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Gratuitous misogyny or just plain fun?

  2. dlesliegunner
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I know nothing about this band and speak no French at all. However, the video, as you will see is quite intriguing. Probably because I can't understand the words, I have no idea whether to think that this is misogyny at its extreme, playful silliness, or some kind of conscious social critique. Any French speakers or band followers out there who can shed some light?
dlesliegunner

4 responses // Gratuitous misogyny or just plain fun?

  • From just this image *alone*: Where's the social critique? If they did try, it didn't work. The image shows dehumanized women being used as band instruments; replace those human beings with any other group and you'll see the bigotry a lot clearer (At least, I can't imagine you saying something like, "Is this antisemitism at its extreme, playful silliness..."). The use of *any* bigotry--including misogyny--is never just "playful" or "fun"--unless, of course, you hold bigoted beliefs yourself (see: minstrel shows; many white southerners found this "entertainment" hilarious and considered its use of racism just harmless fun). Regardless of your personal enjoyment, the effect is the same.
    Jackstowne
  • A duality?
    joshuaheller
  • Jackstowne,
    I think by refusing to legitimize the chance that there may be a social critique you are being a little bit shortsighted. Unless you can speak French, you can't tell me definitively that they are not trying to do something with this video. If people were to watch Dave Chappelle, for instance without speaking English, they could see a very racist show, no? Even now, one might suggest there is no territory for play, but perhaps it is just that playfulness that allows us to talk about things more openly? As to the point about minstrel shows, there is a definite difference between something like that and something that makes comedy out of race like the Chappelle show. Minstrels weren't seen as harmless fun- the white people who went to them, while entertained, saw them as showing the absurd realities of black life. I like all your comments. But would you agree that we should be open to knowing what the singers were actually after in choosing to make the video as they did?
    dlesliegunner
  • Not exactly sure how to feel about this, but an interesting find none the less. Would really help if someone could find out the translated lyrics to this.
    ametska

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