iramofthecolumns: darling80m: sharquaouia: ...

iramofthecolumns:

darling80m:

sharquaouia:

M.I.A’s “Bad Girls”: Social commentary, I think?

Most of us have seen it. I accidentally came across it during my daily Morocco news search. The desert landscape, Arabic writing on walls, men in thobes and shemaghs, veiled women in gold–I thought, this is either orientalism on steroids or a legit social commentary. As someone who’s listened to M.I.A. for several years, the gratuitous political and social commentary is always pleasantly juxtaposed with sick beats and dope lyrics. It’s what she does. Watching “Bad Girls,” I was looking for it. What was it?

[Read the rest of Samia’s thoughtful post here]

Samia’s always on point. I just wanted to add a similar thought because I just watched the video and M.I.A’s all over my dashboard.

It is quite cool looking.

It’s got that tired formula of “foreign”, but familiar (fascination with fast cars is universal, no? ). Samia pointed out the problematic use of Morocco as the filming location for almost any feature about the middle east (even this one “about” Yemen - and let me tell you Yemen and Morocco couldn’t be more different in landscape), I did want to name what bothers me the most about this video (and I say this, as a huge, huge fan of M.I.A).

I get that the cliches of guns, horses, and fancy cars alongside hipster-y women in niqabs are meant to subvert stereotypes of Arab culture. And sure, much of what is featured in the video might be seen on a visit to the Arabian Peninsula. BUT, in my opinion they don’t really add any complexity to the region for the average viewer. And at its worst, the video even reinforces the notions of the Other.

It’s that ambiguity that worries me.

Personally, I think it’s M.I.A.’s unfortunate attempt at solidarity, since the world has been taken aback by the widespread social upheaval in the region. I dunno I would rather see her do a track with Shadia Mansour than Madonna (b/c that song sucks, imo).

So while, I liked the video and I love the song, I don’t know if it would get a pass from me, for me.

I agree with what both of you have said/articulated so well. And I’m glad someone made a post addressing this. I wanted to like the video, but in all honesty, it mainly made me feel uncomfortable.