New Kate Pierson video "Mister Sister"

[bhhfmm]

I'm curious about what you all think of this video by Kate Pierson(from the B 52's). 

[bhhfmm]

No opinions?


I know, elsewhere I've seen some moderate dislike for the video. But it seems to mostly come from binaries. They find the title and a few other aspects offensive.

Personally, I don't take issue with it. I just take it at face value and don't try to read any real experiences into it.

 I was surprised to see her age when I looked her up.

[Deleted]

Dec 6, 2014 8:15:41 GMT 8 bhhfmm said:

No opinions?


I know, elsewhere I've seen some moderate dislike for the video. But it seems to mostly come from binaries. They find the title and a few other aspects offensive.

Personally, I don't take issue with it. I just take it at face value and don't try to read any real experiences into it.

 I was surprised to see her age when I looked her up.

I didn't find anything offensive about it. I liked the get up perky tempo and think it could be one of those addictive things people listen to like "YMCA by The Village People" I was also surprised at Kate's age, she doesn't look or sound her age at all and the music is definitely not the genre of her age group.

[Ayla]

I really liked the video at one level. It captured a narrative and the need to pass or to be seen to pass as a "beautiful girl". However it really is a binary narrative and I could see why the emphasis on "passing" would upset many.

I only relate to part of this ie discomfort with my binary birth gender and the need to be seen as I perceive myself to be.

But this really is over analysing this. I enjoyed the song and it is great that artists are dealing with part of the trans experience. It can only help.

Safe travels

Aisla

[bhhfmm]

Dec 10, 2014 18:23:44 GMT 8 Ayla said:

I really liked the video at one level. It captured a narrative and the need to pass or to be seen to pass as a "beautiful girl". However it really is a binary narrative and I could see why the emphasis on "passing" would upset many.

I only relate to part of this ie discomfort with my binary birth gender and the need to be seen as I perceive myself to be.

But this really is over analysing this. I enjoyed the song and it is great that artists are dealing with part of the trans experience. It can only help.

Safe travels

Aisla

A lot seemed to have taken issue with the title and their perception that the song was about drag queens and transvestites. In other words, it wasn't binary enough to suit them. Plus, it was felt that wanting to be beautiful and showing the makeup stuff and all was too stereotypical to suit them. Its like to them, there is only one way to portray trans, anything else must not be allowed in mainstream media.  That kind of attitude is disappointing to me. I think people need to be shown that there is more than one or two or three ways to be trans, basically, there is an infinite number of ways to be trans or gender non conforming and its not just all about one small noisy little group.

Another big thing is that it seems that anything about trans from someone not trans is gonna be picked apart regardless, especially if its by someone in the lgb community.

[Ayla]

Yes I read an open letter on the Huffington Post after I made my post. I can see and understand their perspective but my honest reaction was and is, that the song is catchy and that it does capture part of the trans experience. It wasn't designed to be educational, it was designed to entertain. I think that it expressed the dysphoria and preoccupation that many have with their need to "pass", to be seen, to be recognised for who we are, seen as attractive etc. On balance I think that the impact of the song is more likely to be positive than negative. However I do agree that describing the song as an "anthem to trans" may be a stretch.

Safe travels

Aisla

[Deleted]

Dec 11, 2014 3:43:59 GMT 8 Ayla said:

. . .  It wasn't designed to be educational, it was designed to entertain. . .


Aisla

I'd agree with this.  I found the song fairly superficial.  I didn't think much of it to be honest, but I didn't get particularly upset about it the way some people did.  In any case, I've heard far worse things.

[Edge]

Huh. Turns out I like this song which is surprising. Usually, I have trouble relating to songs about trans women because they focus on wanting to be a woman, but in this song, I could relate to looking in the mirror and seeing a person who didn't match who I was and the feeling of happiness at being referred to as my gender.
That said, I think the line "Nothing hurts when you're a beautiful girl" is a bit problematic, but it could be referring to the joy of finally being seen as who you are and being confident about it which does protect people from being emotionally hurt to an extent.
To me, beauty is subjective and it does rely on being who you are and having confidence, so I don't see it as a completely superficial thing.
At first I was a bit put off by the the phrase "you make a beautiful girl," but then I kept imagining someone telling a trans woman that and her replying, "That's because I am one" which makes me smile.
If there's going to a "trans anthem," I would rather it be written by a trans person and be about all trans people, not just women. But this wasn't written to be a trans anthem, so there's no reason to worry about that.
Basically, I see it as a show of support. Even though she might not understand what it's like to be trans, it wouldn't surprise me if this person was open to learning.