Recording artist, producer and actress Erkah Badus managed to whip up a media frenzy and judgement from her recent strip tease not only due to the public nature of her nudity, but also her choice of location: the assignation site of president John F. Kennedy, historic Dallas’s Dealey Plaza.
You be the judge.
“Window Seat”
At first, without any context of the entire video, or song, the media played over and over a short snippet of the video. Many were quick to condemn her. I wasn’t so quick.
Yes, it was bold and provocative statement of a performance art piece.
The Inside Edition, known for their hard-hitting celebrity news – yes I do sometimes stop and watch a bit while surfing – declared that it was bad because the “children,” and were “innocent victims.”
Isn’t ironic that in a day when we expose our children to so much violence that to witness bare breasts and full-on female nakedness would victimize children.
Frankly isn’t it a bit too soon after the Janet Jackson affair, the historic wardrobe malfunction at the Superbowl.
We are only beginning to learn the long-term consequence of all those children being exposed to a nipple. I’m not sure what full-on breasts and a bit of bush is going to do them.
To me, I saw a message about evolution, the shedding of the clothes. Given she chose the site of JFK met his maker, I’d say that evolution could be from slavery to president, racism that remains and the potential assignation of their historic first black president.
Take a look at the recent news that American militia’s are on the rise.
New York (CNN) – At least 10 death threats have been leveled against members of Congress since the health care vote. Windows at four district offices or county party headquarters have been shattered with bricks……..
…….When love of country is mixed with fear of the government and hate for the president, that’s when you become a Hatriot. We’ve confronted these forces before as a country. The record shows that the Hatriots are not part of a benign movement of patriots, but a dangerous strain of extremism with both a rap sheet and a body count.
To read the full CNN Opinion piece.
When I got to watch Erkah Badus’s video, in full context, and in my opinion, I liked it. I found it interesting to incorporate a form of poetic performance art into her work.
The integration of social commentary, combined with controversy 101 marketing, I must say that I like it.
