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Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan
There is way more on the Duty cover than just a sexy Ayu.
She's standing there in a very typical sexy and almost shy position, her whole expression and body language is very cliché when it comes to women's sexualisation in the media. But at the same time she's standig in a cage (and I'm not going to explain the symbolism behind cages here) and breaking free from it. Furthermore she's portrayed as a wild animal who isn't supposed to be caged.
Like I said, there is a big difference between being a sexual object or a sexual subject. Or in other words being sexualised through and for others and one's own sexuality.
That on the Duty cover Ayu's breaking out from the cage says a lot. When women are sexualised through and for others, it has nothing to do with their own sexuality. On the contrary, they are "caged" in an image people expect them to represent when it comes to sexuality because they are not allowed to have an own sexuality. Women are supposed to pleasure men and their sexuality as sexy objects but not being themselves an active sexual being.
The wild animal that is caged, domesticated and almost scared breaking out of the cage by bending apart the bars with its own strange is overall a powerful image, especially when you take sexualization and ones own sexuality into account.
Regarding the Sparkle video I think it's obvious when it comes to the erokawaii/lolita style dress while she's performing and the middle part of the video. She's perfectly revealing the double standards behind the erokawaii/lolita style. Not to forget the lyrics which are about sexuality and encouraging people not to be ashamed.
When it comes to my name's WOMEN I disagree about the "empowerment through sexualization" part. I think she's using her own sexuality in a very aggressive way as empowerment.
I want this Ayu back. Or to be more precisely: I want this Ayu back in videos and on covers. Because on stage she's most of the time VERY ironic and sarcastic when it comes to erokawaii/lolita style (Shake it at Hotel Love Songs tour for example) and also using her own sexuality in an aggressive way (XOXO at Premium Showcase xor example)
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A cage means you are being kept under control by external forces, what external forces those are, dependes on the case. Is there any official statement saying that the cage in Duty represents anything remotely linked to Ayu's (or female's) sexuality? As far as I can get she is stating that she is either breaking free from her idolish popstar bubble/alienation or that she is taking control over her career. Both are actually suported by the album lyrics, but there's nothing about female sexuality on it. (Britney's slave 4 you performance on the VMA have a pretty similar concept)
About my name's WOMEN, I don't see a girl using her sexuality on a agressive way, I see a popstar saying that you need to dress sexy in order to take avenge on the men who rejected you for being bland. In that sense Feel the Love is the total opposite by saying you should find self-esteem on being yourself (as the fat girl still is fat by the end of the video).
About the Sixxxxx concept, I would wait until we have everything before saying she was trying to say this or that.
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And really, I wouldn't call anything about this "erokawaii". The covers have a very sexual feeling to them, but there's nothing kawaii in there... Even the "Sixxxxx" hints at "Sexxxxx". She does look young (mainly because, well, she is young) but I wouldn't go as far as say she looks anything but like an adult, and she doesn't look like a virgin person who needs to figure out how to portray sexuality like Koda did for most of her career.
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Originally Posted by Ryusei
Can I just tell you that I freaking love your posts and you are so REAL? like I find myself agreeing to you 99% of the time, ok sorry this sounds really stalker-ish but I agree on this one as well
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Aaaaw, thanks!
But I'm the first one to admit I can be too much on the agressive side of things a lot of the time. x_x