Annie Lennox. Pornography in Music Videos. Self Esteem.
What do Carrie Underwood and Jennifer Hudson have in common? Self esteem.
They are also two tremendously talented young women, who have chosen to let their gift triumph over sleazy tricks to get attention. In an effort to find others who fall in that infinitesimal and exclusive category, I found it almost impossible to find talented artists who weren’t masturbating, having sex, opening their legs, and taking her clothes off in a video, in a movie, or on television.
As a guest host on The Talk said today, the acceptance of pornography has become a part of popular culture. Virtually every big named female artist (e.g., Beyoncé, Miley, Rihanna, and Britney) feels the need to act as provocatively as they can, in an effort to shock you into paying them attention. The need for attention at any cost has become a chronic and pathological condition. Music icon Annie Lennox says, “The music business is turning Miley, Britney, Rihanna, and Beyoncé into virtual prostitutes.”
The days are long gone when porn was found only in Red Light Districts, on n 42nd Street in Peep Show Galleries, on obscure X-rated TV stations, or in Playboy or Penthouse type magazines. Today you find porn all over music videos, on prime-time television, on cable AND network TV, in magazines selling baby food, cars, and household tools. Sexual messages are found throughout fashion magazines, sports magazines, and even cartoons. Even milk advertisements have sexual connotations.
In discussing Annie Lennox’s comments, Aisha Tyler, a co-host on The Talk said, “Feminism is about making your own choices. If these women want to use their sexuality as a tool to sell their music, it’s their choice.” That sounds a lot like the words that came out of Margo St. James back in the 70s, when she argued in favor of decriminalizing prostitution. First, I don’t believe that our foremothers, who fought so hard for our equal rights as women, foresaw porn as being the new normal in mainstream America—especially when our young girls are the victims and sometimes the provocateurs. Secondly, I don’t believe that many of these girls choose to be industry whores—or at least that was not their initial intent. I think what it boils down to is: If they want to sing or act, they must take off their clothes and act as nasty as they can, and sadly, their mothers and fathers are supporting the pimping and pandering of their daughters.
As a lawyer with a number of entertainment clients, what I see is that these girls want to be actors, models, and musicians. They want to indulge in their craft and make music that sells. Once they get sucked into the industry they realize that to sell music or get a job as an actor, they must be willing to do ANYTHING asked of them. Sex is often the ticket to entry. Everything is about making money, and smart savvy business people understand that sex makes money. That’s prostitution. Everything sells better with sex. Period. These women are made to believe that if they choose not to participate, there are thousands of other equally talented girls who will do what is expected. Perhaps some folks see this as a choice; I see it as a bribe.
I can almost pinpoint when the tide turned in music. Madonna was the catalyst; she opened Pandora’s Box and it has never been the same. Since then hundreds of girls wanted to be Madge. Britney Spears attributes some of her success to Madonna. She was her role model. Now, Miley speaks of Britney as her inspiration. Anyone who says TV, movies, and music videos don’t influence kids is simply stupid or sly as a fox.
What do you think about sex in music videos, on TV, and in the movies?
I’m Francine Ward, attorney, speaker, and author stirring the pot. Join the conversation on my Esteemable Acts Facebook Fan Page, on my Esteemable Acts Twitter Page, or in one of my LinkedIn Groups.
Pardon my French, but women have gone from Reigning as Queens to being enslaved as Bad Bit$#*’s. From classy to trashy all in the name of power and freedom of choice. It’s no secret that mainstream media and the entertainment industry creates an overally sexualized environment. Many of the women that fall into this category began thier careers as a positive role models. Being attributed as being empowering and someone to look up to. When they change their direction the great names that follow them stay the same. There is nothing empowering about showing the public everything your mother gave you. The richness of our inheritance is lost or has been hidden. Yes we are strong and empowering but I feel that it is in the resilience we possess as women. The roles have turned and we are trading our calm achievements for blatantly loud obscurities and obscenities that our young impressionable youth are seeing as the new standard. We need to be renewed in our minds and to set the record straight. Ambiguity is the art of confusion. Take a stand and make a good choice for us who support and love you. Edify us, respect us as we respect ourselves. TRUELY EMPOWER
Ciao,
Idella
We allow, we decide, we support who we are. We descriminate against those who do not partake in the norm, ” what’s in” what’s hot”. We become addicted. We fiend for a fix, the sensation to feel alive. To have the ability to agree or disagree. To be heard and not be invisible. However too much of anything can be bad for anyone. Woman, a great wonder of this world, weather housewife or whore, mother or daughter, old or young, heavy or slim, intellect or bimbo, no matter the race or religion. Woman, we are beautiful and intriguing. Our insecurities divide us. We have been divided into so many pieces that we are even divided within ourselves, making it impossible to come to any conclusions much less make any progress towards our standing place in this world. Ask yourself “am I a hypocrite?” Do we feed into the things that we oppose? If so, what is the reason? What is too much and who makes that determination. Are we truly solid on what we believe and what we stand for?
We have made media our alter. And turned a cold shoulder to reality, in search for the greater. Who is not guilty of this? Who can truly judge. We are all on a path that we have all created. If not by leading by following. We are the doors, the examples, the mentors. We are the judges, juries and the executioners. We are the prosecution and the defense. We are the victim and the criminal. We are responsible. And what we do in our present will always determine our future. So everyone who has an opinion about the present, look into the past. Your past as an individual, our past as a people, and learn from it. Now, what are you going to do “action” today, about tomorrow?
Great Article! Unfortunately being a part of this industry I must say this is not even close to what I grew up listening to, admiring, which is what made me want to be in the industry in teh first place. I cannot count the amount of times as a songwriter I submit a song that “isn’t quite what the label wanted” because it wasn’t sexual. As a father and husband, I hate what we have allowed to be OK in out mainsream media. Madonna was an entertaining minority, now the market is oversaturated with these perverse images. Now if an artist wants to do well just strip and twerk, it’s OK if you can’t hold a note, and it’s OK if your fan base consists of kids. I understand freedom of expression, however it is the responsibility of the companies to present a balanced array of creative works. Upcoming entertainers should never feel to actually be creative, and od forbid have some actual talent makes them the indie act struggling forever, and the raunchy act gets the big budget, this is what causes many entertainers to choose that route. The cost we pay is not only in the behaviors of the generation, but also in the culture of our society. In a few years nobody will be singing Miley Cyrus. We are missing out on creating timeless classics, and opting for this fad friendly trash. Let’s do better.
Part of the blame comes from MTV for showing this garbage. Why haven’t they been fined? Showing this nonsense to their target audience of 12 – 24 year old is endangering the welfare of a minor (or, corruption of a minor, as it used to be called).
As far as myself, I am an independent recording artist and film maker. They say you can’t get ahead if it isn’t sexual enough. There’s plenty of people doing just well in this business by not following the corporate rules – me, being one of them – and if enough people complain to the FCC about what is shown some action will eventually be taken.