Quinn Wilson
In Motion Staff Writer
Several weeks ago, a news item probably escaped most people’s attention, but not those who get their news from social media.
Byte by Byte makes its debut this month as a column devoted to social media and how it can change the world around us. From sparking revolutions to revealing a top celebrity’s true colors, it’s guaranteed that social media will have a say in today’s current events—whether we like it or not.
For example: Robin Thicke, a 36-year-old man, singing about objectifying women and assuming he knows what they want, regardless of their consent ─ may not sit well with you… And this won’t either.
On Sept. 2 a feminist parody of Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” by the Law Revue Girls was removed from YouTube for a few hours. By switching the roles of the singers from being men to women, the song addressed the issues of the song in a humorous light. The “misandry,” which aims to degrade men, within the parody is used to bring light to the misogyny in Thicke’s verses, which were co-written by T.I. and Pharrell Williams.
The Law Revue Girl’s video was taken down by YouTube because it was considered inappropriate content. There was a massive outcry from Twitter, Facebook and various other social media sites. The parody was removed, but Thicke’s original song was left alone with all its dancing nude women, and men willing to take advantage of them.
Sites like YouTube are key to the ebb and flow of information and ideas. So why silence the Law Revue Girls when it appears that the point they were making was completely valid?
Perhaps it’s the fact that “Blurred Lines” is the biggest hit of the summer season. Some of the lyrics would make your ancestors blush from beyond the grave. The verse receiving the most attention is, “I know you want it” and that Thicke “hates these blurred lines.” He is talking about the gray areas of consent. In parallel, the parody’s lyrics are meant to shut down what Thicke views as blurred lines of consent. In the chorus the girls sing, “If you want to get nasty, just don’t harass me. You can’t just grab me. That’s a sex crime!”
Although the parody was put back on YouTube after enough people complained, YouTube’s obvious bias has left many feeling unsettled, especially when it comes to “Blurred Lines”.
In Thicke’s video, all of the men are dressed in swanky suits, while the women are in the nude. Never does the song portray women as anything but props. The women’s value, it seems, is only based on their appearance.
In an interview with GQ, Thicke said that the song was meant to ‘degrade women as much as possible’. So why are people ignoring just how awful the song is? Rape apologists often use the argument that date rape isn’t ‘actual’ rape. That if a person is inebriated in some way, that their consent is a “gray area.” Looking back to the Steubenville, Ohio rape verdict ─ case in which a drunk high school girl was sexually assaulted by her male peers─ it’s plain to see that, for some people, victim-blaming is prominent even when the assaulters are found guilty. Candy Crowley, a correspondent for CNN, said that “those poor boys’ lives are ruined.”
Social media was hailed to be what drove the case forward. One of the boys posted a photo on Instagram. showing two of the boys holding the girl by her arms and her legs. The photo can still be found to this day. A twelve minute video was also recorded by one of the boys in which the boys repeatedly imply that the girl is dead and keep suggesting that they should sexually assault her.
It’s safe to say that America pop culture has a problem. The female body is over sexualized; that much is obvious. What’s worse is that pop culture encourages such conduct, oftentimes with victims being told that they were asking for it. You can use any number of excuses, provocative clothing or a flirtatious demeanor, but songs such as “Blurred Lines” poke fun at a topic that needs to be taken seriously.
Many people believe that social media is just good for telling your friends what kind of sandwich you’re eating. Social media is also a very powerful tool when people want to get their voices heard. The Law Revue Girls’ parody is a prime example, and so is the video and photo from the Steubenville case. In a time where electronics are the king of the hill, it’s important to remember that our news isn’t just coming from our televisions and papers. There is an entire electronic world full of information, and that alone should compel people to make use of it.