I've got a little something to say about America's latest sweetheart, Katy Perry. As much as I despised her previous single, "I Kissed a Girl," for obvious reasons that have already been touched upon on this site, she has now given me a new reason to feel disgusted. This reason is called "Hot n' Cold."
Now the song, in and of itself, is pretty much a stomach turner from the start (if you can resist that funky beat). It starts off, "You change your mind, like a girl changes clothes. You PMS like a bitch..."
So basically she is characterizing females as being moody "bitches" (ugh) who have nothing better to do than change their outfits all day long. Wonderful. The song goes on to talk about how she is being jerked around by her man. I can completely imagine a lot of girls/women listening to this song and thinking, "Oh my god, that's EXACTLY like my relationship with George (or Bob or Tom or Murphy, or Ronaldo, etc)!" This song might make them feel understood and comforted because, wow, somebody else "gets it." Actually, the sad truth is that there is a big market in girls allowing guys to treat them like crap, and Katy Perry is reaping the benefits.
Now when I say there is a "big market" I don't only mean in the music industry. Just look at all those women's magazines out there with articles titled, "Ways to Keep Your Man!" and "How to Make Sure He'll Never Cheat!" Not only that, but it seems as though whenever I log on to Facebook, I'm seeing links encouraging me to "Click here to find out why men turn distant," and other such rubbish. Society is constantly reinforcing the idea that women need to be approved and accepted by men, even suggesting that it is our fault if we are being treated inconsiderately. No wonder there are so many needy, insecure women out there. It's not OK, it's not healthy and it's not right to feel the need to compromise your dignity in order to be validated by a man. So cut the shit, Katy Perry.
And the real reason I am going off on this rant is not just because of the song. I heard it, admitted it was catchy, caught myself dancing along (while rolling my eyes and trying my hardest to replace her lyrics with ones about kittens and puppies and stronger women), but then I saw the VIDEO!
There they are, at the altar. She, of course, is all about the "I Do," while he, on the other hand, seems to be pulling the same old nonsense that has apparently been going on throughout their entire relationship. He takes off running, and she chases after him, because that's what us gals do. We're chasy, stalky crazy heads. Riiight. Eventually, he agrees to marry her and the crowd goes wild, because the real tragedy wouldn't be if he continued to treat her like shit until death did they part...the REAL tragedy would be if he didn't accept her hand in marriage. Blah.
Here's what I'm talking about, in case you haven't seen it.
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I was (un)fortunate enough to see this video over the weekend. I could feel my blood pressure rising as I watched it, and then the ending scene - my partner thought my head was going to explode.
I am happy that I am not alone in my outrage about the message that this song and video are portraying.
Not to mention her other hit, "I Kissed a Girl" and her soon to be hit "Ur so Gay" .... ugh.
Pfft "This video is not available in your country." So much for that...
That was a little scary.
First of all why would anyone marry someone that changes their mind that drastically?
Secondly, why would he marry someone who is crazy? She seems to be mentally unstable and quite dependent; no wonder why he is running away from her.
The media does give skewed views of the world. Unfortunately, there are some that completely buy into it.
I'm also a bit annoyed at how men and women are portrayed in romance movies. Who in their right mind will marry someone after knowing them for less then a month? But that is a rant for another time.
Anita, I find that comment abelist and offensive. I know it's only a comment on a music video, but people with mental health problems can and do have relationships, and should have the right to do so without being judged by others. Your attitude helps no one.
"Now when I say there is a "big market" I don't only mean in the music industry. Just look at all those women's magazines out there with articles titled, "Ways to Keep Your Man!" and "How to Make Sure He'll Never Cheat!" Not only that, but it seems as though whenever I log on to Facebook, I'm seeing links encouraging me to "Click here to find out why men turn distant," and other such rubbish. Society is constantly reinforcing the idea that women need to be approved and accepted by men, even suggesting that it is our fault if we are being treated inconsiderately."
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Many men's magazines (like Men's Health, Men's Fitness, and GQ) feature articles every month concerning how to please women. It is not only women's magazines that obsess about this subject.
As a man who has been alone and lonely for more than 8 years, I understand that the imperative to find a partner is strong. It is a subject that one can easily obsess about. That's why there are so many articles, every month, about dating and sex.
Yes. There are global issues that could be highlighted but all politics is local and there is nothing more local than yourself.
Talking about Katy Perry, is anyone else totally annoyed and turned off by the snorgtees ads on this site? There is one 'I kissed a girl and I liked it' shirt I keep seeing. I really feel like this site should get rid of that shit.
This site complains about how PETA uses women's bodies to sell their message; how is what snorgtees is doing that different?
I'm actually not as concerned about the Snorgtees ad as others. Maybe it's because I actually like most of the tees on the site, even though their advertising is questionable for a feminist site. As for the 'I kissed a girl' tee, it has a frog on it. I'm pretty sure it's just a play off an old fairy tale...plus I think it's cute.
The song, however, is not. All this summer, the radio talking heads were talking about how 'badass' Perry was for coming out with such an 'edgy' song. Guess nothing says 'badass' and 'edgy' like reinforcing the homophobic, sexist stereotypes of women and lesbians that form the backbone of mainstream culture!
Yes, the song and video are horrible. The way lesbians or, I guess, not lesbians, lesbian-curious?, bi-curious since she has boyfriend (who she 'hopes won't mind it' but you know he won't because who could complain about two 'hot' girls pretending to kiss?)? Whatever... are portrayed is completely demeaning and I don't mean to belittle that by bringing up the ad. Katy Perry is a scourge.
But, just because the song isn't cute and the t-shirt is doesn't make the advertising more acceptable than the song. I want to say more but I feel like this isn't the appropriate thread. Perhaps a post on the tees' ad is in order....