I just saw Shakira's new video and just wanted to know how many of you are taken by the way she dances. It looks like she's belly dancing, but then it looks like she's just shaking her butt in front of the camera, unless belly dancing involves that kind of movement also. It seems like these artists think that women, like some men, like to watch women doing these provacative moves.

Although I think she dances well, sometimes I have a problem with how these female artists are portrayed in videos because it's only becoming about swaying women's bodies in front of people's faces. If it's just the dance that they want to bring about, it seems like they're using it in the same way they like to use sex to bring up some artists.

It also seems like ever since J.lo, women in the music business are more open to show off their buttocks, and not even their legs. I think it's cool that it's not about looking like skinny waif models anymore, but it seem like the media takes things a little too far sometimes. It's no wonder that women are getting more and more surgeries to get their buttocks bigger, and are feeling insecure about their less voluptuous bodies.

I think they should bring every kind of beauty to light and stop focusing so much on one particular body type of any racial background. But that could never be a part of this imperfect world and kind of a business. What is your take on this?
[This message was edited Tue Jul 16 18:26:21 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

Women have always been and always will be primarily noticed for the way they look, not for their ideas/abilities aside from the sexual. Fashions change, but for the most part women are supposed to have big tits, small waists, round hips and asses, medium thighs. Skinny model types without hips and breasts are acceptable to men if their faces are beautiful enough.

And that's that!

Shakira is belly dancing and those moves are bonafide belly dance moves. I really don't sit and watch the others,but there's plenty enough men who enjoy it, but I enjoy watching Shakira dance. I belly dance as a hobby and it's really a sensual and beautiful artform. However, what's the different between that and the men making grinding movements, Michael Jackson grabbing his crouch and all for the ladies? Sex sells, has and always will in the entertainment industry.

Personally, I don't think anything's wrong with it as long as you got some talent to go with the body. I don't listen to J'Lo and the others anyway. I like Shakira, but I think she could come up with some better material, but she's being hyped because she is talented. She just needs better songwriters.

There's nothing wrong with cosmetic surgery as long as you don't go overboard with it. There's nothing wrong with wanting a better looking body. It all depends on your attitude towards it. If you think surgery defines you and not your personality and spirit, then that isn't healthy.

LQ

Your right Anotherlover...after I posted this thread, I was talking to someone about it, and I realized that all this sexism is something we're just going to have to get used to, and that it's something that just cannot be fought. It's funny that your response was something similar to my thoughts. Oh well, thanks.
[This message was edited Tue Jul 16 19:42:49 PDT 2002 by Starmist7]

Starmist7 said:

Only to a certain extent is it hopeless, though. My opinion is that we have to make a difference in our individual, personal lives by calling out people on the shit we hear them say/see them do that's superficial and based on looks and not content...

Sexism, like racism, etc., is being fought all of the time and always will be. The fighting techniques just change...I find humor to be the best teaching method EVER for changing viewpoints like that. Pointing out the idiocy of a viewpoint by using intelligent humor--works a lot for me. My opinion, for what it's worth

her body. her rules.

Just a fun fact about SHAKIRA...

She's part Mid-Eastern...(Lebanese--did I spell that right?) and Colombian...equalling into ONE HOT HABIBI!!!

I hate her English album! So damn polished. She gave the Estefans to much control...listen to her Spanish gems...PIES DESCALZOS and DONDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES...her voice, music and writing are MUCH better! and her hair was DARK!

Sony, Estefan enterprises, have made her out to be a Britney clone!

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

Exactly!! I am not crazy about Shakira but I think she is rather talented. Antologia is my favourite song of hers. It is a beautiful love song with great lyrics that you would never find in a Britney Spears song. Only for that song she has my respect.

The problem with these artists is that they get fake and bland when they attempt to conquer the US market.

AnotherLoverHoleinYoHead said:

True again, something I do everyday, but when I watch these videos it just bothers me again...I like Shakira too as an artist though, despite what I stated above. She got some true talent and style in her. .

I'm too bothered by the sexism in all these videos, especially concerning the ones with loads of practically naked African American women (girls, really) - it seems to me that this is the only channel for black beauty to be publicly shown in equal terms with the white, but only in this very juvenile manner. At the very least, I cannot describe it as anything else as sheer exploitation of the audience and the dancers featured in those videos. But on the other hand, as a male I do have to admit I do enjoy watching them. And I certainly refuse to feel guilty about that, because afterall it's just all natural to be enticed by it.

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

I'm really frickin excited right now because I know what habibi means

AnotherLoverHoleinYoHead said:

I agree. You summed it up well.

Natsume said:

Heh heh!!!

HABIBI means "honey"...

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

or "my love". habibity is the female form... Sorry to be such a stickler but i've been studying Arabic for a few years.
And Shakira's definitely belly-dancing and doing a good job too!

Jessy...beautiful, nice picture of Prince!!!

Dig the cover art.

Starmist7 said:

Thanks, I aim to please.