Rihanna's newest video "S&M" is full of chains, collars, full figured dommes, and oh so much more. I don't know about you, but I think this is a seriously risqué/freaking cool topic to set a music video around. Aside from allegations that she stole a lot of this imagery from the photographer Dave LaChapelle, I've got to admit, Rihanna has chutzpah! So sit back and enjoy "S&M"
What are your reactions?
I'm quite conflicted over this video. I understand the excitement over the BDSM community, and well any sort of "alternative" form of sexuality being depicted in mainstream media, actually it's definitely something I very much hope will continue to develop in the near future. However, I can't help but wonder what Rihanna's intentions were behind making this video (and if anyone has any info regarding this, please feel free to enlighten me) and how or if she personally identifies within this lifestyle. Because if there is one thing I cannot stand is misrepresentation of a particular group of individuals in mainstream media, and if there's a group of individuals who I think have taken a particular amount of heat it has been the kink/BDSM community.
ReplyDeleteThe BDSM community is probably one of the most diverse communities I can think of. Apart from spanning just about every race, religion, sexual orientation etc. there's also this complete buffet table (for lack of better terms) of interests/turn ons/fetishes/kinks that a particular individual can be into and I would argue that no two people are exactly the same in that respect.
With that said, I feel that this video promotes kink and BDSM the same way that every other media outlet has thus far: as a largely hypersexual "freakshow" that revolves primarily around whips, chains, ball gags, crazy amounts of bondage etc. Media depictions like this only reinforce the fact that having a kinky lifestyle is "Alternative" sexuality and that it is not normal, which, there you go, marginalizes another group of individuals (as if there isnt enough of this already going on).
So while I commend Rihanna for speaking the topic of kink/S&M/BDSM to the public ear, I can't help but cringe at the way in which her video depicts this. It does not give credibility to this community but rather reinforces a stereotype. What the public does need to know is that people that engage in kink lead lives that are as "normal" as anyone else. Many are professionals, many are in loving monogamous relationships, and for many of these people BDSM is a lot more than hardcore sex, pain, and humiliation; it's about a control and power dynamic (exchange) and ultimately about trust. And for many this a private personal part of their lives which does not need to be FALSELY paraded in the public eye without the proper information backing it up.
For positive depictions of BDSM lifestyles I would recommend, to anyone who follows the television show Private Practice, examining the relationship between Charlotte and Cooper (though it doesn't constantly acknowledge kink, the couple have identified as kinky on several occasions and I love seeing their relationship evolve). I would also recommend checking out a podcast called Masocast for great non-creepy, inoffensive, non-marginalizing material and information on those within the BDSM community.
Anyways, all in all, not sure what Rihanna's intentions were with this video (perhaps they were coming from a good place) but the depiction: stereotypically awful and equally as damaging. How sad.
I think the video for madonna's 'erotica' portrays it better, and is overall more original.
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