'sixxxxxx' covers

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

If anything Ayu criticized the hypersexualization of women in Because of You and sexy little things... and that's it. Other than that she usually links sexualization with empowerment (my name's WOMEN for example). I don't see any criticism on it on Duty, I just see a girl wearing a skin tight fetish jaguar outfit while giving the viewer a sexy look. What she meant with her work is obviously open for interpretation, what is actually being shown, isn't.

And I do love (miss)understood covers... I don't see anything symbolic about them, but they for sure portrays wonderfully the feeling of embarassment of being missunderstood.

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)

[Andrenekoi]

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)

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.

-

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.

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

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

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

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.

-

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.

Since I don't think we will agree, I stop the discussion between us here now. Not that I don't like discussing with you, but would be boring for the rest.

I agree though that the "sixxxxxx" hints at "sexxxxxx" and I would love if the booklet and lyrics would convey a deeper meaning. Then I take everything back. But I was already hoping that for A ONE which covers I don't like for the same reason.
Like you and someone else pointed out, she's trying to reintroduce herself to the market, and I think that's all there is to it. When it comes to young people who are the ones buying CDs it's importend as a woman to just look beautiful, sexy, submissive and naive and that's exactly what I see in those covers. I think she's just trying to polish and renew her image and regarding most comments it works. And why else should she put out a song as cute and jpop as Step by step? Again it worked.
I'm so hoping she would reveal something through the rest of the artwork/songs/lyrics. But I sadly don't think she will. If time will teach me better, I take everything back, but we'll see.

[Andrenekoi]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

Since I don't think we will agree, I stop the discussion between us here now. Not that I don't like discussing with you, but would be boring for the rest.

I agree though that the "sixxxxxx" hints at "sexxxxxx" and I would love if the booklet and lyrics would convey a deeper meaning. Then I take everything back. But I was already hoping that for A ONE which covers I don't like for the same reason.
Like you and someone else pointed out, she's trying to reintroduce herself to the market, and I think that's all there is to it. When it comes to young people who are the ones buying CDs it's importend as a woman to just look beautiful, sexy, submissive and naive and that's exactly what I see in those covers. I think she's just trying to polish and renew her image and regarding most comments it works. And why else should she put out a song as cute and jpop as Step by step? Again it worked.
I'm so hoping she would reveal something through the rest of the artwork/songs/lyrics. But I sadly don't think she will. If time will teach me better, I take everything back, but we'll see.

The thing is, I don't see where she is being submisse? She is even looking the viewer straight in the eyes, what is a very non-submissive thing to do.

[Chibi-Chan]

Originally Posted by Andrenekoi

The thing is, I don't see where she is being submisse? She is even looking the viewer straight in the eyes, what is a very non-submissive thing to do.

It's the "I blow you whenever you want" mouth. If she would have closed her mouth everything would be fine. Because of her mouth the whole image is hyper sexualized in a way that tells people between the lines that women are objects that are always available for men and their pleasure. In mostly every add out there women have their mouth open like that and sadly for a reason. And it doesn't change anything that she's looking the viewer straight in the eyes. That she has them half closed and her out of bed hair ad to the image of the always sexual available woman what in the end is submissive.
If she had her mouth closed this image would have a totally different touch to it and it would be a raw, honest and somehow desperate while being self-confident image of Ayu. I would have loved that.
By the way is that what the LOVEppears cover is for me. This image would also be totally different in its effect if she would have her mouth open.

[oaristos]

Originally Posted by Chibi-Chan

It's the "I blow you whenever you want" mouth. If she would have closed her mouth everything would be fine.

Jesus Christ, it's just a half-opened mouth. You are the one who's sexualizing her. She's a grown-up woman and can do whatever, stop telling other women what they should do to look "fine".