[MeMyselfAndI]

Uploaded on her blog the other day

http://www.lee-loy.com/



Over the past few weeks the recent videos and performances by Miley Cyrus and Rihanna have been a fleeting topic in many conversations I’ve either heard in passing or been involved in. Theres a real divide in peoples reactions. A minority found it “
exciting” and “ballsy” (mainly the younger crew) but most reactions where that it’s “distasteful” (mainly the more mature audience).



There have been many times when seeing a piece of art be it a play, a painting or a musical composition, that have left me feeling slightly disturbed. Being moved in someway, connects us with our emotional creativity and that can only be a positive thing. As long as no animal or person is hurt in the process, ‘disturbing’ us is a great thing. But what is the difference between “disturbing” us and “shocking” us? Where do we draw the line between what is art and what is simply ‘shock value’?



I remember watching Alanis Morrisettes ‘Thank you’ video and absolutely loving it. The video was met by high praise for the artist, being seen as daring and bold. Just like Miley Cyrus, the pair both appear nude in their videos and Alanis is even bearing slightly more with blurred out full frontal shots. So why are people not offended by this, but find Miley’s to be garish? Is it because Miley is acting more provocative? Had she cut out the scenes where she licks a sledge hammer, would it then be seen as more ‘Artsy’? Is it because people find it uncomfortable to see her in such a manner because we were first introduced to her as a fresh faced tween? Is it just down right tacky? Or is it a piece of expressive explicit art? Could it be that the art is in the division in reactions that is causes? Or is it just shock value?




Rihannas ‘Pour it up’ video also displays a very explicit nature where she is playing a stripper along with other exotic dancers. I must say that while I was watching this my dad came in the room and I felt slightly embarrassed and closed my computer! But does that mean its a bad thing. Rihanna is expressing herself extremely provocatively in this video and some say she is “degrading women” because of it. A D’angelo video for ‘How does it feel’ springs to mind.




It shows the singer nude from start to finish, and is very provocative, yet I remember women drooling over this video. They lapped it up (no pun intended), and again the video was met with a positive reaction. But had it been a woman acting in the same manner, lets say Rihanna, would it be seen as vulgar? The Robin thick video for ‘Blurred lines’ also grabbed headlines with girls frolicking around naked while Thicke flirted and danced with them. In a way both the Robin Thicke and Rihanna videos are representing the same thing. Is it because its a woman acting so open, so raw, so revealing, that we can’t take it in the someway we can when a man does the same thing?




Are both totally unacceptable or are we simply seeing the reaction to these music artists, reflecting the double standards that are still present in our world today? I’ll let you decide…

- Lee xxx

[Me. I Am Salman]

Oh

[MeMyselfAndI]

Leona being embarassed watching Rihanna's video

[MeMyselfAndI]

oh here it is

[Gstar]

I like how she isn't exactly saying that what they're doing is wrong, I also like how she mentioned D'angelo's video and how nobody cared about him being butt nekkid

[Jordan.]

Leona excusing these trashy pop stars behaviour, such a kind soul

[Saph]

I must say that while I was watching this my dad came

too much info Leona

[Me. I Am Salman]

[Gstar]