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Culture_Voyeur
Culture_VoyeurWednesday, November 25, 2009 at 8:23:00 AM EST
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I spent most of Monday catching up on what is normally the little-watched broadcast of the American Music Awards (AMAs). I enjoyed Lady GaGa’s alien-inspired performance, laughed as Jennifer Lopez fell on her ass, and was unimpressed by Rihanna’s lackluster comeback. I hadn’t planned on devoting this much time to an awards show I typically have no interest in, but as I directed my cursor to Google News, I was soon informed that trouble was afoot.
Adam Lambert, runner-up of last season’s American Idol (and the only contestant I ever voted for), performed the lead single, “For Your Entertainment,” off his debut album of the same name. Only one week after Out Magazine highlighted Lambert’s apparent internalized homophobia, the performer reminded America that he is here and he is queer. Only it doesn’t look like America is used to it yet.
In what was truly an underwhelming performance, Lambert pulled a dancer’s face into his crotch, dragged other dancers across the stage with chains, and made out with a male band-member.
Needless to say, a lot of Americans (and the ABC network) were less than impressed.
The resulting firestorm has seen ABC cancel Lambert’s performance on Good Morning America after reportedly receiving 1,500 complaints following the AMAs performance. Lambert has subsequently issued no apology and called the criticism and outcry illustrative of our society’s sexual double standard and homophobia.
Unfortunately, Lambert is both right and wrong.
Much of the subsequent debate has drawn comparisons of Lambert’s performance to those of Madonna, Britney Spears, and Lady GaGa. Lambert is absolutely correct in saying that over the last two or three decades, female performers have been “allowed” to express their sexuality more explicitly than men. From songs to videos to live performances, women are much more sexualized in the music industry. Given the lack of openly-gay, mainstream male performers in America, I must agree that the US, to some extent, is afraid to see a man shove another man’s face in his crotch. And when one of the most popular songs from last year was “I Kissed a Girl,” it is all too clear that the double standard exists and some female pop songstresses play into it.
However, unlike Lambert, Madonna’s and Britney’s most shocking performances (including the infamous kiss) occurred on MTV – a cable television network. A network that has a bit more freedom with regards to what they can and cannot air. People generally understand what they’re getting when they pay for cable, which is why the censors turn a blind eye when Britney molests a snake. But no matter how gay Brothers & Sisters and Ugly Betty get, they, like the AMAs, are still on ABC. A network station that anyone in America can get, and that faces much harsher penalties (both publicly and monetarily) if they violate one of the FCC’s codes (I believe this performance did not).
Lambert also confuses the so-called sexual freedom female pop singers have with the music industry’s overt sexism and misogyny. For every Madonna or GaGa – proud and talented women who own their sexuality and use it to their advantage – there are dozen cookie-cutter pop stars who have had their image and sound hyper-sexualized by record companies in order to be successful. If this indicative of freedom, or illustrative of ongoing objectification?
I believe that most of the backlash Lambert is facing is homophobic in nature, but I also think audiences just didn’t know what to do with his sexuality. Coupled with what was, frankly, a boring song and poor vocal performance, Lambert seems to have gotten more than he bargained for. Although, his album was released on Monday, so we’ll see if his onetime fanbase stands beside him.
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by AFY_Abby
This is surely an interesting analysis. Are you interested in Women's Studies?
Let me know, I have a good book for you to read.
-Rikki