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Bicoastal

(12,645 posts)
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 04:46 PM Feb 2013

If you were offended by Beyonce's performance last night...

...that was kind of the whole point.

YOU, whoever you are, were supposed to be offended so that others would enjoy it all the more. Beyonce was counting on it. After all, there's nothing particularly sexy about being inoffensive to absolutely everyone, and there's nothing particularly exciting about giving a performance so bland that absolutely no one says "Now hold on, Miss Beyonce Knowles! You've gone too far!" In other words, the fact that you're outraged means she did everything that was expected of her. She had a job to do, a persona to maintain, and she succeeded perfectly. And I say this as someone who's not a huge fan of her music.

But anyway, carry on with the naysaying. It's a thankless job in our culture, but someone has to fill the role.

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
If you were offended by Beyonce's performance last night... (Original Post) Bicoastal Feb 2013 OP
Good point. HappyMe Feb 2013 #1
Or Debby Boone singing, "You Light Up My Life" LeftInTX Feb 2013 #17
Gaaah! HappyMe Feb 2013 #21
I kept hoping for a wardrobe malfunction. Lasher Feb 2013 #2
The Left Wing puritans can bite me bluestateguy Feb 2013 #3
I've been thinking it's just old-fashioned snobbishness OKNancy Feb 2013 #11
That's a very good point bluestateguy Feb 2013 #13
or didn't watch OKNancy Feb 2013 #14
:) I'm marveling over all the commenting by those who were offended October Feb 2013 #34
Perhaps both... TreasonousBastard Feb 2013 #18
I switched to Puppy Bowl get the red out Feb 2013 #4
It is kind of funny that such a fuss was made about poor Janets nipple when... peace13 Feb 2013 #5
I'm not offended dipsydoodle Feb 2013 #6
Nah, not offended. I just didn't think it was very good or broke new ground, and the music is meh. Hulk Smash Feb 2013 #7
Who would expect any new ground to be broken at a football halftime show? we can do it Feb 2013 #23
You got that right. nt kstewart33 Feb 2013 #29
It wasn't anything you can't get at a strip club ThomThom Feb 2013 #8
I've never met a stripper who could sing... snooper2 Feb 2013 #12
Still haven't. bvar22 Feb 2013 #26
"Who are you who are so wise in the ways of Beyonce?" Common Sense Party Feb 2013 #9
I am surprised that DU is so Puritan flamingdem Feb 2013 #10
Surprised... after all this time? The general rule seems to be... TreasonousBastard Feb 2013 #22
We like to get our grumpy on flamingdem Feb 2013 #24
Too bad she didn't wear a American Flag G-String, carried a Bible, and sung God Bless America. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2013 #15
Everything has to be desconstructed and analyzed for deep societal meanings and whatnot... EastKYLiberal Feb 2013 #16
Yep. bluestateguy Feb 2013 #28
''It's a thankless job in our culture, but someone has to fill the role.'' Oh PU-LEEEEZE! YOHABLO Feb 2013 #19
I didn't see it so I can't be offended, BUT that's doesn't make my opinion any less valid. Lionessa Feb 2013 #20
I was not offended, I was disgusted Tumbulu Feb 2013 #25
No offense... underwhelmed and a touch disappointed MadrasT Feb 2013 #27
Bingo. Common Sense Party Feb 2013 #33
After all this controversy on DU, I NOW wish I had watched... bvar22 Feb 2013 #30
Thanks for that behind the scene deconstruction of Beyonce's motivation and subtext. progressoid Feb 2013 #31
I love hearing about how offended people were by this as well as the "God made a farmer" TheManInTheMac Feb 2013 #32
I like Beyonce; not her music style graywarrior Feb 2013 #35
I must have missed this performance ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #36
If people thought that was risque' they must have been living in a cave the last 50 years. n/t OKNancy Feb 2013 #37
They're getting antsy ProudToBeBlueInRhody Feb 2013 #38

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
1. Good point.
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 04:49 PM
Feb 2013

Maybe they will have Barney and Pat Boone next year so as to protect .... somebody or other.

HappyMe

(20,277 posts)
21. Gaaah!
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:23 PM
Feb 2013



In a high necked, long sleeved gown with gloves on, so we don't see her hands. She should also stand completely still.

bluestateguy

(44,173 posts)
3. The Left Wing puritans can bite me
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 04:52 PM
Feb 2013

Their agenda is appallingly similar to the right wing puritans: anti-sex, anti-porn, word/thought police and tell people how to run their private life.

OKNancy

(41,832 posts)
11. I've been thinking it's just old-fashioned snobbishness
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:01 PM
Feb 2013

You know the type.. those who hate popular culture and hate popular entertainment.
The type that in Shakespeare's time thought of his plays as bawdy and low-class, hated Bach and Shubert during their lives, thought Van Gogh was a hack and that the Beatles were no-talents.
I'm not equating Beyonce to the above, but it is the same principle.

bluestateguy

(44,173 posts)
13. That's a very good point
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:06 PM
Feb 2013

You'll find such people in run-down coffee houses (organic coffee, of course) with their Chomsky reader dismissing the rest of us as simps and fools.

OKNancy

(41,832 posts)
14. or didn't watch
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:12 PM
Feb 2013

because they don't watch television... too déclassé
( but will comment nevertheless )

October

(3,363 posts)
34. :) I'm marveling over all the commenting by those who were offended
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 07:11 PM
Feb 2013

Endless threads and arguing within the threads over opinions.

They can't seem to stop talking/writing/cursing about what they didn't like, but obviously kept watching.




TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
18. Perhaps both...
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:19 PM
Feb 2013

it's become more and more annoying seeing the anti-sex trolls and the "above it all" snobs battle or demean what the rest of us see as harmless fun.

"The Puritan hates bear-bating not because it gives pain to the bear, but because it gives pleasure to the spectators." -- Thomas
Babington Macauley


 

peace13

(11,076 posts)
5. It is kind of funny that such a fuss was made about poor Janets nipple when...
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 04:54 PM
Feb 2013

Miss B pretty much let everything but her nipple out and the act passes as ready for prime time. Just saying that poor Janet really got the rough side of the saw!

 

Hulk Smash

(51 posts)
7. Nah, not offended. I just didn't think it was very good or broke new ground, and the music is meh.
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 04:59 PM
Feb 2013

But our society is so screwy; she can basically simulate sex acts in front of 100 million people (or whatever) and that's fine with corporate America ... but let her say "shit" and they'd all come unglued.

we can do it

(12,169 posts)
23. Who would expect any new ground to be broken at a football halftime show?
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:28 PM
Feb 2013

Especially after such groundbreaking acts in the past 10 years as Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Prince, Florida A&M University Marching 100 Band, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash, Madonna, LMFAO?

flamingdem

(39,308 posts)
10. I am surprised that DU is so Puritan
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:01 PM
Feb 2013

It would be more useful to spend the time critiquing a game that is so violent and leads to brain injuries rather than a dance spectacle, and yes a spectacle is supposed to be over the top.

TreasonousBastard

(43,049 posts)
22. Surprised... after all this time? The general rule seems to be...
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:23 PM
Feb 2013

the longer the threads, the more trivial the topic. (Or, the discussion of it.)

 

Tierra_y_Libertad

(50,414 posts)
15. Too bad she didn't wear a American Flag G-String, carried a Bible, and sung God Bless America.
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:15 PM
Feb 2013

And, announced that she was anti-abortion.

 

EastKYLiberal

(429 posts)
16. Everything has to be desconstructed and analyzed for deep societal meanings and whatnot...
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:17 PM
Feb 2013

1st world problems.

 

YOHABLO

(7,358 posts)
19. ''It's a thankless job in our culture, but someone has to fill the role.'' Oh PU-LEEEEZE!
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:21 PM
Feb 2013

Cleaning toilets for a living is a thankless job .. how much did Beyonce get paid$$ for shaking her ass ?

 

Lionessa

(3,894 posts)
20. I didn't see it so I can't be offended, BUT that's doesn't make my opinion any less valid.
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:22 PM
Feb 2013

My opinion is I probably would not have liked it, and I would've turned away or left the room for a few minutes. BUT it's not my place to decide for others and just as I wouldn't have an abortion, but also wouldn't dream of telling someone else not to, I wouldn't have watched Beyonce and I wouldn't dream of interfering in someone else thoroughly enjoying halftime. It doesn't matter whether it's porn, or violent shows/games, or abortion, or a half naked woman singing at halftime, I believe in individual choice. My choice is to not like them and to turn away rather than be offended and allow others their choice.

Tumbulu

(6,268 posts)
25. I was not offended, I was disgusted
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:30 PM
Feb 2013

and sick of people confusing demeaning oneself with owning oneself.

MadrasT

(7,237 posts)
27. No offense... underwhelmed and a touch disappointed
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:36 PM
Feb 2013

Same old tired schtick where disrobing and gyrating is confused with "female empowerment" and/or "talent".

Common Sense Party

(14,139 posts)
33. Bingo.
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 06:55 PM
Feb 2013

Funny. For several days BEFORE the SuperBowl, we get thread after thread about why we should avoid the hyper-sexualized, sexist, misogynist advertisements we were going to see during the game.

Now that the halftime show was racier than any of the ads, we're supposed to worship Beyonce and praise her for being such a strong, positive role model.

I'm confused.

bvar22

(39,909 posts)
30. After all this controversy on DU, I NOW wish I had watched...
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:49 PM
Feb 2013

...instead of using HalfTime for the purpose it was intended:
going to the fridge to get some more beer,
pit stop in the bathroom,
freshen up the salsa,
and a bowl of fresh pop corn,

...all the while with some off key, unintelligible creeching masked by exploding fireworks emanating from the speaker of the upstairs TV until HalfTime was over.

Do people really watch that crap instead of doing HalfTime stuff?

[font size=1 color=gray]Psst. Did she really strip down nekked?[/font]

progressoid

(49,945 posts)
31. Thanks for that behind the scene deconstruction of Beyonce's motivation and subtext.
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:51 PM
Feb 2013

I think the subtleties and nuance of this halftime performance will be debated for years. It was like the Mona Lisa of the modern era.


TheManInTheMac

(985 posts)
32. I love hearing about how offended people were by this as well as the "God made a farmer"
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 05:59 PM
Feb 2013

commercial. It makes me chuckle knowing that silly shit offends people.

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)
36. I must have missed this performance
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 07:19 PM
Feb 2013

I saw Beyonce in a nice tight outfit and her legs showing with Destiny's Child, but apparently I missed the part where she stripped naked and had hardcore sex on stage or something according to DU? Where can I find this? On The You Tube?

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)
38. They're getting antsy
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 07:37 PM
Feb 2013

SB Halftime show switched to old rockers like The Stones and Tom Petty (which I personally loved) so they could avoid some young stud grinding on a scantily clad woman so as not to ruin the children like Janet and Justin did and now with Madonna and Beyonce they are moving back that way....my guess is Katy Perry will be shooting whipped cream from her bra in two years (next year will almost certainly be Bon Jovi at MetLife Stadium) and DU will be back to acting like Heather Wilson lickity split.

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