Image from Morguefile
I was reading a post the other day regarding Beyonce’s performance during the Superbowl halftime show about how she was over-sexualized and how her show sent a bad message and how it was unnecessary, inappropriate and all around bad juju ~ bringing women down from where they should be as equals to mere sexual objects with her high heeled boots and her crotch thrusting dance.
Wow ~ I did not realize Beyonce was that powerful. What a gal!
It did not offend me as much as most, probably because I grew up in the Madonna era, where gyrating and cone boobs were the norm.
Image of Madonna from photobucket
Madonna didn’t make me feel like a mere sexual object then and she didn’t make me want to go out and buy see-through netting and cone boob covers to wear at school, no more than Material Girl made me want to run out and find a sugar daddy. She was a performer and, yes, her antics were out there and did not make sense to me ~ but, who cares? I liked her music and singing ‘Like a Virgin’ drove my mother crazy, so it was all good.
I figure girls now a days are at least as smart as I was and don’t fall for it either.
So, I am reading the many comments on the blog post, when I come across several which talk about non-believers and Sodom and Gomorrah and how this is what happens when non-believers run rampant across the universe, or something like that. They explain how non-believers or heathens or whatever are the reason for the declining morality of the world because if they have no faith then they must follow the devil himself.
Wait just a cotton pickin’ minute.
Just because someone doesn’t subscribe to a particular belief or any higher-being belief for that matter, does not mean that they have no morals. That is not only an insult to ‘non-believers’, it is an insult to the believer because what they are saying is that the only reason a believer is moral is because a higher being requires it of them. Left on their own, they are weak and corrupt and immoral.
What?
Here’s the truth.
There are believers who are moral.
There are non-believers who are moral.
There are believers who are immoral.
There are non-believers who are immoral.
Them’s the facts, ladies and gents.
How do I know? I know because I have met those who fit into all of those categories at one time or another and chances are that you have too.
What do you think, my fine feathered friends? Do you need to believe in a higher power to be moral and good? Or can a non-believer also be moral and good? Did Beyonce’s performance bother you? Did Madonna’s cone boob covers puzzle you as much as it did me?
I also ran across a post bemoaning Beyonce’s performance from a “she trivialized herself and all women” point of view. While I didn’t read all of it – and certainly didn’t dive into the comments – I caught a definite conservative vibe from the tone of the post.
I don’t know. It looked like she was having fun. I saw strength and beautiful curves and humor, and for there to be blowback about her revealing outfit has me more worried about society’s current state of mind than anything I saw on stage. Because, as you point out, performers like Madonna have been there and done (less than) that for years. Are we having some kind of mass social amnesia?
Most music artists are ‘out there’ in one way or another, so I was like ~ meh, whatever. I think you’ve coined a good term for what is going on ~ mass social amnesia. Yup, that’s about right..
Kim & Liv – thank you both for saying this so well.
Thanks, Suzanne
Those other bloggers and commenters must have gotten way more out of the performance than I did. I saw it and didn’t have a problem with it. I’m fairly indifferent about Beyoncé’s music- some songs are okay, some aren’t my thing. As for her performance… I’ve certainly seen worse (having also grown up in the Madonna era). I wasn’t offended, nor was I energized. Rather than spend so much time bashing other’s behaviors, the critics could spend more time demonstrating exemplary behavior.
I know, right? Take care of your own house, so to speak. Good point.
It’s interesting the things people find to criticize and their reasons for doing so. I didn’t see Beyonce’s performance so I can’t comment on it specifically. I do have a HUGE problem with people writing things like ‘non-believers are immoral’. I have never understood the need to demean or belittle someone based on a person’s choice of religion or faith. I would never presume to be so all knowing and above my fellow humans that I have the authority to label someone immoral (and therefore possessing powers to ruin society with a song or a dance), either. I like how you summed up your post. Well said.
I never understood that either, Tami. Like, what I believe or don’t believe doesn’t affect your belief ~ so what do you care? It doesn’t make sense.
Thanks for the compliment
Definitely one can be a “non-believer” and a moral person. But I do question use of the blanket term “non-believer”. I presume those who coin the term are mainly referring to Christian-based faiths? Oh gosh I could get really ranty here, so might just step off the soap box before I get going.
Good points, Kim!
Thanks, Ellen!
Yes, it was a Christian-based site ~ so I guess non-believers are all those who don’t subscribe to their beliefs. Very narrow view of the world…
Absolute morality does not exist for those professing to be Christians or otherwise. It can be the loftiest goal to aspire to, but it is nevertruly realized in this gossamer existence we call our lives. I don’t believe that a person is good or bad merely because of a higher power. Yet, one can appreciate and respect certain tracks if one has enough respect for the Track-Maker.
Any performer who feels pressed to be overtly sensual in his/her performance (and hasn’t done so heretofore) has an acute insecurity that isn’t hard to recognize. Beyonce is obviously feeling her years stack up and that makes her insecure enough to revert to hip gyrations and “come and get me” antics rather than relying on her talent and fleeting youth. Quite sad, actually, whether one believes it is a cultural pulldown or just a rabid attempt to garner approval.
Good point ~ you’re right, none of us are 100% moral ~ we all have good and bad inside of us no matter what we believe, as that is our inherit design.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I am conflicted by Beyonce’s performance. As far as prudishness, I was part of the hippie generation so I’ve seen lots of naked bodies doing lots of gyrating and I’m not bothered by it, but what may be acceptable in the venue of a music video, bothered me to see it at the Super Bowl. It didn’t feel appropriate. I love dance, music, performance and art of all kinds. There is a fine line to vulgarity. It has nothing to do with religion–I don’t even want to comment about that. I think that line is crossed for some people and not others, I guess it is an individual decision. Madonna crossed those lines for me as well in some of her performances–but she always said her purpose was to shock. Perhaps good taste is an individual decision. Having said all that, I loved Beyonce’s performance, and all in high heels!!–it just crossed that line for me in a few places. Doesn’t mean I don’t love her.
What a workout, right?? Thanks for coming by, Cora