"Is Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' a harmful bit of misogyny masquerading as a pop song? If so, do we have a duty to avoid/condemn it? If not, how did it come to be so vilified?"
Here's a link to the PG-13 version of the video:
Here are the essays:
- "Blurred Lines... Is Kind of Rapey" by Tricia Romano
- "'Blurred Lines' is Cocky, Yes. But Rapey, No." by Jennifer Lai
Your blog response should directly reference both of the essays, the song and/or video, and your own interpretation.
Hey hey hey.
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ReplyDeleteThe Blurred Lines video came pretty close to giving off a rapey vibe, but it did not actually do the deed. The lyrics of the song speculate that the females desire sex, but the men do not once command the women to do anything they aren't already doing. The dance itself, as suggestive as it is, remained static throughout the entire song. The amount of clothing both parties were wearing did not change. If the men and women continued to take off clothes throughout the song it would be much different, but it never wavered. The men also did one thing that acted as a protector of the song's shred of innocence. They kept reforming as a group throughout the entire song. There is no sign that they are going to go their separate ways and advance farther along. I believe that the writing on the wall regarding Robin Thicke was purely a publicity stunt. The people in the video did not do anything differently once the words came into view. Blurred Lines, both the song and video, were created to be suggestive, but I believe that this one was judged a bit unfairly given because of its popularity. Many songs are more suggestive and much more explicit. This one is in the middle of the pack as far as my music knowledge is concerned. This song was suggestive, but it did not cross the blurred line.
ReplyDeleteBlurred lines is definitely a catchy song, but the video does not come off to me as a song of hatred toward women. In the video everything that happens is about the same thing that could ever happen in a New York City
ReplyDeletenight club. The under dressed women are just dancing around some attractive men while they stand there. And it's not like this is nothing that has never happened before on a regular night in the city. In reality this world has a lot of worse songs pointed out to women in this world.
This video definitely doesn't come off to me that women are begging for sex while the men just stand there. This video comes off to me as women just trying to gain some attention from some well dressed men. Now, if I was in that position like all those women I would be happy to be around them especially since it's Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke. How can anyone go wrong with those two attractive me. Any who, Blurred lines will just be one of those catchy songs that has a sexual story to it, but not as sexual as a lot of other songs that are out on the radio today.
Blurred line became a very media kicked song because of what going on in the video. All those nude women dancing around men fully clothed can be a little attention grabbing, but it's not as bad when you compare it to some rap song that talks all abut sex and drugs. I believe that the main reason this got a lot of attention had to due with the fact that it was Robin Thicke because he doesn't seem like the type of guy to strike his fans like that. He did for the love of his job not to discriminate women. Robin Thicke is a good man and he loves to write music and such. Blurred lines will always be one of those songs that grabs attention, but my attention got to the song by the beat of the music.