"Blurred Lines," Consent, and Questions

One of the songs of the summer, “Blurred Lines”, by Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. is igniting a discussion about pop culture, consent and sexual assault.  The song and video were initially criticized for the use of gratitutous nudity—the entire video consisted of young women walking and dancing nude around 3 fully clothed men (Robin Thicke, Pharrell and T.I.).  The video was removed, and then restored on Youtube.  The record label also released a version in which the women wear clear plastic and white clothing.  Of course, the entire video is ripe with material to be viewed and criticized from a feminist viewpoint.  (i.e. the women are nude/partially clothed, the men are fully clothed, the interaction and gazes between the males and females, the words written on balloons referencing Robin Thicke’s anatomy, etc., etc.) 

Robin Thicke has gone on record citing his wife’s approval as a reason that other women should not be offended.  Just because one person is not offended, that does not dictate other people’s ability or right to be offended.  Thicke must understand that this song and video were not created in or consumed in a vacuum.  There are pre-existing notions and problems with women’s sexuality and freedom of expression, consent and sexual assault, and feminism in general.

Fun and Games

One of the things I would like to comment on specifically is this video’s place in a long list of music videos and songs that play or prey on a woman’s sexuality and a man “allowing” her to explore it.  Lots of songs that have come under fire for their portrayals of women cite that it’s all fun, and it’s just men and women having fun and exploring their sexuality together.  While I admit, that is a wonderfully entertaining and hopeful scenario; I cannot agree that is what is taking place in many of these videos.  Critical viewers would see that many of these songs encouraging women to explore their sexuality are performed by men.  It seems as if we as women are still being told that the only time it is safe or encouraged to explore our sexuality is when we are given permission by men, and specifically those men who perceive they will benefit from this exploration.

There is a refrain of Pharrell and Robin Thicke singing “good girl,” as if a woman who does not need permission to explore her sexuality from a man is not a good girl. 

Even the title, “Blurred Lines,” has a negative connotation.  What lines are Thicke referring to?  The line between good and bad girls?  The line between playful scenarios and actually saying no?  (i.e.” you know you want it”)  What about the line between drunk sex and rape?   And how do these lines become blurred?  By convincing the other person that it is okay?  These questions have not been answered by Thicke or any of the other songwriters, but that’s the point.  They are allowing listeners to make their own conclusions, but are upset that not all listeners support blurring these lines.

This song, the others like it, and the others yet to come need to be examined on a deeper level.  We cannot keep hearing the argument that it’s all fun and games and leave it at that.  Listen to the lyrics, question the words, and then enjoy, if you so choose.