Posts tagged Man Down.

An interesting piece over at NPR about what goes into making a great summer song, following Rihanna’s Man Down as an example

While I understand the moral concerns about popular messages that condone violence, the hue and cry over this video seem to reflect a deeper anxiety. After all, if parental groups worry that pop stars such as Rihanna are encouraging young women to seek violent retribution, then I wish they would also condemn blockbuster action movies, video games and comic books that preach the same message to young boys. Or is it perfectly okay for action figures like Thor or Batman or a regular American G.I. to seek justice through violent means? And what does it mean for the larger public to loudly condemn a fictional scene of a rape victim grabbing her gun and pulling the trigger on her perpetrator, especially when other violent representations in media are not condemned but championed?

…In light of recent events–from Dominique Strauss-Khan’s alleged assault on a hotel room attendant to the acquittal of New York City cops who took advantage of an inebriated woman to Eman al-Obeidi’s reports of rape by Libyan soldiers to Peace Corps volunteers’ stories of rape to Yale fraternity boys chanting “No means Yes!” to the various Slut Walk protests around the world to the countless rape survivors who have yet to come forward–now is not the time to ban and censor this powerful narrative.

Rihanna has pointed a lyrical gun on the issue–one that we don’t have to take too literally, especially since we adults should be more discerning for our youth. Let us respond by triggering useful conversations on the myths and the realities of rape and sexual violence.

Man Down.

velocicrafter:

taliaitscoldoutside:

Some actually feel the new Rihanna video should be banned?
That’s interesting. I wonder why.
Could it be because it tells a story that isn’t just a girl goes to club and goes hope happily ever after?
Is it because it tells a scary story? A story that has happened to massive amounts of more girls, then have been reported?
Is it because it shows that a girl can be raped regardless of how risque her outfit is?
Is it because she shoots him? Is that too graphic?
Women shouldn’t kill men, should they? They’re supposed to be dainty and lovely and proper. And submit, regardless of how they feel.

It’s funny, because somehow I feel like if it wasn’t a realistic story that actually tells a story of a real and frightening experience, told by a woman of color, it wouldn’t be such an issue.
Do you know why I feel like this? Gaga has killed men in more then one video. And all I hear is praise for her.
That didn’t matter so much then. Why does it matter now, just because Rihanna gave a reason why she killed a man in her narrative? Because the sang about showing remorse towards killing her rapist? Because it was EMOTIONAL?
Shocker. Realize emotion is a good thing, and scary stories aren’t always fiction.

THE BOLDED PART = OH SNAP!!!

Also: does anyone remember Thelma & Louise or maybe Fried Green Tomatoes? These were both movies that were widely popular & loved by all kinda middle class whitefolks & they both featured stories where women killed men who were violent towards them. In both movies, it was white women who exacted this kind of revenge. The same kind of revenge that Rihanna is undergoing scrutiny for depicting. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE & IF YOU THINK IT IS, YOU’RE IN THE WORST KIND OF DENIAL.

Period.