Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke - Essay Example

Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke Introduction Blurred lines is the title for a 2013 song by Robin Thicke that he featured rapper T.I and pop singer Pharell Williams, who also produced the song. The song was received well both in America and on the internet as it was on the BillBoard Hot 100 list as it was number one in the chart for a significant period of time, twelve weeks to be exact. The song’s genre is a blend of hip hop, pop, funk and R & B with the three artists having ownership rights to the song. In 2013, Blurred Lines was the best selling song on the digital platform and also was a best settler in the UK as compared to the USA where it was the second best selling single. I heard of the song through the social media, especially on twitter through the hash tag #BlurredLines that had topped the twitter trend list for days as it attracted both positive and negative reviews. Essentially, the video for the two songs has two versions, one which explicitly and the other being rated in which both of them featured high fashion models. In one version the models, namely Evans Elle, M’Bengue Jessi and Ratajkowski Emily pose topless while in the other they appear covered, which was one of the reasons why critics labeled it as controversial. Based on this, YouTube removed the video from its site, citing violation of the terms and conditions required by the site in terms of subjecting videos for viewership. The nudity aspect portrayed by the models influenced critics to assert that the video discriminates against women by portraying them as sexual objects to which many organizations and movements have for a long time been fighting to end. Analysing the meanings in the song According to Boardman of The Huffington Post, the video seems to be giving power to men rather than women, especially in the context of rape based on the line ‘I know you want it’ to suggest that women mean yes when they say yes when faced with cat calling or manly sexual advances. This controversy led universities in Britain to ban the song from being played in any of their functions because of this portrayal of women. In their defence, Robin, Pharrell and T.I argued that the song had some feminist themes as it sought to liberate women against male oppression. They argued on the basis that they were fathers and husbands meaning that it was not possible for them to portray women in such an undignified manner or sexist. According to Lynskey of the Guardian UK, the lyrics to the song include the use of derogatory names against, which in some quarters is considered racist, hence influencing an outcry by those involved in the feminist movement. The explicit version of the song also has some sexual elements embedded in it is as analysts decry why the song had to give details on what they can do to a woman in a sexual way. This to them exemplifies rape as a woman is not supposed to have a say in the way that a man can have her sexually, meaning that their consent in sexual matters is inconsequential as the man is the one who gets to decide. Others argue that the video promotes pornography ideology, especially with the models in the song appearing topless or bikinis that have the same color as their skin hence creating the idea of nudity. Obviously, the gents in the videos are full clothed as compared to the male models, hence influencing the myth that only women should be portrayed sexually in order for art to sell. As much as the video attracted controversy, it was the most downloaded song on the internet and in the UK hence explaining a lot a lot about the true culture that people are following and the one that they advocate for (Carr 2013). Essentially, if the song portrayed women in a bad light as purported by critics that the numbers do not lie as the song was received well drawing from its position at the top 100 and also topping the radio request list in the USA. This effect was the same across the globe as the most acceptable is the one that attracts as much controversy as possible. The identity that is portrayed in the video is that of counter-hegemony as argued by the video director and the songwriters as it seeks to challenge male power over women by claiming to liberate them. However, the Blurred Lines through its writers were responsible enough to produce an explicit and a rated video, but the problem, according to be the lyrics and the meaning hidden in the song because it was within the public sphere. Those that identify with the culture of this industry argue that there are worse songs that portray women in a far worse way. According to them, this song is just a vivid imagination and not the reality as women activists tend to assert meaning that it is harmless as a song because it does not violate any woman physically. To them, the video sexiness in women and that they should be in charge of their sexuality by not allowing men to control how they dress or choose to express themselves. According to the director of the video Diane Martel, women were the one in power as they gazed directly into the camera inclining that they were comfortable with themselves and did not allow the men to intimidate them. Also, there is the element of consent in the video as the models that were half-naked did so willingly as they were not forced to involve themselves in something that they did not agree to. The director also applied bricolage while shooting the video as they made use of simple and readily available materials such bicycles, a dog and a plain background, which sometimes a cost effective technique. Conclusion Personally, I do not have anything against the video or the songwriters because most the ideas presented are only fictional and that they did not intend to harm anyone physically. The song only illustrates the aspect of freedom of expression in an artistic way that the artists utilized effectively. Additionally, the models consented to being naked in the video meaning that they had the freedom of choice to either decline or oblige to being part of the video meaning that no one is violated. Therefore, the interpretation of the song’s lyrics is personal meaning that the understanding of what the o illustrate song writers were trying to illustrate should not and is not universal. Work cited Boardman, Madeline. “Robin Thicke: ‘Blurred Lines’ is A ‘Feminits Movement’, Lyrics Got ‘Misconstrued’”. The Huffington Post. 31 July 2013. Web. 23 November 2013. Carr, Kim. “Robin Thicke’s blurred Lines tops best songs of 2013”. The Daily Star. 24 Dec. 2014. Web. 24 November 2014. Lynskey, Dorain. “Blurred Lines: the most controversial song of the decade”. The Guardian UK. 13 Nov. 2013. Web. 24 November 2014. Read More