September 14, 2010
Post VMA Aesthetics
Posted by EKaufman under BlogEntry, PopCulture | Tags: NickiMinaj |[3] Comments
I have been thoroughly enjoying all of your post-Postrel posts, and figured that perhaps I should join in on these meditations on “attractive wrappings.”
So, who watched the VMAs? I tuned in purely because I am completely fascinated by Nicki Minaj, who performed during the pre-show with will.i.am.
Minaj is a Queens native, and one of few women associated with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money. But, what does this have to do with “Surface and Substance”? Postrel writes, “we judge people, places, and things at least in part by how they look. We care about surfaces.” (458) Hip hop (as is the case with many music/media/art forms) is often associated with the objectification of women, “sex sells,” and a place where “image is everything” and in this case the image of women comes with cleavage, bling, and seductive dancing. As Postrel points out, “we’re simply attracted to anything that helps us compete for recognition and dominance.” (459) In this case, it appears that “recognition” and “dominance” is achieved through money, fame, and girls.
But, then we have Minaj. A woman who refers to herself as “Barbie” and as a “bad bitch.” And, it seems like people (the public) do not know what to do with such proclamations.
In a recent interview, Minaj said, “I started making it my business to say things that would empower women, like, ‘Where my bad bitches at?’ to let them know I’m here for you.”
Minaj puts hip hop first (“substance”) and decidedly takes the “road less traveled” approach to “surface.” Do you think that Minaj’s real appeal is that she has changed the stakes for the hip hop industry? Is it possible to really change gender roles and the way “aesthetic value” is affixed to different sexes?
Why can’t I stop listening?
September 15th, 2010 at 12:24 am
Let me start by saying: For some reason, when I read your writing Professor Kaufman, I can hear your voice inside my head while I read, like on TV. You really write the way you talk! In interesting peculiarity that I have not really experienced before. Any who, very interesting part of your post where you say “Is it possible to really change gender roles and the way “aesthetic value” is affixed to different sexes?”. I think that is totally possible because it has indeed been done before, and is currently in progress. I believe that the key here is; Which audience is listening to Minaj? Music does indeed have an effect on people. For example, if you have been to a heavy metal concert, or seen video’s of it, you will notice that there is something called a “Mosh Pit”, I think, where people get together and beat the crap out of each other while listening to the music. If Minaj seeks to emasculate “barbie”, with enough advertisement, I think it can very much be plausible.
September 15th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
“Aesthetic Value” is definitely affixed to different sexes. I was raised being taught that a women who does not keep up with her looks is careless. So growing up it was only natural to me to have crushes on the girls with the long, nice hair. The ones who were gluing on nails by the age of 9. Men, on the other hand, were supposed to be well groomed, but should have their focus on other things.
September 15th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I agree with Jonathan for the most part. Men’s sense of fashion and style is just as important as women’s fashion is to them. However the nation is just too diverse to claim a general concept that is true to all genders because in the end its all preference. Although it may seem Nicki Minaj is just another typical female rap star, but Minaj is actually quite the different case. She has her own sense of style that is unique to her, similar to Lady Gaga’s connection with her style, but not to that level of extreme. I can’t stop listening either!