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After reading the items in the folder above related to Beyoncé, please respond to both parts below:
Part 1: When you first read Berlatsky’s article, what was your reaction? Were you able to find his main argument? What aspects of his argument did you agree with or disagree with?
Part 2: After reading the two example essays, did your perspective about the article change? Did you see aspects of the article that you didn’t notice before? Do you agree with the responses from either of the example essays?
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/05/beyonce-sex-terrorist-a-menace-for-conservatives-and-liberals-alike/362085/
I need at least 400 words
Student Example #1
Is Beyoncé a Sex Terrorist Rather Than an Artist?
It is not hard to imagine that an artist like Beyoncé would be capable of causing a huge controversial uproar among Americans. Author Noah Berlatsky from the Atlantic magazine wrote an article titled, Beyoncé, Sex Terrorist: A Menace for Conservatives and Liberals Alike, in which he gives an example of what the big pop star is capable of causing. The article focuses on the opinions of two people, Bill O’Reilly from FOX and feminist author Bell Hooks, in addition to the author’s response to their opinions. While they both have very similar opinions on Beyoncé, O’Reilly uses her “Partition” music video as a reference while Hooks uses her front cover of Time magazine. The author expresses dislike towards their opinions on Beyoncé and I will explain why I agree with him.
The author starts off the article by stating how O’Reilly’s biggest concern with the pop star is that in reference to her music video where she is having sex in a limo, she is putting many young girls at risk due to the fact that they look up to her. By this, O’Reilly is referring to unwanted pregnancies. In fact, O’Reilly asks, “Why would Beyoncé do that?” On the other hand, Hooks agrees with O’Reilly by saying, “I see a part of Beyoncé that is, in fact, anti-feminist—that is, a terrorist—especially in terms of the impact on young girls”. With those two responses by O’Reilly and Hooks taken into consideration it is obvious that they both have a negative perspective of the pop star. They both express high concern with the influence that Beyoncé’s “sexualized” body can have on young women.
The author proceeds to state that O’Reilly and his FOX crew attacked the Beyoncé nudity from the music video very critically by using “numerous sultry images” from it. This initiates a response by the author in which he starts to express that perhaps O’Reilly and Hooks only decided to give their opinion on Beyoncé because of the guaranteed attention, which translates to profit for them. Berlatsky states that regardless of what people have to say about Beyoncé, people will always listen. After saying this the author then states that whether it was intentional or not, both O’Reilly and Hooks use the pop star to display the message of “a more conservative or radical world”.
In addition to this, the author also talks about how both O’Reilly and Hooks agree on the idea of not considering Beyoncé an artist. It is stated that O’Reilly has a very skeptic view on considering her music video as art. On the other hand, Hooks states that Beyoncé’s appeal is her money, leaving out consideration for people that actually pay attention to her because of her musical talent. This critical point of view that both O’Reilly and Hooks share upsets the author as he expresses his feelings by saying, “That’s unfortunate, because if she is seen as an artist who’s speaking for herself, what she says is quite pointed”.
I must say that I agree with the dissatisfaction that the author expresses. I believe that it is not fair at all for O’Reilly and Hooks to critique Beyoncé that way without giving her any credit for her amazing music. It is evident that many people worldwide are fans of the pop stars music. The numbers do not lie as she continues to sell out shows and break records with her music. In fact, the music website VH1 ranks Beyoncé at number 3 in “The 100 Greatest Women in Music”. This is clear evidence that Beyoncé does not lack the musical talent and in addition is a huge inspiration to women all over the world. I agree with the author of the article that it is very likely that O’Reilly and Hooks only publicized these comments for their own benefit. Both O’Reilly and Hooks did not analyze Beyoncé’s body the correct way in my opinion. I believe that Beyoncé expresses her body that way to show confidence and demonstrate to women that they too can have power, and not to influence teen pregnancies like O’Reilly stated.
Overall the author accepts at the end of the article that yes not all of Beyoncé’s art is “great or thoughtful”, but that it should be recognized. The author closes out the article with a very strong statement, “So if people are going to rather helplessly use her body to further their own agendas, it seems worth remembering that every body has a person attached—and that that person is not just an object of analysis and scorn, but, potentially, someone who can offer a critique herself”. By saying this the author is expressing strong dissatisfaction towards both O’Reilly and Hooks due to the fact that they only criticized Beyoncé’s body but did not even recognize her musical talent, or “art”.
Works Cited
Berlatsky, Noah. “Beyoncé, Sex Terrorist: A Menace for Conservatives and Liberals Alike.” The Atlantic. N.p., 12 May 2014. Web. 29 June 2016.
VH1. “The 100 Greatest Women In Music.” VH1. N.p., 2012. Web. 29 June 2016.
1
Student Example #2
Beyoncé, Sex, and Controversy
Women in the music industry are constantly under intense scrutiny by the media as they are expected to present themselves in a certain manner. Noah Berlatsky touches upon this topic, in his article “Beyoncé, Sex Terrorist: A Menace for Conservatives and Liberals Alike”, by focusing specifically on how the media reacts to Beyoncé and her art. There is a pressure put on females in the industry to appear conservative, respectable, and put together otherwise they are viewed as both a bad role model and untalented. Berlatsky presents two different viewpoints of critics, who observe Beyoncé in a negative way, while presenting his own opinion on the situation. The harsh critiques and comments towards Beyoncé are a result of the fact that critics try to place all female musicians in predetermined categories. These preconceived notions towards females have detrimental effects as they result in women in the music industry being underrepresented, disrespected, and stereotyped.
The music industry is heavily dominated by males making it difficult for female vocalists to be heard. There are two main factors why women are not able to easily rise to the same level of fame as their male counterparts; the media insists on negatively critiquing them and the general public is unable to accept them. This harsh and unwarranted criticism towards Beyoncé is displayed by the comments of both Bill O’Reilly and bell hooks. Both appear to support the stereotypical belief that women must cover up and behave a certain way, while men are praised for the same type of behavior. According to Berlatsky’s article, both O’Reilly and hooks believe that Beyoncé fails at being a stellar role model because she chooses to pose in her underwear for magazines and create music videos that are deemed provocative. Berlatsky points out that by voicing their opinions, they manipulated Beyoncé and her message to promote their own agenda. These opinions result in the general public rejecting these musicians, making it difficult for them to be as successful as their male counterparts. While Beyoncé has reached a level of significant fame, it is much more difficult for females in other genres of music to succeed. Country music has recently been under fire as radio stations do not support and play female artists compared to the male musicians. Failing to accept and support female musicians as they are results in the music industry becoming an unequal workplace.
Women in the music industry are constantly under intense scrutiny and disrespected if they do not behave a certain way. In order for a woman in power or fame to be viewed as successful, she is expected to be clean, proper, and appropriate. If she dares to stray from these predetermined categorical boxes, then she is immediately torn apart by the mainstream media, the general public, and in some cases even the male population. Beyoncé chooses to test these boundaries with both her actions and her art, resulting in many rejecting her music. She has been known to add sexual appeal in both her music videos and her live performances as it is a part of her strong and empowered persona. Her doing so, however, results in some viewing her as too crude and inappropriate for the public eye, especially young women that admire and look up to her. In Berlatsky’s article, he states how hooks found Beyoncé to be anti-feminist and disempowered simply because she posed in her underwear for a magazine cover. Berlatsky states that by both critics focusing on their critiques of Beyoncé’s message, they are unable to recognize her as the true artist she is. They fail to view the situation from Beyoncé’s point of view, and instead choose to side with their own preconceived notions, thus ignoring her true empowering message.
The stereotypes placed on women result in a female artist being unable to present herself as sexy without risking the loss of her empowerment. In Beyoncé’s music video for her song “Partition”, she challenges the societal roles placed on black women, however, this is something hooks and O’Reilly failed to notice. She proves in the music video that women can present themselves in a sexual manner while still remaining both strong and independent. Berlatsky remarks how Beyoncé is able to prove that both O’Reilly and hooks opinions are inaccurate. Beyoncé’s portrayal of “black female eroticism” in “Partition” contradicts hook’s previous comments, as she expresses her strength through her sexuality (Berlatsky). Contrary to popular belief, Beyoncé’s usage of sex in her art conveys a deeper message that most fail to realize.
Berlatsky’s article effectively disputes the negative opinions of both O’Reilly and hooks in regards to Beyoncé and her music. He analyzes how her music video for “Partition” effectively expresses her views in regards to expressing sexuality and female empowerment. Many fail to share his view on Beyoncé, however, due to their preconceived beliefs of how women should behave, especially those that are in a position of power. These preconceived notions result in women in the music industry being underrepresented, disrespected, and stereotyped, thus making it difficult for them to truly share their message with the world.
Work Cited
Berlatsky, Noah. “Beyoncé, Sex Terrorist: A Menace for Conservatives and Liberals Alike.” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 12 May 2014. Web. 27 June 2016.
