Video Vixens
It’s no secret that we heart Janelle Monae here at GeorgiaMae. Hubster and I were rocking out to “Tightrope” just yesterday. And Miriam Zoila Perez recently pointed out at Feministing.com that the video is just as awesome. She writes:
What I most liked about it is Janelle Monae, and how she rocks the man’s style suit and shoes, along with a feminine updo and earrings. In a male-dominated and pretty heteronormative arena like the music industry, this kind of gender-bending is particularly amazing.
Meanwhile Jezebel has given me more material for our ongoing discussion of whether or not Beyonce is a feminist. Yesterday, Edd posted the video for Beyonce’s latest single, “Why Don’t You Love Me?” which I absolutely love, by the way. Dodai Stewart posted an interesting feminist analysis of the video at Jezebel.com. While Bey (starring as B.B. Homemaker) appears “victimized and distraught” in the video, Stewart observes that she also exudes confidence as she dusts her Grammy awards, shakes her booty, and declares “there’s nothing not to love about me.”
Stewart also ponders the possible implications of the retro concept for the video. Stewart writes:
Framing a woman trying so hard — cooking, cleaning, wearing lingerie and still not feeling loved — with all the props of a bygone era is fun. But it also acknowledges the struggles women have overcome (and the battles still waged). And maybe even suggests that the concept of thinking this way — “why don’t you love me?” — is old fashioned.
I kinda agree with Jezebel lady. I’m glad she said it first, because if I said it first y’all would accuse me of hating.
I’m not a big fan of the concept of the video (nor the song, for that matter). The notion of asking ‘why don’t you love me – I cook and clean for you’ is outdated.
And this is coming from a man!
There once was a girl who was trying to holla at your boy who always said things like ‘why don’t you give me a chance? I’m a great domestic and I can get you a little something from Victoria’s Secret.’
That’s all well and good, but I don’t want a woman who thinks all a man needs is dinner and draws. The video alludes to that mindset.
But I think, and I believe this is what Dodai was saying, that there’s a chance Bey is trying to indirectly criticize this mindset, that she gave the video this retro styling as a way to say that this mindset is old-fashioned.
Perhaps.
I guess the video just stirred up annoying memories.