I have conversations by myself
about many things while sitting on the toilet, imagining I’m being interviewed
by Barbara Walters. Why not share them here? (Please don’t list your reasons,
because frankly, I don’t care.)
I’ve been thinking a lot about
race, feminism, and sexual orientation because the past year has been so filled
with these conversations, which is a good thing! At least the discussions are
finally as prominent as the events that inspire them; they’re finally WITHIN
popular culture. Progress is happening. The topics are taking the main stage,
not just the stars.
I’m liking Miley more and more.
Before, I would be annoyed by all pop women taking off their clothes because I felt
like Madonna already did that. She already won the battle and made the point
that women can take control of their sexuality by exhibiting it however they
want to, which is different from men calculatedly putting women on display. Any
repetition felt pornographic in a bad way (because there is pornography that
doesn’t degrade women), as though it were ordered upon pop’s ingénues by men in
suits, effectively undoing Madonna’s work.
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| Innovative |
However, I no longer see Miley
in this vein. She is one of the few pop women who puts her body out there in a
new way. From a viewer’s perspective, it feels distinctly like her choice,
because what executive would ask a woman to chop all her hair off, dress in a
teddy bear leotard and sneakers, and stick a foam finger up her vagina? No, a
male record executive would more likely ask a female singer to abide by
society’s narrow definition of sexy, requesting that she writhe around
in a sand pit or sultrily sweat in a jungle-like setting (a la Britney Spears
clothed in a snake at the 2001 VMAs). There was nothing traditionally
tantalizing about Miley’s VMA performance, or any of her performances since
then, nor has she meant for them to be. She herself thought her VMA display was
funny. In effect, Miley is saying your body is yours. Do whatever you want with
it. Create your own standards and be what you want to be (sexy, not sexy,
something else, etc.) based on how YOU feel in various postures, clothes, and
stages of dress.
Initially, I thought we didn’t
need a Madonna-type in a world where all the pop girls walk around without
pants, but I totally missed the point. In a post-Madonna world (I know Madonna is still alive, but her
impact has been greatly reduced due to ageism and her alleged difficulty coping
with it), it seems Miley is the only progressive popstress with the relevance
of the Queen in her hey day. Three years ago, it was Gaga. Katy, Rihanna and
Beyoncé may control their own bodily displays, but they aren’t bringing
anything new to the table. They all offer the same old sultry pose.
Now, let’s talk about Miley’s
appropriation of black culture. I’m obviously unable to see it from a black
perspective. The closest thing I, as a gay white man, can relate that to is
Lady Gaga’s use of high-heel sporting backup dancers in the Alejandro video.
I need to pause right here for a side note.
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| Men...Heels...MADONNA |
*I imagine the GLAAD-types out
there don’t see eye to eye with me, but I, Barry Epstein, view this as a gay
influence. Some might say cross-dressing is separate from being gay, and I see
your point, but there is an undeniable confluence in much of the gay community.
The gay men I’ve encountered who reject the MAJOR effeminate quality of gay
culture are often self-loathing, hating that very part of what undeniably
constitutes them. Hetero-centric society deems effeminate men as unmanly, and
these gays want to say, “I’m still a man even though I’m gay because I walk with
a bro’s posture and don’t dress in drag.” You can be a man and be effeminate.
You can be a man and dress in wigs and skirts and bend your wrists all day. All
you need to do to be a man is to identify as one. Not a single other thing
should matter.
Back to Miley. I see Gaga’s
appropriation of gay culture, and use of gay dancers, as incredibly flattering.
She’s recognizing the huge influence of gay culture on what she does, as did
Madonna in the Vogue video, so when I hear the black community complain
about Miley’s appropriation, I simply don’t get it. Her actions seem completely
complimentary to me; she’s expressing her love for black culture. Furthermore,
she’s not the first to do it. Justin Timberlake has done so for years, and yet
no one hates on him with regard to cultural appropriation.
Miley may be unaware of the
minstrel show history fueling people’s anger with her stage dynamic. However,
in some twisted way, isn’t her lack of awareness representative of how far
we’ve come? People loathe her alleged ignorance, but that ignorance shows that
racism isn’t on her mind. It represents the gradual dissolution of racism and
increase of appreciation for black culture within popular culture. Isn’t this a
good thing? Doesn’t the youth’s unfamiliarity with historical discrimination
against all types of minorities show that they’ve been taught acceptance, with
rejection not even a prospect? Like I said, I, as a white person, don’t have
the perspective of someone who is black, nor his/her life experience. Thus, I
can’t deny that Miley’s performance may have been insulting to others, but I
don’t understand why, and maybe I never will, which makes me sad.
Unapologetically,
Barry
