Saturday, April 30, 2011

Beyoncé's Let's Move video

I liked it. It doesn't get an "A" on every plank of the checklist, but it does well on most. Friends have asked, does the video feed the notion that exercise alone without food is enough? The cafeteria tray at the start and apple at the end earn the video a B+ for food, not worse. Friends have asked, what about sexist stereotypes and high heels in the workout? Although she is a bit ... um ... unrestrained, Beyoncé seems like a star in command of her world happily flaunting good looks, very different from the nearly naked bodies explicitly at the service of a male star's gaze, which is more typical of the genre. In related workout videos, people wear more realistic clothes. Again, a B+ not worse. Making a school cafeteria and its neatly dressed students look cool and appealing gets an A. Message that physical fitness is cool and appropriate for kids of all sizes gets an A. Comments welcome.

3 comments:

Keith said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
usfoodpolicy said...

Reluctantly am censoring an otherwise fine comment for bad language. Here is the rest of the comment:

"Absolutely loved the chunky little white kid starting the group dance off. It's especially entertaining because she cycles through quite a goodly number of in-vogue dance moves of recent years...the high step, the shuffle, the dougie, the jump rope, even the cat daddy (the wheel chair move at 1:30), salsa, running man, the jerk, and "single-ladies" esque moves she created all over the place."

CW said...

Love Beyonce & the fact she's promoting fitness, but high
heels & skimpy tight shorts amidst growing concern about the premature sexualization of young girls
http://www.apa.org/pi/women/programs/girls/report.aspx & the effect of media on their body images http://www.girlscouts.org/research/publications/healthyliving/beauty_redefined.asp
?? How about workout shoes & yoga pants? And a little less seductive hair whipping?