Occasionally we receive emails and tweets asking if we have noticed a certain news story or questioning why we haven't addressed such and such. I want to set all your fluttering minds at rest right now and tell you that the buttocks of Nicki Minaj have not escaped our attention. Minaj's butt has earned itself a lot of attention in its own right, and now it's being put centre stage with Minaj's new single Anaconda in an homage to both the thick body type and Sir Mix-a-lot. It's not the musical merit of the track that has got people talking - though I don't think anyone tires of the song I Like Big Butts, but the video which has been described as explicit and some journalists and social network users have registered their dislike of the video content. But why?
It is pretty undeniable, whatever you think of her work or look that Minaj is a beautiful woman. Why is a video like the one for Anaconda interesting? John Flynn in the Sabotage Times notes: "...what this song lacks in listenability, it more than makes up for in pure, raw, uncut, sex appeal. If Minaj had been alive during Ancient Greece, her ass would have started the Trojan War." Isn't this video just the usual sex sells and the male gaze is the only gaze to pander to and butts are freaking zeitgeisty right now? Well...yeah it's intended to be a sexy video, and yes all of a sudden it's like everybody has a butt.
But comparing it to other videos and performances that have recently hit the headlines, Miley's naked Wrecking Ball promotion, Lily Allen's jiggly Hard Out There video, Taylor Swift's new totally different offering... What makes Anaconda interesting is that it presents women of colour with a certain body type not as backing dancers to marvel at or nick moves off but as people well aware of their autonomy. This is not a freak show, this is a reclamation.
But comparing it to other videos and performances that have recently hit the headlines, Miley's naked Wrecking Ball promotion, Lily Allen's jiggly Hard Out There video, Taylor Swift's new totally different offering... What makes Anaconda interesting is that it presents women of colour with a certain body type not as backing dancers to marvel at or nick moves off but as people well aware of their autonomy. This is not a freak show, this is a reclamation.
| However it has thrown light on what sexiness and nudity is acceptable and what is not. Minaj's single cover design features Minaj squatting down with her back to us and her large butt on display. Her gaze meets ours. She looks self aware and commanding. | Minaj is opening up a world of beauty in diversity. |
iTunes et al have censored her behind and in retaliation Minaj took to Twitter to point out the many incidents in which tight, white female flesh has been deemed acceptable. It's clearly something many people don't want to confront.
Citing anews briefing concerning racism and sexism in music videos published earlier this month Michelle Lhooq pointed out that the underlying message of the report was: "videos full of sexily writhing bodies are responsible for both rape culture and racism...The subtext whispers: "Hide your butt cheeks, hide your breasts, because people cannot learn to respect women if they are sexual creatures.""
It is not a question of Minaj et al covering up, as Lhooq says: "Slapping a parental advisory warning on Nicki Minaj's bum will not change the way black women are exoticised."
"...the real problem is not that women of colour are over-sexualised in music videos, but rather how absent they usually are in the dominant culture as well as in discussions of cultural issues."
While Minaj spent the VMAs performing with her behind painted with scales Beyonce took to the stage with Feminist in giant letters across the back of the stage. Both, it is easily arguable, are doing their bit for feminism and womanhood. Beyonce is opening up feminism to young women across the globe, Minaj is opening up a world of beauty in diversity. Both are important.
Squeamish Kate
Citing anews briefing concerning racism and sexism in music videos published earlier this month Michelle Lhooq pointed out that the underlying message of the report was: "videos full of sexily writhing bodies are responsible for both rape culture and racism...The subtext whispers: "Hide your butt cheeks, hide your breasts, because people cannot learn to respect women if they are sexual creatures.""
It is not a question of Minaj et al covering up, as Lhooq says: "Slapping a parental advisory warning on Nicki Minaj's bum will not change the way black women are exoticised."
"...the real problem is not that women of colour are over-sexualised in music videos, but rather how absent they usually are in the dominant culture as well as in discussions of cultural issues."
While Minaj spent the VMAs performing with her behind painted with scales Beyonce took to the stage with Feminist in giant letters across the back of the stage. Both, it is easily arguable, are doing their bit for feminism and womanhood. Beyonce is opening up feminism to young women across the globe, Minaj is opening up a world of beauty in diversity. Both are important.
Squeamish Kate
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