Tag Archives: Madonna

NO MAKEUP WEEK: Day 2 – Friday

TGIFriday... Or Not Fridays are usually always welcomed with a sigh, a smile and a shot; but this Friday, being the first that I would go out into the desperate streets of New York City sans makeup, was something different. Friday was the first time that I found it hard to not put makeup on. Work is one thing, I sit at my desk, not too much interaction with people, even if I'm out during the day, under the harsh light of the sun, not every woman walking down the street has her face on, but the night is a different story. It was girls night, and before I went to meet my ladies I went home and found it difficult to not throw on some eye makeup and the strawberry lipgloss that had been staring at me from my nightstand. I had to put it away, the sweet aroma of faux berries and shimmery shine was too tempting to keep out in the open. So instead of giving into temptation, I washed the day off my face, did my hair and threw some bling on (shiny things tend to distract boys.) Under The Cover Of Night And so I went out, under the cover of night, me and my girls shopped in SoHo, dined in Little Italy and got drinks on Spring St. The bar scene is usually not the best lit place and with the people surrounding me drinking and with their eyes glued to the college football game, I shouldn't have felt anymore self-conscious than I had in the light of day. No one was looking at me, and if they were, the circumstances weren't adequate to decipher my au naturale face. But that was exactly the problem, no one was looking at me, and then I started looking at the other women in the bar, what were they telling me with their faces? Night makeup: we slather it on thicker, we brush it on darker, it's not so subtle, it says "Notice me!" or at least, "Look at me and not that other girl." Why is it that in the darkness and with the prospect of meeting someone, we women, put on a different face? A darker face? A more severe face? You can ponder that while you watch the severe faces of Madonna, Lourdes and Queen Eye Liner Whore, Taylor Momsen at the launch of the Material Girl line. Like could she like say like, like one more like time? Update: I wanted to give a big thanks to everyone for helping RadCooks reach it's 20,000th hit today! I feel the love and I want to swim in it!

CHRISTINA AGUILERA’S “NOT MYSELF TONIGHT”: A Lesson In Radical Feminism

Cover art for Aguilera's upcoming album, Bionic.
Okay kids this is an educational post so Miss Bleecker is going to use her impending college degree to do a super, special, fancy post. Get ready to get schooled! Smarty pants language starting in... 3... 2... There is a strongly held belief that to be a radical feminist one must contradict all traditional aspects of feminitiy. In the Bleecker's opinion, the strongest feminist embraces her femininity. If you know mah homegirl Christina Aguilera, you know she feels the same way. There's been a lot of controversy surrounding the release of Christina Aguilera's latest music video, Not Myself Tonight. The main arguments involving the video are: that Aguilera is selling her sexuality for shock value and that Aguilera is copying other female artists. Both of these statements are true, but not for the reasons the online media explains them to be. Introduction: Aguilera's Feminist Manifesto Chapter 1: Aguilera's Music Video Anthology Chapter 2: Analysis Of The Not Myself Tonight Lyrics Chapter 3: Madonna: Holding Out vs. Putting Out Chapter 4: Freedom 90: Musical Bondage & Breaking Free Chapter 5: Sex and the City: When Is Sexuality Acceptable? Chapter 6: Beyonce: Getting Out Of Relationships Chapter 7: Lady Gaga: The Line Between Benefits & Heartbreak Conclusion: Getting The Mixed Message If you haven't seen the video don't even bother reading this post. But you really should watch the video. Probably the uncensored version too.