Saturday, March 30, 2013
I be on my Suit & Tie
As I was perusing Buzzfeed, I found this little interview with Justin Timberlake. This past week I have been on the verge of obsessing over his new album (no shame) so this clip of one of his latest interviews definitely caught my attention. I heard someone mention this interview a few days ago, so I thought it was time for me to hop on the bandwagon and get in on the latest JT news. However, just within the first few minutes of the interview, JT drops a phrase that we just so happen to be critiquing in class. See if you guys can identify a phrase that Justin throws around (ill give you a hint, less than 2 minutes into the clip). With our continuously developing critical ear and eye, its also interesting to hear how the live audience responds to JT's repeated remark. Also, how does Johnathan Ross react? His excuses and proceeding action emphasizes how he feels about the remark…disproving JT's accusation. Now, don't get me wrong here. I love me some JT, but I think he could have done without his demeaning and "conventionally masculine"jab.
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I didn't watch the whole thing, but I did watch enough to see both the retrograde jab (which seemed, way, way out of character for a guy who I thought ordinarily uses his uber-smooth and gentle style to soften the edge of his alpha male-ness. bringing sexy back? unhuh. more like "bringing sexism back!").
ReplyDeleteIn the process, it was also so odd to see this sort of drinking ritual take place at all on television (it wouldn't be allowed to happen on US tv - which in itself is an interesting variable by which we could analyze UK vs US hegemonic masculinity). It was so replete with comparison and competition: the stare down, the comparison of the "in total control" JT, and the bumbling host, and then, the literal competition of the golfing match.
This is a _perfect_ example of how masculinity can be understood not as a "thing" one has, but as a performance one partakes in.
Notice, too, the role that the women in the audience play. Masculinity, and its constant "attainment," almost always includes women who are "complicit" in the act.