{"id":186,"date":"2013-09-09T19:36:22","date_gmt":"2013-09-09T23:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/hoochie\/?p=186"},"modified":"2017-10-31T19:40:18","modified_gmt":"2017-10-31T23:40:18","slug":"blurred-lines-not-so-blurred","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/hoochie\/2013\/09\/09\/blurred-lines-not-so-blurred\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cBlurred Lines\u201d Not So Blurred"},"content":{"rendered":"

No other song has caused as much controversy recently as Robin Thicke\u2019s Blurred Lines (ft. T.I and Pharrell). The song is hugely popular, despite the fact that it glorifies the dangerous notion that a woman\u2019s consent is only a fuzzy guideline which a man can choose to abide by when he feels like it.<\/p>\n

Then there is the music video, with the three fully dressed male singers surrounded by nearly naked female models who proceed to parade around them, acting as an accessory for the men. As if this isn\u2019t enough, the second, unrated version features completely topless models in nude thongs. And finally, most recently were the 2013 VMA\u2019s, where Miley Cyrus\u2019s performance made headlines across the country.<\/p>\n

THE LYRICS:
\n<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

Selection of Lyrics:<\/p>\n

\u2026.OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you<\/p>\n

But you\u2019re an animal, baby it\u2019s in your nature<\/p>\n

Just let me liberate you\u2026..<\/p>\n

\u2026You\u2019re far from plastic<\/p>\n

Talk about getting blasted\u2026.<\/p>\n

\u2026I hate them lines<\/p>\n

I know you want it<\/p>\n

But you\u2019re a good girl<\/p>\n

The way you grab me<\/p>\n

Must wanna get nasty<\/p>\n

Go ahead, get at me\u2026<\/p>\n

(Further lyrics posted elsewhere)<\/em><\/i><\/p>\n

In an interview with GQ magazine<\/a> Thicke says when referring to writing the song with Pharrell, \u201cWe started acting like we were two old men on a porch hollering at girls like, \u201cHey, where you going, girl? Come over here!\u201d\u201d \u00a0The anecdote is told with a laugh, something women who have dealt with sexual harassment from find far from humorous.<\/p>\n

When questioned about the videos portrayal of women in the same GQ article, Thicke proceeds to give what he thinks is a defense of his video, but instead proves his own lack of understanding of this social issue.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe tried to do everything that was taboo. Bestiality, drug injections, and everything that is completely derogatory towards women. Because all three of us are happily married with children, we were like, \u201cWe\u2019re the perfect guys to make fun of this.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So being \u00a0\u201chappily married\u201d absolves these three men of the responsibility to respect the women around them and not take into account the larger social issues, specifically street harassment and rape culture, that are brought to attention with videos like these?<\/p>\n

\n

Thicke continued:\u00a0 \u201cPeople say, \u201cHey, do you think this is degrading to women?\u201d I\u2019m like, \u201cOf course it is. What a pleasure it is to degrade a woman. I\u2019ve never gotten to do that before. I\u2019ve always respected women.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u2026. really? Thicke goes on to add to this preposterous argument:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSo we just wanted to turn it over on its head and make people go, \u201cWomen and their bodies are beautiful. Men are always gonna want to follow them around.\u201d After the video got banned on YouTube, my wife tweeted, \u201cViolence is ugly. Nudity is beautiful\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So if that is the case, then why is it that the men are fully clothed? Where is this video showing the beauty in nudity or the female body? Instead of accentuating the positive attributes of a woman in a respectful and artistic way, the creators of this video have made the women purely accessories, objects to the men who can to stand around and have their egos boosted at the expense of the women.<\/p>\n

Instead of calling out on the bullshit that is this attitude many in our society have by making fun of these men, Thicke, Pharrell and T.I instead succeeded in encouraging this culture. Perhaps this is something these married fathers can think about when their wives and daughters face street harassment and the pervasive fear of rape.<\/p>\n

THE MUSIC VIDEO:<\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n

There are two versions of the music video, one being the \u201cclean\u201d version, and one being the unrated version. And thus I link you to two other interpretations of the music video:<\/p>\n

Robin Thicke \u2013 Blurred Lines [Feminist Parody] \u201cDefined Lines\u201d<\/p>\n