The almost non-reaction or humorous feedback to Prince’s simulated masturbation with his guitar is more proof of our nation moving backwards in time. Once again, I’m not saying that there was any harm done in Prince’s performance; my point is that the way people view his performance, compared to Janet’s, is amazingly sexist. The worldwide promotion of Justin Timberlake to icon status while Janet has been demoted to “former superstar” status is amazingly hypocritical and sexist.
Don’t get me wrong; Janet Jackson is partially responsible for her fallen star. Her attempt to regain her stardom by gaining weight, losing it, and then appearing on magazine covers as the new weight loss queen has not helped her one bit. But it’s her reaction to the “wardrobe malfunction” that has cost her the most. Instead of issuing pathetic, meaningless “apologies” after the 2004 incident, she should have simply said,” So what!” Many of her former fans would have a lot more respect for her.
Perhaps Prince’s performance this year will erase some of the so-called “horror” of Janet’s (and Justin was there too as people conveniently forget) “wardrobe malfunction.” Prince’s stage presence was unmatched, his guitar playing was compelling and he looked like he hasn’t aged for the past twenty years. But people need to realize their hypocrisy when choosing to overlook Prince’s simulated masturbation while continuing to condemn Janet Jackson for a brief flash of a breast.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Matt Paprocki
At least I'm not alone in wondering where the complaints are. We had seven people watching the game and ALL of us looked back at each other when it happened and continued a mock conversation about how the Parent's Television Console was about to discuss the downfall of mankind over this.
I was stunned to see no reaction from what was a pretty blatant display. I'm not offended and I could care less about the act itself, but it was honestly more offensive than a covered boob as I see it.
Great post Daryl.
2 - Roger Choate
Well done, Daryl!
3 - daryl d
Prince Fans:
I AM NOT BASHING PRINCE AT ALL! Don't send me hate mail! I'm bashing the double standard of the music industry and media in general.
4 - Tom Johnson
This is utterly ridiculous.
Where are arguments that Prince is destroying family values? Where are the hundreds of thousands of complaints to CBS? Why aren’t the same people who wanted Janet arrested requesting the same of Prince. The answer is simple: because he’s a man!
Um, no - it's because Janet was actually bare-breasted on national TV. HUGE difference. Sex In The City was on HBO - a pay channel, and the show now airs on non-pay channels extremely edited. Whether you're offended by it or not, you just can't have bare breasts on commercial television without warning.
The only people who thought Prince did something dirty were those who actually knew what he was doing. In other words, children who don't know what masturbation was weren't in any way educated as to what masturbation is, nor harmed in any way whatsoever. I dare you to turn on music videos and not see a LOT worse than what Prince did. Guitarists have historically been a lot more vulgar with their pedantic, phallic guitar play than Prince. This was nothing.
This Prince "controversy" (you really missed a prime opportunity to link to that album, Daryl) is just someone desperate to drum up a big deal over nothing. Why throw your hat in that ring? Why not stand back and say "big deal" - because it's not?
5 - Glen Boyd
Interesting take here Daryl. I've gotta be honest here and say I didn't even notice the whole masturbatory symbolism thing, though I did see some scattered discussion of it on the web after the fact. But then, I never even knew that Janet had flashed the world until I read and heard about it later. I guess I just don't go looking for these things -- maybe I should get out more.
I do agree with your take on it though. The double standard of how Janet was buried (we do love to bury our Jacksons after all) while Justin was elevated to megastardom after the fact--even as both were equal partners in this--really does have a foul smell about it doesn't it?
Like your U2 piece though, don't sugarcoat it so much. Say what you REALLY think okay? LOL---
-Glen
6 - DeanaDolar
All the great sexy guitarists appear either to be masturbating or fornicating when they play, and I think Prince is smart enough to have meant more than that. I thought it was all very devilish-looking and that he was playing up a few ideas: Prince of Darkness, "Dance with the Devil" (one of his tunes -- "dance with the devil in the pale moonlight", which is what the billowing screen sort of provided), and the whole "rock is from the devil" idea.
"Janet Jackson, like Prince, played a very entertaining set. . ." Janet Jackson may have been very entertaining. Prince was brilliant.
7 - Richard Thompson
Masturbation? Are you serious? Let's ban all guitarists from playing in the Super Bowl halftime show!
Prince was brilliant. He added an excitement to the halftime show that had been missing for years: an actual focus on the music, not the titillation of excess.
You know, we could rise up at his use of a head scarf on national TV! Oh Mamie!
8 - daryl d
You know, I didn't even notice Janet's wardrobe malfunction either. When I saw it afterwards, I sort of laughed about it a little bit. Then, the uproar ensued. I do think it wasn't wise for her to do that during an election year. Then again, it is quite possible it was a mistake (very little possibility there). What pissed me off is the way she sugarcoated the whole thing.
I noticed Prince's thing right away. I even said to myself then, "I bet this doesn't cause an uproar." It has caused a little bit of controversy, but not much. Most people are laughing it off.
9 - Vern Halen
SOrry - I agree with Deana's comment (#6) - by its very nature, playing a guitar will always look vaguely pornographic to those who look for it. I'm not saying he didn't go out of his way to push the limit, but sometimes a guy playing rock god guitar is just that.
10 - Raoul Duke
"The answer is simple:"
Uh, maybe because many people didn't notice. Is says more about you if that's what you saw. You either haven't seen a guy play guitar before or you have a bizarre masturbation ritual.
Keep up with the phony conterversial issues to drum up comments.
11 - sandra
once again, excellent article Daryl! You sure know how to polarize Blogcritics readers.
12 - Martin Lav
Sorry Daryl, nobody I was with noticed this or thought this was what he was doing. Playing a guitar behind a shadowed curtain, is....well, playing a guitar behind a shadowed curtain. If you saw something, then maybe you like to play your own guitar behind your shower curtain. More a reflection on you.
Now is Janet Jackson had bared her breast behind a shadowed curtain and we all jumped on her for it, then you might have a point, but I guess this is another example of MEN trying to suck up to WOMEN to show how sensitive they are and how there's such a double standard.
Pitiful really.
You're supposed to be a pig and since your dirty little mind thought something nasty when you looked at something normal (a guy playing the guitar) I guess you are a pig. But you should keep it there and not try to suck your way into a women libbers pants and write an article about how poor women are downtrodden by men.
Grow some balls.
13 - marcus
Prince,Rock, rap, country, and all other catagories of American music are all products of What America the beautiful has created. Their are all types of immoral acts going on in the television industry every night that erodes the core of America's future (children)with SEX,Violence,racial misrepresentation,lies,frauds and this list could go on. But you people want to blame Prince the broadcast... that is just plain rediculas! Some of yall spend too much time looking at the Boob tube anyway!!! Please rethink this matter!
14 - Matt Paprocki
"Um, no - it's because Janet was actually bare-breasted on national TV."
No, she wasn't. That's what made the already ridiculous controversy even more absurd. It was clearly covered.
15 - El Bicho
Wrong, MP. Even in that tiny photo you can see her breast. She did have some nipple jewelry, but it barely covers her areola.
Here's a better Photo to see for yourself.
16 - Al Barger
Clearly, playing guitar behind a curtain is obscene, and a blatant violation of the Patriot Act. I expect Attorney General Gonzalez to Deal With this matter in an Appropriate Manner.
17 - daryl d
Some of you need to read the article again. There is no moral outrage on my part. I loved when Prince mimed the masturbation. The moral outrage, on my part, is the double standard that is displayed by the American public.
18 - Scottie
You are completely off base. Prince created that symbol and even changed his name to it, years ago. It's not like he made it up for the Superbowl. And, there have been thousands of male guitar players over the years who have stroked a guitar like a male body part. Duh. It's all part of the show. You're crazy.
19 - El Bicho
Everyone should go to YouTube and see for yourself because it looks like a guy playing guitar. It only lasts about 30 seconds, which may be why Daryl associates it with masturbating.
20 - regina
janet's breast was shown for 2 seconds and then she quickly covered and people exaggerated it wayyyyyyyyyyy to much, and can i ask who revealed the breast, that's right justin so why is janet getting all the blame. u should be mad for the media for constantly showing clips, most people didn't see her breast until the meadia put it all over the news even though there was much more important things to discuss.
21 - eric
This isn't Daryl imagining things. This has been talked about on the radio all day today. Most agreed that it was Prince miming masturbation. Most also agreed that it was no big deal and laughed it off. This is where the hypocrisy is between Prince and Janet. This is what the basis of this article is about. Great article, Daryl. I've come to blogcritics more to read your articles, though some are a little off base. Not this one though.
22 - Vern Halen
The guys on the radio talk it up because it's controversial & it appeals to listeners and consequently advertisers, just like Janet's wardrobe episode. In both cases, it's MANUFACTURED controversy. If nothing else, it shows that we as a society in general are desperate to have something to talk about with our friends, neighbors & co-workers across the fence or around the water cooler - or on the internet for that matter.
23 - jack
d,
you're brilliant - this is exactly what i've been thinking ever since janet's performance...
24 - Martin Lav
Eric and Daryl,
I stand by what I posted in #12:
You're supposed to be a pig and since your dirty little mind thought something nasty when you looked at something normal (a guy playing the guitar) I guess you are a pig. But you should keep it there and not try to suck your way into a women libbers pants and write an article about how poor women are downtrodden by men.
Grow some balls.
I got the point of the article and the supposed double-standard. I say SO WHAT! Get over it.
The more that women try and lower themselves to a man's level, the more men become wussified and lose their place in society.
I mean your article cits Madonna and Sex in the City as exploiters of this double standard and I guess "bully" for them if they made a buck while they effectively lowered the standard for all women trying to be "equal" with men.
25 - Mydreams
I don't have a problem with what Justin at the superbowl and i don't have a problem with Prince's performance. But the politics of it is enough to get on my damn nerves.