Someone with too much time on their hands, too concerned about other people's biznizz instead of their biznizz, decided to create a story and send it out on the internet to generate something. Maybe to make a social-racial-political statement.
I don't care who she dates/loves/sexes/whatever.
What I DO care about is how she is presenting herself.
It's bad enough that when you go to the mall, or walk down the street, you see young Black girls/women, dressed in a manner that says, "All I have to present to you is a nice rack and phat ass". (Of course, it's not just Black women/girls doing it).
And then you see Serena playing tennis in a Black "cat" outfit that had boys/men, of all races, drooling and breaking out the vasaline. Or, you see pictures of her on the internet, and she's in "evening wear" displaying "the twins" for all to see.
She doesn't have to do that. Frankly, only hookers "have" to do that. And even then, they don't have to do what they do.
If someone wants to make a social-racial-political statement, start with that situation, not dating habits.
Or better yet, mind your own business and find something more worthwhile to get involved in.
Jay Z controls his image and makes a lot of money. Yet, "99 Problems" isn't a rap to be applauded.
Who cares if Serena made money off of her outfits and is in control. She looks like a prostitute in some of the images I've seen.
Serena's Image - as she presents it - seems pretty wholesome. I asked my wife (a very conservative woman who does a lot of regional print modeling) what she thought of Serena's image. Her response was that Serena is a little fabulous, but then the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and her mother Oracene is an exemplar of fabulosity.
While I agree with the point you raise about Jay-Z commercializing a crimey negative image, and would go a step further to assert that RaP (rhyming and posing) is the foundation of the modern Great American Minstrel Show, that's logically unrelated to Serena Williams.
Logically, I believe you've constructed a classic false analogy. Let's put it to the test. Which of the images under Serena's control make her look like a prostitute to you? If you answer this, will you be typifying Serena, or, will you be typifying your own point of view?
Posted by: cnulan at December 11, 2004 01:53 PM
Check out this link and come back to me. (But don't check it out at work).
http://www.bulletinpress.com/BulletinPress.aspx?snum=4470
Is this sheer dress appropriate?
What is wholesome about this public display dress?
Posted by: EBrown at December 11, 2004 02:09 PMNice....,
When in Rome, London, or St. Tropez...., is all that comes to *my* mind. Judging from the tan lines, or relative lack thereof, she's been out on the beach a little bit without a top too, now I wonder how the paparazzi missed all THAT heavenly glory...?
My point is this, Serena's not perpetrating. The paparazzo who snapped that shot was, however. I'm guessing that her dress wasn't even remotely scandalous - comparatively speaking - for the event she was attending.
p.s., as far as viewing the image while at work -n.p. I typically connect to the net via my own boxen (at home) through an SSH tunnel.
Can't afford to let any overzealous netadmins curtail my occular or ideological freedoms with their personal or embodied corporate censorship proclivities.
I'm guessing Serena is behaving along similarly libertarian lines....,
Posted by: cnulan at December 11, 2004 05:39 PM
As one keenly concerned about the intentional manipulation of images, except for that blonde hurr she's fond of buying, IMOHO - Serena is above reproach for the way in which she presents herself. Her taste is a tad fabulous, but hardly in the abyss of lil'Kim - hookers on the point - minstrelsy!
If you've watched any of America's Top Model, THERE, in no uncertain terms will you see the "seasoning" of women with no control whatsoever of the images composed using them by others. Straight up minstrel show! Listening to Tyra Banks pimp-like beration of Ya Ya, is enough to make me sick. Ya Ya is too arrogant, too black, too strong...?
Tennis as commerce for Serena and Venus began with a clothing sponsorship. The cat suit is part of a $12 Million dollar clothing sponsorship. Serena is laughing all the way to the bank and she's largely IN CONTROL!!!
If Serena wore vintage 50's midcalf pleated skirts on court, men all over this planet, as your post so clearly indicates, would figure out some way or another to objectify her body. But she wouldn't get paid for it!
That she works the male predilection like she does, and capitalizes on it as she has, is simply smart bidnis. She won't have it like that forever, and making the most of it while she can - is hardly pole dancing. Serena's not nekkid, male minds gone wild are...,
Sorry brah.., but I gots to say the nayno on your criticism of the wondrous Serena Williams. As far as her relational ish goes, I'm in full agreement with you.
Posted by: cnulan at December 10, 2004 10:01 AM