Rik Cordero’s video for the Roots’ rejected Patrick Stump cameo single is confusing. While it’s appropriately set at a birthday party, the logic seems to stop there.
The video stars existentialist porn star Sasha Grey as the titular birthday girl, who’s having a midday party in her formal dining room with two of her closest friends. Just as the things start to look boring, Cordero cuts to the doorway of the adjoining room, which is crowded with Los Angeles’ finest creepsters shooting their most discomforting furtive glances toward Sasha. And they’ve come bearing gifts. Very phallic gifts!
At first it seems as if Cordero might be taking the video in the pleasant hug-a-loser direction, but that sweetness is but an introduction to the birthday girl sitting on the floor and opening each dude’s gift as he stands above her, holding it at his crotch. One guy brought her a sausage! How sweet!
Cordero shoots the sequence in a more or less shot/reverse-shot pattern, but despite this lukewarm attempt at representing the female perspective, the sequence still comes off as uncomfortably misogynistic. That tight shot of the sausage hovering near her mouth lingers just a bit too long, and, furthermore, in all of the high-angle shots looking down at Grey opening the gifts she’s got her best come-hither face on, thus negating any potential emotional depth. Which would be an entirely acceptable stylistic choice if it didn’t seem as though Cordero were trying to make some sort of “statement.”
Of course the song is also about a relationship between a guy and a sexually precocious 17-year-old pretending to be 22, which, to be fair to Cordero, is duly represented, if a bit indirectly. Still, there’s a certain sadness–a tone of vague regret, even–in the song that seems jarringly absent from the video. “Birthday Girl” the song is about about the dubious advantages of growing up, and the room full of eager horny guys would seemingly indicate that Sasha’s character is about to be thrust into a world of sexual expectations that are perhaps beyond her years. But by sticking almost exclusively to the male gaze and presumably directing his actress to be seductive, Cordero fails to accurately convey the complex emotions of the situation. I suppose Sasha Grey’s up-for-it attitude could be interpreted as female empowerment, but I don’t think miming BJs on older men at a high school birthday party ever has made, or ever will make, any girl feel liberated. Perhaps I’m just closed-minded?
As for the last minute of the video, which is is mostly black-and-white security-camera footage of a film crew coming into the room and directing the characters around, I have no explanation. Perhaps Cordero is trying to tell us something postmodern about music videos, though I doubt it’s anything that complicated. It’s visually boring and has nothing to do with anything else. Couldn’t he have just shot a performance video set at a backyard BBQ and saved us all this trouble?
It’s pretty sad that this the only context with which the 4AD logo could appear on MTV in the 21st century.
From “Subbacultcha” to Statutory… and it didn’t even take two decades!
As far as porn stars go, Sasha seems to have a decent head on her shoulders, even if it is screwed on a bit wonky. From the few times I’ve heard her talk (yes, she’s been in videos and on tv outside of porn!) she seemed very articulate. Be interesting to see how the whole “mainstream crossover” goes for her.
On a related note, I thought the Roots closing performance on the Colbert Report last night was interesting. Not from a musical standpoint so much as a symbolic one. If you missed it, it was basically an instrumental rendition of the star spangled banner that ended with some good ol’ fashioned guitar smashing. Thing is, the guitar smashing seemed more angry and disgusted than “WOOO ROCK AND ROLL” Maybe it was late and I had had too many beers, but I thought the whole thing bordered on a performance art piece.
I was probably just tired.
This is honestly the worst song The Roots have ever put out, and it’s great that they left it off the album - because everything else on the album sounds awesome.
Maybe Rik just wants to send his demo reel to Vivid.
Ah, the old lots-of-hot-girls-in-place- of-a-concept trick.
‘Titular birthday girl’ is a nice touch.
… or maybe the video was just riffing on the fact that Sasha Grey is a PORN STAR.
You know, either way.
I thought the end was supposed to be the guys getting busted Chris Hansen style, the one dude covering up and bailing…
You make what should be an obvious observation to most people, especially right now in our global, social, cultural, climate.
Really this is a vital media issue. Great article.
We simply cannot be delusional anymore, all media has to be subjected to important questions & scrutiny, the porn industry is no longer immune. If sex is someones chosen medium, that’s great, but working in- the industry is not- a good idea.
With the sex trade industry booming & with it, the fact & discovery that the even larger porn industry feeds the sex trade industry, it’s quite a disheartening & ignorant message to send from a human rights perspective.
People used to- be able to acquire pornography without it financing the sex trade industry.
But now things are a bit more complicated as the porn industry finances, buys & distributes globally via the net, etc, pornography made abroad, in prague, etc, where the sex slave/trade industry is rampant & well of course, yes, here in the US as well.
In which we don’t know- whether or not, a child, girl, boy or young adult was forced into performing in porn media or or not.
This is a serious issue & dilemma that is exploding, & especially in regards to our need to keep our right to free speech. !
& it’s a very interesting one, because we are starting to talk about porn as the media that it is & there is much happening outside the industry that is opening some wonderful pandora’s box’s & manifesting some incredible smart & sexually charged work, as the film destricted does, ( yes it uses taboo too, but it has to!:)
Federal agents & policemen are having a really hard time catching up with & trying to deal with this explosion in supply & demand, abuse. Also organized crime in some countries has surged to unprecedented rates due to legalized prostitution intermixed with pornography sales in shops. Amsterdam recently shut down part of it’s red light district, it got so out of control. Many people are trying to figure out why- this happens.
I think another issue, perhaps most important- is why don’t more musicians feel compelled to not only create revolutionary & uniquely challenging & smart themes for music ( war, the environment, human rights in the states & abroad, tibet, identity, so much going on right now ) .
&, why don’t more of them prefer & find themselves inspired by intensely bright & talented, imaginative & hard working young men & women.
I highly doubt that anyone will disagree with me that there are countless gifted, charismatic & innovative teen males & females in our world that can make the most of any creative endeavor handed to them. Several, I am sure- that could explain & represent, brilliantly & candidly the complexity of sexuality of youth in our culture.
&, in very original, responsible & courageous ways.
This video send such a negative message to our youth.
& it’s not original or unique it is limiting.
It sends the message to some young males & young females that by validating subjecting themselves to the pornography industry that they too can become highly successful & work for bands & musicians such as the roots, the smashing pumpkins, dave navarro, etc.
&, by fueling our self deception on both sides of the issue, we get into trouble, it’s hard to point a finger because we are the consumers & this is where people in the industry empower & validate their ’cause’.
This is where they have an advantage, or is it?
A few facts here.
The sad thing is there really is no ’cause’-
one can look at this issue from many perspectives & in the end what comes into question is the validity- of using sex & prostitution as the basis for achieveing ones successes & achievements in life. How this effects us socially, again the attitudes & outcomes are widespread.
Why- could it be a harmful thing? & this issue has nothing to do with morality, for me-.
The porn issue is an ethical issue.
Even a ’shallow’ ‘ego’ commercial- media issue, certainly.
The ethical & philosophical issue is as old as the act of prostitution itself & those who work in pornography are- legal prostitutes. ( & well the prsotitution issue is a big fat issue isn’t it, I do believe in more resources, protection for prostitutes, such as programs in india, etc..)
The key word here- is ‘prostitute’, our cultures obsessions with the surface one dimensionality & escapism from reality- of the ‘taboo’.
There is great danger & potential psychosis here, which widens even more the scope of our acceptance of our culture’s interests & obsessions, corporate & financial, commercially & politically, etc with fetishising, sexualizing & objectifying our youth-.
& rewarding those who chose to succeed by this very definition.
&, would Ms Grey find herself in such gracious circumstances allowing her to get paid for thoroughly ‘enjoying’ her career in ‘experimental’ ‘lust’ for ‘gang bangs & bj’s’ if she were not attractive?
Has she & any of these musicians thought of the very real underlying realities of the message that they are sending to human beings of all ages & backgrounds. What is, the message.
So one must- put her being ‘attractive’ into the equation.
Thus, limiting & subjecting even more- our youth with the objectives & pressures of corporate and commercial interests.
But most importantly, & lastly- what is- going on here?
Let’s talk about sexuality.
What sex means in terms of qualities of desire ( it’s wide!! :). Libido.
The honest blunt fact & truth is that the kinds of intimacy that it takes for individuals to participate romantically, intimately & sexually with each other as ‘others & individuals’ , the variables of responsibility & desire, the great & intense rewards within such bonds, is much, much more complex than even the most subersive manifestation of youth obsessed hard core pornography.
Why? Let us think about that one.
Love for anything, let alone another human being, is very complex. Especially for teens & young adults.
It’s so hard for most of us, with the exception of those who are truly quite talented, to even represent- the nature & complexity of human bonds, in music, film ,books, drama- etc- especially when it involves sexuality.
Exploitation is not complex, exploitation diminishes our drive to bond with others & not just romantic bonds-& thus, we lose out on discovering ourselves, what we are capable of, fully.
We have a choice- awareness & a right to our own broad understanding of sexuality, expressing & communicating openly & responsibly about it, or- being incessantly dictated to by those who emphasize repeatedly, fetishizing lack- as a means to achieve the tangible & intangible. It’s just not possible, it’s the bonds, identity, which make it interesting, possible.
( Great theme, there!?)
Nothing is easy, but we know the utter thrill of respect, love, courage, passion & wisdom when, we hear it, see it, experience it for ourselves.
& all media is getting ready for a boom of awareness, complexity & such responsibility, that will & is competing with the projected & manipulative interests of corporations & the grip that they have on our self worth, capabilities & attention spans.
It takes courage, complete self respect, great strength, hard work, authority, imagination & innovation, to achieve & express the impossible & inspire & reach others without only- using a body or sex, to get it.
I believe in our youth, their limitlessness & discoveries. I believe in being skeptical of all media & discussing all media openly & factually & more.
( frontline video about sex trade industry [video.google.com] )
This video is getting way too much bad press.
It’s a spoof of a ‘To Catch a Predator’ where the girls in the party are just part of a sting to catch sexual predators that prey on young girls. The subject is alluded to in Blackthought’s verse with the ‘R Kelly…’ reference. The black and white footage mimics the hidden camera techniques used on the show.
And who better to bait the trap than a famously young adult entertainment star?
Also, if you notice there’s a couple of instances where Sasha looks directly into the camera.. showing that she’s in on the plot but obviously that doesn’t pay off till the end when the camera crew storms in to spring the trap.
The Roots have a long history of being very culturally aware and informed and eschew the misogynistic practices of a lot of less educated performers in hip-hop. Once you understand that and spot the riff on the ‘…Predator’ show the video becomes what it should be seen as… a sound concept, delievered well with a strong message about problems in our society. It does require you to be aware of the show though, which is it’s only downfall.
And if you’re not convinced that The Roots aren’t all macho women haters in the 50cent vein… check youtube for their video ‘What They Do’. Sadly it’s still topical today and it’s about 10 years old (i think).
To quote 2 hands “delievered well with
a strong message about problems in our society” ?
It’s an IMPORTANT issue about all people-men women- etc- & media, it’s not about our ( your ) predictable & age old accusatory, mundane ritual of creating excuses for pointless things by using ‘aren’t macho woman hating’ as a defense-.
Strong message?? Huh….
Really?? In our dire dire time that is making us all beg that we get out of this one together with- a planet??
So in other words, this video is about how students in the UK are trying to help in offering better education for orphaned children & battle unemployment & AIDS in Kwa Zulu Natal Africa?
[news.google.com]
Were ‘the roots’ or ms grey, present in Uganda along with the other rock & roll activists present to try to put an end to Kony’s heinous- regime??
[www.time.com]
Are these the problems that you are talking about??
No? Ah sorry no…
( By the way I am sick & tired of people babbling about all the ‘problems in our society’ & NEVER being specific… Reeks of insincerity & lack of willpower & or inability to talk &- act on what these real ‘problems’ are-)
Oh the problems in our society!!
Sorry..
Yes, I was talking about just 2 out of countless, serious, dire global issues right now!!
Well the environment & the recession are a bit- huge right now!!
I got those 2 out of the way!
Let’s see…
How about, this issue,
“A warning that the current economic downturn could lead to the greatest loss of assets for communities of color that’s ever happened.”
[www.alternet.org]
Are you choosing between gas or food??
‘2 hands’ ?
[www.signonsandiego.com]
I must say that this is a pretty important social problem right now..
Apparently Mr Reyes cares about the sex trade problem..
[www.thesop.org]
How about how teens need open discussion concerning sex because-
“Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed that one in four U. S. teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection.”
& because we bombard them with a constant flow of images & representations of sex.
[www.buffalonews.com]
We are not paying enough attention to our youth directly-, so it’s a big problem that we shove all this kind of media down their throat & have such high expectations of them.
I quote- “We need to encourage state senators to pass the Healthy Teens Act.”
So is this the problem you are talking about?? You & the roots & ms grey?
No, your not, the rest of the world aware of ‘the problems in our society’ -are, & working hard on them..
Hm I suppose the time is right to expose the nonsensical hypocrisy in your argument..
“a spoof of a ‘To Catch a Predator’
+
“a famously young adult entertainment star”
& she’s been pretty vocal about battling this trend yes?
HA HA HA HA HA HA! Not at all.
As a matter of fact she has signed away plenty of her freedoms, she cannot talk about the sex trade & the relationship it has with the media she partakes in- in any logical rational fashion whatsoever.
Impossible. Let’s see if it happens.
Others are- this is why being in the industry is NOT a good idea.
It is a bad idea- do your homework.
This is not dita von teese we are talking about!!
This is not smart responsible sexually progressive people we are talking about- people who CAN TALK intelligently tactfully & truthfully, & with healthy openness & curiosity about ALL that is complicit in sexual exploration’ an attitude & liberty , freedoms, that VASTLY exceed that of ms grey’s. I must say I dare believe, that she has not even researched or READ ANY- of the vast literature- available on this exact subject!
:O!!! True, true…
Thus the title of this fine article!!!
Call it- an issue of ‘quality intermixed with REALITY’ if you will..
Thus- people- not just WOMEN, PEOPLE are smart & media savvy & are upset that a band- that they USED- to like put an infamously pseudo ‘ smart’ ( right )potty mouthed, self aggrandizing, fame obsessed, shallow PERSON- in their video.
Fame can be very cliche & cheap, or at least it’s becoming moreso as several ‘celebrities’ are attempting to wizen up to a wizened up audience- & our ’social problems’.
So we should just take lightly & completely ignore all the titles of her porns & her insatiable desire to be done with it & enter ‘the mainstream’..????
Hmmm..
Media is vast.
Our choices are vast.
This is an old battle between the attila & the scientist & though scientists yes, have their share of problems, the scientist is winning my friend.
A bit more empathetic as well & much much more liberal.
Way more liberal than statements like ‘macho woman hating’.
Liberal as in ‘I have WAY waaaay WAY more respect for & would fund paying for - the condoms given out to prostitutes in India-’
With how ms grey does not consider herself a sex worker as well as how maliciously she talks about them- I highly doubt her freedom or ability to care about or even think of her fellow sex workers in our world.
I don’t think she could fathom the complexity & utter hardship of their life.
Hey, how about a docu? Wow… She could go to india & go through a transformation!! By living with & talking to the prostitutes there!!
They could share stories & bond.
& help them- now…She could garner a bit of integrity there!
Call morgan spurlock!
& make sure that the fine hard working women of india would want to have anything to do with a fellow sex worker that insults prostitutes so unabashedly.
& the news is: ignoring all these ‘problems’ will not make them go away.
Sorry- :(
As a result, our perceptions ( inclusive of the vastness of human sexuality & our complicity & responsibilities in the nature of cause & effect) on all things all- will & are, becoming much more advanced & shall leave our old ignorant ways in the dust, ( hopefully, or at least this is happening more of us are taking responsibility for things, the environment, etc).
Complete charlatans are becoming a passe ,peripheral- hypocritical lot that are not concerned in the least as to our survival & evolution, conscious sexual & otherwise- on this planet.
I suggest if you wish to comment further on our ‘problems’ you leave some examples for us!
Perhaps the complete ‘problem’ in your argument is that you seem to think that somehow- that, if all you describe were done with a regular young woman, that this would somehow be a good thing, media, for all people in our day & age.
Hmmm..
No regular young woman or young man in their right mind unless they cared that much about a few hundred dollar bills, or their overblown ego-( aka girls & boys gone wild, levy forgot to include the ‘wild boys’
[en.wikipedia.org]) they- would never- let themselves perform like a trained MONKEY & for such an inconceivably STUPID & pointless video.
( well of course unless they love- the be trained monkeys…sorry..)
Problem, solved.
Done…
‘ whew’
:)
i think this is not patrick’s style isn’t it? the roots n patrick stump…hum