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holsn39's picture

Pop Culture

First I wanted to share this video because people said they were interested in looking at pop culture. Here's a cultural representation of gender and gender roles, a lot of body language, and i would say "playing" with gener (as Kate Bornstein might say). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFRuUJR4LPI
Continuing our conversation about Kimmel's essay, I think the ideas he writes about regarding masculitity are alarmingly applicable today. This song has a interesting commentary on power in gender relations, in mainstream pop culture!
 
Here's another representation of masculity in pop cluture. And let me point out from a different generation.
http://www.pp2g.tv/vYXx-ZHM_.aspx
Prince was shows here a very heterosexual persona, but not necessarily a very masculine one. The thing I like about Prince is that he doesn't seem to use his sexuality to prove his gender, in other words he's not trying to use his heterosexuality to prove his manliness. Sp here's a pop icon who seems to be pushing the line with gender representation and particularly masculinity. Who is doing this now? I think its i sign that Prince is still such a dynamic and unique character in pop culture. More evidence showing that Kimmel's essay really isn't that outdated. Maybe Prince has transcended the "homophobic" aspect of masculinity.
one of my favorite lyrics from Prince is from the song "Uptown", he says:
"What's up little girl? I ain't got time 2 play"
Baby didn't say 2 much - she said, "Are U gay?"
Kinda took me by surprise, I didn't know what 2 do
I just looked her in her eyes and I said, "No, are U?"
(Said 2 myself, said)
She's just a crazy, crazy, crazy little mixed up dame
She's just a victim of society and all its games

Now where I come from
We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be
Our clothes, our hair, we don't care
It's all about being there
 
-if you want to listen to it http://www.imeem.com/people/7u9jiA/music/yI5RHdRL/prince-uptown/
 

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