I was going to stay away from the whole Britney Spears goes Brazilian without underpants in public story, but I’m heartened by the fact that it’s been linked to by Club Troppo so that endorsement of middle aged grumpy respectability (joke, Ken!) makes it ok I guess.
It’s so far gone unnoticed in the Ozblogosphere that Ms Spears is not the only one to go out in public sans underwear [not only is this link NSFW, it's deeply disturbing - but I got it from Troppo]. Lindsay Lohan, when not writing emails about how Al Gore is going to defend her character, has also got into the upskirt photo act. [NSFW] And where would a celeb scandal story like this be without the doyenne of trash, Paris Hilton herself? [NSFW]
This new cultural trend has rocked American conservatives. Writing in The American Spectator, Carol Platt Liebau declaims:
What’s most remarkable is the deafening silence from the larger culture that has greeted the antics of the young starlets. It may be that many adults take it for granted that flashing one’s privates is so tawdry and declasse that a dignified silence is the only appropriate response. But perhaps that’s because they’ve enjoyed the benefit of growing up in a time and with a culture that was unified in its disapproval of such behavior. Sadly, such a cultural consensus has long since eroded.
Libertarians are unconcerned. Kerry Rowley in Reason isn’t bothered that “the current vagoterror threat level is indeed severe”. What do I think? Dunno. I’m going to meet with Bono to ask him what he thinks.
Oh come on Kim. You know you’re just itching to join in. Or haven’t you had a brazilian yet?
That’s my business really since I’m not a starlet with an SUV!
Till someone has a picture, we’re all safe.
There was at least one corner of the larger culture that didn’t remain silent. Miranda Devine wrote an op-ed for the SMH last Sunday, an op-ed that used the examples of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears to cast the blame upon young women and their lack of self-respect for a rise in misogyny.
And yet, no uproar over what amounts to yet again blaming the victim for being ‘uncovered meat’. Not from the media. Not from the blogosphere.
I know it is a little tangential from the post above but why do we think it so that not a peep was said. I would argue that Devine’s comments had a far wider initial audience than other incidents – Mel Gibson’s, Michael Richardson’s, Hilally.
I really don’t have an SUV though!
Ah, right you are, gilmae.
In fact that link was in Ken’s original post!
Shorter Miranda: women are responsible for misogyny.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/miranda-devine/misogynys-rise-no-surprise-when-selfrespect-rejected/2006/12/02/1164777845118.html
Big deal, people where what they want to wear for whatever reason. There’s no inherent reason why we’re currently walking around in shirts and jeans rather than togas today.
I’m impressed, Kim, that you managed to work cultural criticism in there—otherwise I’d have thought this was just a tawdry, sordid attempt to garner the attention of technorati. You and Rafe Champion, you can’t help yourselves.
…
It’s all fun and games until the boys get in on the act. Scottish male celebrities, raise the cultural bar your fellows in fame, and keep your skirts *down*. I’m talking to you, Ewan McGregor.
Since a one-liner on Club Troppo doesn’t count as community outrage, or even media outrage, the question remains. It surely can’t be because the media won’t pick on their own, because certain parts of the media didn’t even try to disguise their glee after the Walkley Awards.
There’s always the hypothesis that Devine isn’t a Muslim cleric, gilmae…
Liam, Rafe’s certainly cornered the “Bill Hutt” hitwhoring market…
Just sayin…
Why, I’m shocked, Kim! Shocked indeed that you would cast such aspersions of Islam-related sensationalism at the Australian media. Why, I feel almost overcome with vapors at the very thought.
But in all seriousness, Miranda is at least being consistent. At the time she tentatively agreed with gist of what Hilally said. I don’t understand, however, why the blogosphere, which in many ways has established itself as a guerilla Media Watch – Tim Blair’s entire reason for being on some days – didn’t say much at all.
It might just be that people aren’t paying attention on Sundays, gilmae.
Ho hum. Women flash their twats and of course men made them do it, as usual.
Heaven help the little dears, one day many generations hence they will actually evolve a brain of their own.
May I speak plainly?
I understand stirring the pot for a conversation..yet..
Is it about uncovered meat? Anti-Hollywood? Take a crap on white trash? Enjoying the downfall of one who was going to fall anyway?
Enjoyable one and all.
I miss Britney from the Mickey Mouse Club days. Bwaaaaa.
I find it all a bit sad and tawdry but I’m not terribly outraged. So, women have genitals, and if we don’t cover ‘em up, they can be seen. SHOCK HORROR etc.
There’s been a steady upping of the ante of what tactics starlets employ to get publicity. (No good PR, and so on.) I’m sure this does all say something about wider culture — like the fact that pretty young things acting in ridiculous ways garnering lots of attention. I dunno. Not feeling very much like this is worthy of a whole lot of attention, especially as I do hope that if we ignore them, they’ll go away.
So you’re standing up for the “men create misogyny” hypothesis, whyisitso?
Whatever happened to Britney as a pinup girl for virginity?
Just askin…
the “men create misogyny� hypothesis
What’s that?
After a couple of babies and a couple of husbands and partying with Paris, selling the Virginity line doesn’t do too much for her..
Who gives a fuck?
Yeah, I know, Another Kim. But I was more thinking of the irony about her squeaky clean image of the late 90s. Wasn’t she held up as a role model by some Bush administration chastity education in schools honcho in 2001?
That’s another possible answer to gilmae’s question, Kate.
Trashy celebs have a very different cultural position to outraged Imams and anxious Archbishops…
the “men create misogyny� hypothesis
What’s that?
Oh piss off. If you’re going to try to be a provocative stirrer MAKE A BIT OF BLOODY EFFORT.
xx
According to the imam, Britney should be surrounded by dozens of rapacious man-cats right about now, yes?
This isn’t misogyny. This is the more of the same. Norma Jean, Janette Jackson and finally this. In our context.
What’s disturbing today is that it is now occurring in an electronically connected global forum. The clash of cultures is inflamed. We’re scared what this says about us to certain other cultures. They’re truly shocked at the depths they think we have sunk to.
Fashion tip: the Brazilian is on its last legs.
I imagine security keeps them away from her, Kate.
Not according to the pics on Suicide Girls, wbb.
Just sayin…
I like the CUSS approach to the bikini area: http://cussandotherrants.com/
NSFW, little chickens.
Maybe it should have been called public hair?
There is a pic. of Marilyn Monroe sans panties at a press conference in Kenneth Anger’s Hollywood Babylon II and also a pic of Carmen Miranda in full fruit basket regalia, being swung around by Cesar Romero – both captioned: natural air-conditioning.
Same old, same old!
Although both Marilyn and Carmen’s have pubic hair (not Paris’s five o’clock shadow) which provides a fig of modesty I ‘spose, unlike today’s fashionable medical examination/paedophilic/penthouse close-up styled vaginas.
I’m going out a limb, and predicting the Map of Tassie making a huge comeback. (just refreshed and glad to see wbb on the same page….!!!)
Btw – Looking through my old copy of Hollywood Babylon II, today’s stars are pretty clean living compared to those golden years of Hollywood mega-stars – some truly shocking pictures in his collection –the first quote of the book “We all have the strength to endure the misfortune of othersâ€? La Rochefoucauld
Also, any mention of bikini line matters is a suggestion only, and should not be taken as any indication whatsoever of the state of this poster’s grooming.
The only difference between them and us is a billion dollars, a really bad publicist and twenty martinis.
Oh..and twenty feet of legs in Paris’s case.
Trash is all in the eye of the beholder.
“I imagine security keeps them away from her, Kate.”
That and she’s a repugnant skank.
“Fashion tip: the Brazilian is on its last legs”.
Don’t you mean “above” the last legs, wbb? Or maybe astride is the correct word.
FDB…if one was politically correct, one might ask..(not that I am)
Who made you the judge of skankiness?
I was elected by a panel of my peers in the field of comparative skankology, seeing as you ask.
You know how I hate to blow my own horn.
FDB, your qualifications are beyond compare.
If you were into total comparative skankiness and blowing of horns, there are other questions to be asked.
But never mind.
Without wishing to lower the tone any further, but did anyone else notice what seemed to be a caesarian scar in one of the pics?
Alex asked who gives a f*ck and now he’s asking about details about scars!
Jest saying!
I’ll go and get the limbo bar and the calypso drums.
*wipes sweat from brow*
Thanks for not going there.
I just needed to have one last look to make sure I didn’t give a f*ck.
In all honesty I just needed to blow the pic up in order to verify its authenticity.
That’s right Alex, keep that tone lofty!
Can’t say I’d really noticed……………
I was looking for just that right Harry Belafonte clip to complete the mood..the Limbo one. No luck yet.
(Hands a hanky to FDB)
That’s alright son. Haven’t we all been there? Sure we have. Lord help us.
This all reminds me of the time, during the Feast of Iupiter Optimus Maximus, when I was seated in the Senate, discursing upon Neoteric poetry and the lately concluded Bythinian Wars with my learned colleagues, Obnoxius, Septimus Skankius, and Fastidius.
I don’t need to add that we were all wearing togas, and as such had no undies on underneath. My my, how our balls were a-swangin’! (Of course, should the Bythinians rise up once more against us, I suppose I shall have to, well, gird my loins as it were, before donning the Greaves of War and so forth… the things one *does* for one’s patria.)
But, as the motto reads on my patrician coat of arms, ‘Semper ubi sub-ubi!’
And they complain now a days about Christmas not being observed!
Jupiter help us!
I have New Years resolution to stop calling on and presuming upon dieties.
I so mean it.
I think Poseiden’s getting so active these days, tho.’ Should he be spoken to more?
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
That’s how the light gets in.
From
“Anthem” by Leonard Cohen
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/leonardcohen/anthem.html
Hope that helps.
That Reason comments thread is a hoot. My favourite is the chap who writes (apparently seriously) that:
So apparently chicks are constantly exposing themselves to all and sundry. I condemn myself for having failed to notice this moving feast of reality porn all around me. Must get stronger contact lenses.
“the ‘men create misogyny’ hypothesis”
Reminds me of the blonde economy-class passenger on the Sydney-Melbourne flight who plomked herself down in an empty business class seat and refused requests/orders from the chief steward then the co-pilot to move back to economy class, on the basis she was blonde and beautiful.
The pilot handed the controls over to the co-pilot, saying he was married to a blonde, therefore knew how to speak “blonde”, and said he’d fix it up.
After whispering a few words in the blonde’s ear, she meekly got up and moved back to her allocated seat.
How did you manage that asked the crew in wonder. Easy says he. I just told her that business class wasn’t stopping at Melbourne on this flight!
Hey, a blonde joke! What a concept. I had never imagined that such excellent opportunities for mirth and merriment could be generated by ridiculing those with an unusually high level of the pheomelanin pigment in their hair.
I shall report to Rigel VII that Earth humour is remarkably creative.
Also, in the context of this thread, your joke has the advantage of proving the veracity of the hypothesis stated in your first line.
Via C.L. at Catallaxy, Camille Paglia weighs into the “crotchgate” debate:
http://catallaxyfiles.com/?p=2197#comment-7316
http://althouse.blogspot.com/2006/12/camille-paglia-on-its-not-my-word.html
Shorter Paglia: Flashing is only ok if it’s Madonna doing it.
Glad you liked my little ha-ha, whyisheso. I think another point about the joke you might have missed, though, is that many many blondes are fake blondes, blonde being such a sexy hair colour that it collects imitators. But there are some characteristics you simply can’t imitate, and it must be obvious the blonde in the joke was a natural-born blonde.
From Mark’s link:
“These girls are lowering themselves to the level of backstreet floozies. It angers me because I fought a bitter fight to get feminism back on track and be pro-sex at the same time. This is degrading the entire pro-sex wing of feminism.”
A pro-sex feminist! These wimmin are obviously out to exploit us blokes. Shame on them! What’s feminine for misogynist?
Heh.
whyisitso, the fallacy you commit is that you assume everyone believes sex is about exploitation. Interesting…
Here’s the Bollywood version:
http://www.wassupdubai.ae/artists/bhangra/sofia/index.php