Today it seems as if parents have never had more ways to protect their children from influences they deem undesirable. With passwords available to block everything from wireless routers to cable channels, cell phone services that alert parents when their child is late getting home from school and a host of other tools even the busiest parent can now manage nearly every aspect of their child's life. But according to the http://www.parentstv.org/ they still need a little help raising their little angels. Recently the organization, combining efforts with http://www.industryears.com/ and the http://www.enoughisenoughcampaign.com/ campaign, has publicly criticized popular pop singer Rihanna for what them deem to be unnecessary violence in her video for her latest single “Man Down”. Premiering on BET on Tuesday May 31, 2011 the video addresses topics that aren't usually talked about on the network's popular video countdown show 106 & Park where it aired for the first time. In the opening scene of the nearly six minute clip a bewildered Rihanna is seen murdering a man at a nearby train station with a single gunshot to the head. The video then takes viewers back to the previous day where a happy Rihanna spends what looks to be a typical fun filled day in Jamaica before meeting dancing with and finally being sexual assaulted by the man she later murders. Outrage has been expressed by the Parents Television Council and other organizations who share their values at the level of violence in the music video, specifically the image of the singer taking justice into her own hands in order to get revenge against her assailant. Industry Ears stated that they felt the video was a waste of “a golden opportunity for the singer to send an important message to female victims of rape and domestic violence” and expressed their dismay that in their understanding “Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability.”In response to the backlash concerning her latest video Rihanna, who is no stranger to controversy (The clip for her single "S&M" was banned in several countries for its sexual connotations and her performance of the song with Britney Spears at the Billboard Music awards caused an uproar with conservatives who found it to be too provocative for network television), took to twitter to defend herself. The self proclaimed “twenty three year old rock star with no kids” raised a potent question to critics who felt as if she had abandoned her alleged “responsibility” to be an example of how to cope with abuse properly for her fans “What’s up with everyone wantin’ me to be a parent?” The struggle between pop artists and parents of their fans is not a new one. Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, and other celebrities with younger fans have fell victim to attacks from groups thinking they should alter their work and even personal lives to ensure that they set an example to the children that watch them. Rihanna is one of the first to publicly reject her unsolicited place as a pseudo-parent reminding everyone that she is an artist and reminding parents that it’s their jobs to “make sure” (their kids) “don’t turn out like us”. Whether you think Rihanna’s video was a brilliant and brave political statement in service to her fans and victims of sexual abuse everywhere or you find it to be an irresponsible and appalling display of gratuitous violence you can’t deny that the question she raises is a valid one. Should parents expect that the entertainment industry with provide their child with a daily dose of morality or should they monitor their children more closely and accept that in the words of Rihanna “the music industry isn’t exactly Parents R US”?
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Artists: Entertainers or Baby Sitters?
Today it seems as if parents have never had more ways to protect their children from influences they deem undesirable. With passwords available to block everything from wireless routers to cable channels, cell phone services that alert parents when their child is late getting home from school and a host of other tools even the busiest parent can now manage nearly every aspect of their child's life. But according to the http://www.parentstv.org/ they still need a little help raising their little angels. Recently the organization, combining efforts with http://www.industryears.com/ and the http://www.enoughisenoughcampaign.com/ campaign, has publicly criticized popular pop singer Rihanna for what them deem to be unnecessary violence in her video for her latest single “Man Down”. Premiering on BET on Tuesday May 31, 2011 the video addresses topics that aren't usually talked about on the network's popular video countdown show 106 & Park where it aired for the first time. In the opening scene of the nearly six minute clip a bewildered Rihanna is seen murdering a man at a nearby train station with a single gunshot to the head. The video then takes viewers back to the previous day where a happy Rihanna spends what looks to be a typical fun filled day in Jamaica before meeting dancing with and finally being sexual assaulted by the man she later murders. Outrage has been expressed by the Parents Television Council and other organizations who share their values at the level of violence in the music video, specifically the image of the singer taking justice into her own hands in order to get revenge against her assailant. Industry Ears stated that they felt the video was a waste of “a golden opportunity for the singer to send an important message to female victims of rape and domestic violence” and expressed their dismay that in their understanding “Rihanna released a music video that gives retaliation in the form of premeditated murder the imprimatur of acceptability.”In response to the backlash concerning her latest video Rihanna, who is no stranger to controversy (The clip for her single "S&M" was banned in several countries for its sexual connotations and her performance of the song with Britney Spears at the Billboard Music awards caused an uproar with conservatives who found it to be too provocative for network television), took to twitter to defend herself. The self proclaimed “twenty three year old rock star with no kids” raised a potent question to critics who felt as if she had abandoned her alleged “responsibility” to be an example of how to cope with abuse properly for her fans “What’s up with everyone wantin’ me to be a parent?” The struggle between pop artists and parents of their fans is not a new one. Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, and other celebrities with younger fans have fell victim to attacks from groups thinking they should alter their work and even personal lives to ensure that they set an example to the children that watch them. Rihanna is one of the first to publicly reject her unsolicited place as a pseudo-parent reminding everyone that she is an artist and reminding parents that it’s their jobs to “make sure” (their kids) “don’t turn out like us”. Whether you think Rihanna’s video was a brilliant and brave political statement in service to her fans and victims of sexual abuse everywhere or you find it to be an irresponsible and appalling display of gratuitous violence you can’t deny that the question she raises is a valid one. Should parents expect that the entertainment industry with provide their child with a daily dose of morality or should they monitor their children more closely and accept that in the words of Rihanna “the music industry isn’t exactly Parents R US”?
Armed and Intelligent and.... over extended
With finals and summer courses and college apps I've been completely overwhelemed but I promise my loyal readers (all five of you guys) I WILL be posting more often.
xoxo, k3k3_n
xoxo, k3k3_n
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