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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

Blurred lines uncut video

15 replies

MarilynMoanroe · 13/06/2013 23:59

Has anyone here seen Robin Thicke's blurred lines uncut video? The 3 topless women dancing in nude thongs.

I also made the mistake of looking at the lyrics as I could make out "bitch" endearingly said on several occasions.

Loving the line

"I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two"

Makes my blood boil!

OP posts:
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ForkInTheForeheid · 14/06/2013 09:24

I must admit I had a look at this out of morbid curiosity - if you imagine the video with the genders swapped can you imagine the reaction? The age gap between the male singers and female dancers is between 15 and 20 years, the power imbalance between these rich, older men and these dancers/models (I think models actually, they don't really dance so much as strut) is quite disturbing.

There's this self-awareness and lack of embarrassment about it too, I heard Robin Thicke answering questions on R1 - someone asked him why the girls in the video were wearing so little and he just said (imagine a sleazy tone) "They just look good that way, honey" - yuk.

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TheOrchardKeeper · 14/06/2013 14:25

GOD it is so gross.

Sleazey, sexually violent lyrics...so so so so so gross once you know what he's actually banging on about.

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Vegehamwidge · 14/06/2013 15:04

That part you posted OP...so the lyrics are actually about wanting to injure a woman via sex/rape? The lyrics also include "I know you want it."

Can you imagine a popular mainstream song which included calling a different group of people slurs (like how bitch is used here) and basically threats of violence? My comparison might sound extreme but I'm noticing a lot of sexist and violent (towards women) songs lately. Is it because those artists feels that women are that group of people it's OK to be hateful towards, and it's only controversial not racist etc?

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MarilynMoanroe · 15/06/2013 08:33

Yes, I guess it's obvious in the lyrics that violent sex is implied, rape even.

Absolutely disgusting. Why would those women in the video agree to this? Is money really enough?

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skrumle · 15/06/2013 09:06


i always think the everyday objectification of women is clearer when you see men put into the same situation... the issue is that the men look ridiculous, while even though the topless models made me unhappy it still seemed more natural to see women prancing about in weird positions.
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Ziggyzoom · 15/06/2013 23:15

I quite liked this tune, so I downloaded it. Then I started to listen to the lyrics - "good girls... you know you want it..." I wonder what exactly are these "blurred lines"? Atrocious song - let alone the exploitative video!

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FreyaSnow · 15/06/2013 23:30

Somebody has done a gender swapped parody of it, with men writhing around in underwear. Sorry, can't link from here, but it is on youtube.

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goodmum101 · 03/07/2013 21:27

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rosabud · 03/07/2013 22:52

This song was played at the school where I work last week. Over lunchtime at Sport's Day they were playing the latest upbeat pop/rap songs and this was one of them. It's very catchy, the students liked it and some teachers were laughing and clapping along. I felt very uncomfortable about it, it is not something that should be promoted at school at all in my opinion. However, I felt I couldn't complain because of precisely the sort of attitude expressed by the idiot poster above. I will be labelled as the no fun, politically correct, whinging member of staff. I wish I had the courage to complain about it, though.

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5madthings · 03/07/2013 22:56

Nice goodmum what made you search out this thread to post crap on.

Op the song is vile, as is the video.

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teetering13 · 04/07/2013 10:25

Awful song/vid

Rosabud .. I bet most of them wouldn't have had a clue what it was about, I heard the song on the radio a few times before I realised the words were 'blurred lines' (in fact I heard the dj say what it was called) .. that's when I actually listened and was like Hmm

Only just seen the vid because of this post Sad

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MiniTheMinx · 04/07/2013 10:50

Thanks for posting the Parody skrumle

I saw the uncut vid earlier this week and was shocked by the lyrics and general message. On a second view DP (male) pointed out some of subliminal messages, such as comparing women to animals, the use of the bike, pointing to the floor "get down" and the lots of little seemingly insignificant acts of subservience throughout the whole video.

The parody version made us chuckle but is perhaps just as shocking, the men look quite ridiculous and the use of the cat (pussy) was a great touch. Again full of little subliminal messages, he tries to light her cigarette, she then lights her own........he can't even get that right!

As for children not understanding the lyrics, maybe and that is precisely why this song with it's message that women are animals to be trained and domesticated to serve men is so powerful. Children and young people will not have the critical thinking skills to question it. It certainly won't enter their thinking that this cultural brainwashing IS the real reason for women's subordination and that nature has NOTHING to do with it.

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wherearemysocka · 04/07/2013 20:32

We dance to it at Zumba. I hate it and go outside when it's on. Like rosebud I wish I had the courage to say something but don't want to come across as a party pooper since everyone else there clearly hasn't looked up the lyrics and thinks it's just a fun summery song.

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Italiangreyhound · 04/07/2013 23:43

Awful song. How horrible to play it at a school!!
I just read this

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AmandaPandtheTantrumofDoom · 05/07/2013 15:18

Good article. Kind of rapey is exactly how I would describe that song.

What's it with the most misogynistic songs being the catchiest though. Bloody hell, I'd only just moved on from that Walks like Rhianna when this stuck in my head. I need some MNers to give me some new feminist lyrics for it like they did the Rhianna one!

I'm listening to a bit of Pink on repeat to try and get it out of my head. Cos it's a fucking horrible song.

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