Seems that recently all artistic media has become about gimmicky advertisements for the self. I am selling me, that's it, nothing else. Look. Seriously, look here.
Seems very strange.
I really like the scenes toward the end when Beyonce's alone rocking the Brooklyn chic (via bangs and a big t-shirt) and just dancing without any actual like, gimmick gimmicks.
This phenomenon seems interesting to me in the context of how women have developed a sense of self-worth and artistry since the advent of the 'lame as shit pop music' phase the world went through in the eighties, where no one was selling anything, just trying to one-up each other in the area of absurdity.
Recently, even the 'alt-est' of music videos is about near-shameless overexposure and self-presentation above like, substance or something. Check out this 'think piece' music video starring Miranda July:
Now when it comes to women talking to women about being women, female solidarity is famous for promoting 'self-empowerment', which i thought was a paradox, but damn, Beyoncé convinced all her single ladies to be single ladies, by selling her very much in a relationship self (via the Sasha Fierce gimmick).
Seems weird.
Do you guys remember the '90s when the singer-songwriter was actually just venting/making really good music unabashedly and for mostly cathartic/therapeutic reasons?
What happened to that? What happened to the tortured artist? No one does that anymore. Actually, I take that back.
I take any and all opportunities to plug this woman. And it's because she is living honestly. Anti-folk is about people gathering around music that is too honest. I think that I prefer music that is honest about life's sorrow and each person's alienation. But what does this type of music say about women/femininity?
A woman who is honest about her flaws could be intimidating to the majority of men. I think claiming oneself, including one's flaws could potentially be very attractive if the woman doesn't ruminate and regurgitate the same five topics of her own morbid reality. I think putting a sarcastic spin on one's flaws is the most important aspect about this self-projection. One woman who does that well (ironically and without any actual sex appeal, in my opinion) is Amy Winehouse.
Unfortunately, I'm not plugging that though.
A terrible example, is any hardcore emo broad behind a guitar.
If you align your personal brand with vampires, how can you expect anyone to take how not serious you take yourself seriously?
Or that chick could just be riding the trend wave, which I think is unlikely. I should have done a more comprehensive blog post about 'trend wave and fashion' back when this video originally came out.
C-razy. When I say 'unabashed,' I don't think I mean 'Lady Gaga unabashed'. She seems so over-the-top with her grime-loving, flaw-embracing persona, that it's not ironic at all, it's just a lie. She is lying to you to get you to listen to her music. She does not want your love or your lover's revenge, she wants you to look at her.
Oh wait...
I'm really curious what these girls are 'going for':
Is this female empowerment or does it just make these girls seem like humongous bitches? I can't tell. I like that they're getting money, and 'our pocket's never hungry' is a fucking awesome line, but what kind of bros do these girls attract? Seems like it could be the 'hoodrat, dating/married to a fat chick, saw this girl at the club, banged her in the back of my rented suburban and went back to one of my five babymommas/welfare sugamommas' crowd.
Not attractive.
What do you think girls are 'going for' these days as far as projecting themselves as attractive, trend-setting, talented, or honest musicians? Is it the end of the Pussycat Dolls era? I haven't seen an act like that in a while, but maybe I'm speaking too soon.
BONUS EARLY DRAKE AFTER THE JUMP
WHAT?
WHAT?
THE ORIGINAL:
This bitch sold out and jumped on the Twilight Saga trend too. Not sure if Lykke Li's marketable enough to stay afloat staying indie in this economy. That video is fucking awesome though.
not sure if i buy anti-folk. the 'tortured artist' pose was just as calculated and intentional as the unashamedly materialistic female pop music of today - that's how it was a trend in the first place. i guess i don't buy lyrics in general - they just seem inherently dishonest.
ReplyDeleteit seems like it'd be difficult to maintain 'substance' while knowing that potentially thousands of people will listen to the lyrics of a song. and after thousands of people hear it, when an artist is obligated to perform it in a concert ten months down the road, won't it be sapped of any cathartic qualities it originally had?
good article,we dig it over at www.antifolk.net :-)
ReplyDeleteabout the first commenter saying lyrics are inherently dishonest. WTF? No, honest lyrics are, guess what, honest! LIke just about ANY Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Phil Ochs, Laura Nyro, Kimya Dawson, Diane Cluck song out there. Even 'That's All Right Mama' or 'Tutti Frutti" are honest. A song doesn't lose it's cathartic quality down the road if it is a fine song and if the delivery is in the moment, in fact, many times it gains new layers of meaning as it ages.