any error in their ways (I will leave it to you to decide whether they need to, because that's a whole 'nother article on slut shaming and the like). Because they aren't really ridiculed in this. Though it's given people such as Emma Barnett to meanly touch on Miley's declaration that she is one of the biggest feminists "The song couldn’t have landed at a better moment. What with a new sick-inducing Miley Cyrus headline every day."
A peculiar reaction to those pointing out that this video is problematic is that we, the undersigned, are being bad feminists for attacking other women. When in fact all the video and for that matter song lyrics have ended up doing in the name of IRONY (all caps, Alanis definition) is attack other women, specifically women of colour. Dressed in skimpy outfits, pouring champagne on each other and shaking their asses while Lily sweetly sings: "I don't need to shake my ass for you because I've got a brain." Do you see? HA-HA, IRONY.
| It's interesting how comedianAva Vidal's piece, posted before the video for Hard Out There was released, entitled Rihanna twerks and all black women are whores. Miley Cyrus does it and it's just her who's judged anticipated the video's concept. The video and article almost go hand in hand in order to make Vidal's point. "Race matters. Why for example were people more outraged about Miley Cyrus 'twerking' when they don't blink twice when Rihanna does it? ...Is it something that is expected of black women because of the way that we are portrayed?" | Or maybe I am just being an over-sensitive feminist kill-joy and it's a simple case of nothing rhymes with white privilege. |
No men were ridiculed in this video. The man instructing Lily to fellate a banana is not really being sent up. The women fulfilling the role of scantily clad back up dancers are. And in on the joke or not, it doesn't work for me. I get it, I just don't think it is the helpful message against patriarchy fans are lauding it for.
Once again a feminist message has not just excluded women of colour but put them in the firing line. Returning to Vidal's article (excuse the massive quote but I think it's necessary): "But what about the issue of race? Intelligent and conscious rapper Akala crossed swords with popular mainstream rapper Professor Green for his quite frankly disgusting video for 'Jungle' that portrayed young black men as 'hungry apes'. Green responded by accusing Akala of 'looking for racism' and 'having a chip on his shoulder....
He didn't tweet a list of all of his black friends but he did mention that he grew up on a council estate in Hackney where 'he didn't grow up any different to anyone else.' I believe that Professor Green has been intellectually dishonest. He did not grow up the same way that the young black people on his estate did because he is not black. The way that young black people are viewed in this society is different from that of their white counterparts."
We must recognise that yes of course growing up female is different from growing up male, growing up white is different from growing up black and we need to acknowledge the different experiences and struggles. Else feminism fails, we perpetuate stereotypes and frankly we end up no better than Whedon and his genderism.
Or maybe I am just being an over-sensitive feminist kill-joy and it's a simple case of nothing rhymes with white privilege.
Squeamish Kate
Once again a feminist message has not just excluded women of colour but put them in the firing line. Returning to Vidal's article (excuse the massive quote but I think it's necessary): "But what about the issue of race? Intelligent and conscious rapper Akala crossed swords with popular mainstream rapper Professor Green for his quite frankly disgusting video for 'Jungle' that portrayed young black men as 'hungry apes'. Green responded by accusing Akala of 'looking for racism' and 'having a chip on his shoulder....
He didn't tweet a list of all of his black friends but he did mention that he grew up on a council estate in Hackney where 'he didn't grow up any different to anyone else.' I believe that Professor Green has been intellectually dishonest. He did not grow up the same way that the young black people on his estate did because he is not black. The way that young black people are viewed in this society is different from that of their white counterparts."
We must recognise that yes of course growing up female is different from growing up male, growing up white is different from growing up black and we need to acknowledge the different experiences and struggles. Else feminism fails, we perpetuate stereotypes and frankly we end up no better than Whedon and his genderism.
Or maybe I am just being an over-sensitive feminist kill-joy and it's a simple case of nothing rhymes with white privilege.
Squeamish Kate
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