Madonna vs Christina

Christina Aguilera, 2010


Madonna, 1995

I was browsing a kinky community forum online and one member posted this Christina Aguilera video. Every time we see a hot woman in a leather catsuit wielding a riding crop in a video or commercial or t.v. show, there's often a spark of recognition followed by the debate:

Is she's another poseur ripping off my culture for commercial gain?
Does this mean BDSM is going mainstream?
But I like being apart from the mainstream. I like not being "normal."
But more exposure means more understanding and less persecution and judgement.

Do I give a shit because the outfits are awesome?

In Madonna's Human Nature, she sings specifically about sexuality free from shame, so it makes sense. Yeah, it's not the most subtle of metaphors (boxed in, tied up), but it's a video not a Ingmar Bergman movie.

Christina's Not Myself Tonight is a tribute (rip-off) of Madonna's videos (I counted three, plus a George Michael) with a much bigger styling budget and blatant product placement. It's another one of those "I'm feeling extra wild and sexy tonight so watch out world!" songs and everyone knows wild and sexy = latex catsuit and a riding crop.

As a black person, I'm pretty well used to the idea of one's identity being commercialized. Just like black became shorthand for cool, is kink just becoming shorthand for hot?

But kink isn't just an outfit: it's culture, identity, politics, community...

But that zipper gag thing and those pointy eyelashes are so rad and she's sporting a Betony Vernon Petting Ring.

So, who cares. It's hot.

Right?