I just realized I should clarify my post in which I discussed Janet Jackson's half-time show. Yes, she shouldn't have shown her breast on broadcast TV, but that is not my biggest concern. My biggest concern is that had he not ripped off her clothes, there would have been very little outcry over the halftime show. Listen, I'm not a prude but I do have problems with the images of masculinity and femininity portrayed by the Janet/Justin duet, not to mention the racial aspects and age factors. Here's what I mean.

He spanked her. Hello? Let's just look at what was going on...

A young, white male spanked a middle-aged African-American female. And he "prowled" after her and told her he was going to "get her naked by the end of this song" and then he ripped off her clothes.

And this happened in front of the largest television audience this year.

On one hand, we can all just say, "that was dumb" and forget it. But, if we hadn't have seen Janet's breast, would we have realized that the entire display was a reflection of a culture where (1) the young give the old the "middle-finger" instead of respect (2) racism still exist and is accepted instead denounced (3) men still think women are property to be used for pleasure instead people to be respected and finally (4) women still think women are property to be used for pleasure instead of people to be respected.

Again, I will point out that cultures and societies will tell you what they value and what they believe if you observe. They always have clues. Here in America, Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest "holiday" we have. People consume more food on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year except Thanksgiving (random fact courtesy of friends at church). The best commercials (and most expensive) are seen during the game and the half-time show cost millions and millions of dollars. Our "best" performers (the ones who make the most money) are on stage entertaining us - Brittany Spears, Justin Timberlake, Kidd Rock, U2 and Bono (apologies for placing U2 in the same sentence with Brittany and Justin). After September 11, Bono did the half-time show and it reflected what our society was feeling which, of course, is what makes entertainers the "best" and the most "popular".

Popularity in entertainment comes with people's ability to relate to the entertainer, then we put our money down and a star is born. As a society, we relate to Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake. If he had ripped off the black part of her costume and just left the red "bra" showing like they say they intended to do (what the heck was she wearing that star on her nipple for then?!), would there have been the outcry? Probably not. A few people would have fussed. Maybe Dr. Dobson would written something up, but nothing like we see now.

The point is a lot of people are hung up over public display of nakedness - and that's a whole other discussion - but they don't care that as a society we continue to embrace sexism, racism and age-ism (is that a word?!)

And that's a wrap!

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 2/04/2004 02:29:00 PM