Feminist Theory in JLo's 'I Luh Ya Papi' Music Video

Jennifer Lopez's new single I Luh Ya Papi has been my addiction these past few weeks. Seriously, I feel a bit sorry for my flatmates who have had to put up with me listening to it on repeat. I became even more addicted to it after watching the video...

It's a JLo video that references feminist theory!!!!!

I feel like it's kind of a breakthrough for someone at Lopez's level to be talking about the male gaze and objectification of women, but not only that, it's an hispanic woman (and her friends) talking about the male gaze.

She draws attention to how effed the representations of women in music videos are by drop down, flipping it and reversing it - by having a whole lot of naked, oil-slick dudes writhing around on her yacht while she sings about how much she luhs her papi. Heck yeah, girl!

Basically we're all tired of 90% of music videos featuring women wearing -90% clothing, dancing in a overtly sexual way 90% of the time, who are merely an accessory to the suit-wearing men (hello, Blurred Lines!), and Lopez is using her celebrity to say something about it.

I know that some of the criticisms of this video (without even looking at the YouTube comments) will be about how she's doing exactly what she claims to be sick of by turning men into objects. But No, silly, she's got her tongue firmly in her cheek and the message is more about highlighting the disparities between representations of men and women in music videos, rather than it being about tit for tat, so to speak. Because having passive, half-naked beautiful men makes us feel soooo much more uncomfortable than seeing the same in women. See, it's gender role reversal!!

I guess also "the male gaze" is quite an entry-level feminist theory (much like my commentary here, but, meh, it's nearly 2am on a school night), but it's really not every day that a mainstream pop star dares to speak up against the patriarchy. We've all got to start somewhere, and if this video gets at least one person to start questioning this stuff I will be very, very happy.

(REMEMBER: There is no such thing as the perfect person, the perfect feminist, the perfect woman. Kill your idols. So there will always be flaws, and more ways we can educate ourselves to do better next time. So of course there will be something to criticise here, as we should be criticising everything that is presented to us in the media.)

Also I love that by being a part of American Idol, Lopez has changed the conversation. Remember how her butt was the OBSESSION of tabloids back in the early 2000s? Now that she's been on American Idol for a few years, she's more than just a body (more than just a butt), and she has given herself a voice. Not one in the form of lyrics being written for her, or tabloids fabricating stories about her day-to-day life. She has allowed the audience to see more of her personality and her vulnerabilities... more realness than that stuff about still being Jenny from the Block, which always seemed a little contrived, lbr. And now her "voice" includes feminism! Yaaaassss.

Other highlights from the video:
- The Drake reference: "Started from the bottom, baby, then we went roof"
- Her girlfriends cackling at "a whole bunch of naked guys on the bed, for NO REASON!"
- #blessed

- NOT French Montana tho. He's about as captivating as Jay-z in everything he's done since 2011 (excluding Watch the Throne, duh)... which is to say, not captivating at all. Also, it's the one teeny tiny moment in the video that drops the ball on the subversion thing and reverts back to the same old tropes. Like I say, not perfect, but a step in the right direction, and still better than it was before.

Sidenote: I would have loved if they had also made an 'I luh you puppies' version, with all puppies, all the time.

The Warmest Colour

This evening I went to the shop for some chocolate wearing three different shades of blue + tramping socks. These are the comfiest clothes I own so they're kind of perfect for a day at home. I got two weird looks. I'm into it.

Link-up: Sick Day

James K Lowe for katherineisawesome.com

I've been at home sick today, drinking copious amounts of tea, and wishing I was wearing cosy Penny Sage knits. A teal mohair jumper from a Kilbirnie op shop will have to do for now.

I've been catching up on some writing, reading What is Literature? in bed, and bopping along to the new Katy Perry single (the tempo of which is at odds with the fog in my head, but who am I to say no to the considerable virtuosity of Dr. Luke and Max Martin?).

I've been reading about the Confidence Gap, identifying with a lot of it (definitely too much of it) and vowing to stop telling everyone I am "lucky" to have my job, and instead allowing myself some credit for the hard work that it took to get it. I read about being #blessed, why We Need More Alter Egos Now More Than Ever, and comparing a Rihanna meet and greet with an Avril meet and greet.

I loved the energy of this shoot for adidas on Charta Magazine.

I somehow managed to coincide my sickness with the day of the Met Ball, where Lupita, Janelle, Gabrielle, Karen, Suki and Kristen were my personal favourites. I would have liked to see Lorde there!

Margaret Howell on Why Good Quality Clothes Matter

Backstage at Margaret Howell's SS'14 show by Dazed Digital

"Good quality rides over to everything, though. It can be apparent in something like a cotton T-shirt that has faded well – it doesn't have to be expensive. I prefer clothes that get better with age – cotton raincoats that get softer, moleskin that wears in well. We should respect what it takes to produce something that is of a quality to last, and I feel we should be thinking about that now, especially in terms of protecting the environment. We should be more careful with our water, with everything." - Margaret Howell in an interview with The Guardian.

Margaret Howell practices what she preaches. Her clothes are all clean lines, quality fabrics and casual fit, pairing feminine elegance with masculine nonchalance. Each collection is a wardrobe of ageless designs that will fit into an everyday uniform with ease.

The Secret Power of Beauty

"What looks to the spectator or listener like an elegant, smooth and naturally developing sequence, probably had to be achieved by endless anxiety and doubt on the part of the artist. The artist is always aware of the possibility of getting it wrong; of putting the notes in an imperfect sequence. In life when we look at other people we are spectators. But when we look at ourselves we see from the inside - from the position of the artist. And this means that we are aware of the possibilities of getting it all wrong. Our lives, when seen this way, lack just the quality we admire in art and in certain other people. And, unfortunately, we cannot really see our own lives in any other way. We cannot get an external view of ourselves."

- John Armstrong, The Secret Power of Beauty 

As a perfectionist (especially when it comes to my writing), this passage in the book I'm currently reading really resonated.

Georgia Alice Winter 2014 - 'Battenberg'

From Georgia Alice's Instagram. Photo by Sam Lee.

For Winter 2014, designer Georgia Currie is sticking to what she is good at (and what sells out in store), with another collection of wardrobe essentials.

Keeping the edit to just 15 looks was a good decision given that this is only her third collection. Taking small, considered steps will allow the brand to grow organically and ensure longevity for the fresh designer.

With a simple colour palette and familiar silhouettes, Georgia Alice has created an entirely wearable and versatile collection.

View all the looks from the show on the NZHerald website.

A Fresh Start

Image by Kinfolk Magazine

A Fresh Start, for Spring.