Christina Aguilera’s latest video, “Not Myself Tonight“, is a rare treat to anyone into high fashion fetish wear. It’s a visual cascade of latex and flirtations with kink oriented sexuality in terms of pet play and bondage.
Some writers on the web, Cristina Everett over at NyDailyNews is one of them, refers to the “shock value” of the video, but as seasoned as I am I just find it to be a nice piece of art.
I have a hard time to even find it shocking, but I understand that you might get a full blown heart attack if you have one hand on the bible while shouting that everything that is slightly expressing female sexual freedom is an abomination. Others might even argue that the video is an expression of the patriarchy always being present in our society and that Christina Aguilera is a mere tool or even a victim being used by hidden powers.
I see something different being expressed in the video. I see expressions of fetish and BDSM moving into the cultural mainstream, I see expressions of an interesting curiosity towards the kink which might lead to a wider acceptance. I also see a woman who is reclaiming her right to choose her own expression and her own sexuality.
When I read through the comments over at NyDailyNews, I see expressions of disgust and rejection and I am marveled.
I’m marveled by how different things might look depending on which side of the fence you are standing. I’m also marveled by how some selected people in this world manage to appoint themselves to be righteous knights covered in armor made from moral and ethical values.
No one is forced to watch something they do not enjoy, there is always a possibility to watch something else.
So how is it that people who do not agree with a fetish or BDSM is trying to force their values onto me – How is it that their values is better than the ones I have?
Some comments over at NyDaily even threatens, even if Christina Aguilera can sing, to not listen to her music anymore because of the video – Isn’t that a superficial statement?
I listen to different musicians because they make good music – How they look or what they do when it comes to their sexuality is irrelevant to me and the music they make.
But I guess it all comes down to which side of the fence you’re on and there will always be people claiming that their side of the fence is better than my side.
In the end it doesn’t matter, I like my side and I am sure it will piss off some people but my side isn’t better in any way, it’s just where I want to be out of my own free will.
What a load of crap
[…] wrote a while ago about Christina Aguilera’s video that had pet play with a touch of latex fetish in it. Well, I guess that there is another artists […]
Nice blog!
'So how is it that people who do not agree with a fetish or BDSM is trying to force their values onto me – How is it that their values is better than the ones I have?' – so true!!!
I bow in honor of your appreciation – Thank you.
They live with the illusion that they are "normal" while BDSM lifestylers are "not normal". Usually these people don't have any scientific claims for their opinion that they want to force on people that are not like them.
My guess is that they are afraid of things that are different, things that might affect their sense of security and that is a shame.
It would be so much better if people just said: "I don't understand what you are doing and I might not like it – But I am willing to hear what you have to say in order to be able to at least understand it".
Unfortunately we are not there yet….
I have been a member of the fetish/BDSM community for over 30 years of my life and I have long become fed up of people thinking that I’m a deviant or that there is something wrong with me. I have suffered through many “vanilla” relationships in my life and I came to terms a long time ago that this is who I am and I’m proud of it. Others are very quick to judge what they either don’t understand or that they fear. You have a very well written blog and I enjoy your insights. Thank you!