The Super Bowl Is Problematic. Why Canʼt We Look Away?

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Super Bowl Is Problematic. Why Canʼt We Look Away? 2/1/2020 The Super Bowl Is Problematic. Why Can’t We Look Away? - The New York Times https://nyti.ms/2S9rF2O The Super Bowl Is Problematic. Why Canʼt We Look Away? The halftime show, the ads, the parties: The Super Bowl is more than a game, and 100 million of us tune in despite the sportʼs uglier controversies. Our culture journalists discussed the reasons and implications. By Wesley Morris, Caryn Ganz and Austin Considine Jan. 30, 2020 AUSTIN CONSIDINE Friends: I know what I’m doing Sunday. I know what you’re doing Sunday. As full-time culture journalists, to ignore the Super Bowl would be a gross dereliction of duty. That’s because the Super Bowl isn’t just a game. It’s the halftime show; it’s the ads; it’s the chips and guac. It is sport but also music, dance, costumes, TV production and stage design — a pop culture event greater than the sum of its parts. Perhaps most important, it was watched last year by roughly 100 million people: In a world of on-demand entertainment, the Super Bowl is one of the last true vestiges of an era when we all watched the same things at the same time. But I, like a lot of sports fans, have struggled in recent years to reconcile what is beautiful about the game with what is ugly. First, there’s the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head hits — not only to concussions — which the N.F.L. actively worked to conceal. Then there are the league’s troubles with domestic abuse and race. We could unpack those for days, but let it suffice to note that Tyreek Hill still has a job and Colin Kaepernick does not. Some fans have learned to tolerate the cognitive dissonance, or to square their free enjoyment with the ostensible free will of the players. Others, like me, have trouble shouldering our complicity with football’s worst elements and have mostly stopped watching. But regardless, fans or not, we mostly show up for the Super Bowl. Why is that? WESLEY MORRIS Austin, I, too, have consumed less football in the last five years because the hits can be hard to watch, because the punitive, allegedly apolitical stances of the league are themselves paradoxically political. There are many amazing physical achievements in this sport. There’s endless ridiculousness. The choreographed end-zone celebration, for instance, has gleefully migrated to other sports. And the league, in spite of itself, has a muscular charitable wing. This is to say that loving the N.F.L. means putting up with a lot. But its outsize popularity also seems a partial answer to the moral riddle that’s so openly vexed us these past two or three years. How do we enjoy the work of bad, unpleasant, corrupt people and institutions? Of criminals? Does opting into the Super Bowl experience then condone the problems of football? Can spectatorship be anything but an endorsement? It’s the conundrum of a capitalist society to the extent that it’s truly a conundrum at all. CARYN GANZ Football is the quintessential problematic fave. And like Michael Jackson, it’s too challenging to cancel, too big to fail, too embedded in the fabric of American leisure to rip out. (For now, at least.) The Super Bowl is drama, emotion, identity, catharsis, spectacle, skill, power: It’s nearly impossible to find a viewer beyond its scope. It’s no longer possible to keep up with everything happening in television, movies, music and digital media, but the Super Bowl is one of the last gasps of the monoculture. It’s a given and a gimme: It has almost no barrier for entry — one network channel, one block of time when nobody is expected to be doing anything other than watching the Super Bowl. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/30/arts/television/super-bowl-why-watch.html?searchResultPosition=12 1/3 2/1/2020 The Super Bowl Is Problematic. Why Can’t We Look Away? - The New York Times And as for the ethical conundrum, ethics are under siege in every corner of our society: on social media, in Washington, in college admissions, on the music charts. In an era of “LOL nothing matters,” where does football rank on the scale of horrors? Even if your answer is “quite high,” there are 100 million other viewers willing to share the shame. CONSIDINE Still, let’s be cleareyed: If you watch the Super Bowl, you are financially and ethically supporting the N.F.L. And yet, I rarely hear these issues surface when we talk about the Super Bowl as pop culture. I wonder why we’re so deferential? Has any Super Bowl happening or halftime show made a truly lasting cultural impact? GANZ Oh yes, they have. Part of the power of the halftime show is its sheer reach. Music (like sports) is a powerful uniter, but so much of the way we experience it now is in isolation: via playlists shaped by our personal listening habits that are beamed directly into our headphones. A live stadium show allows 100,000 people to share an experience; the Grammys attracted 18.7 million viewers to its live broadcast. With the exception of the Eurovision song contest (which was watched by 182 million people last year), the Super Bowl is as big as it gets now for live music. Few people (other than me) may recall which songs Madonna played during her set in 2012, but her halftime yielded a landmark pop culture moment: M.I.A. extending her middle finger on national TV. In the past decade, halftime’s meme-able mini-events have become almost as memorable as who won the game: Adam Levine’s bare torso (2019), Lady Gaga’s leap (2017), Beyoncé’s fierce “Formation” (2016), Left Shark (2015), even Bruce Springsteen’s crotch slide (2009). And we could talk about Prince’s Super Bowl all day long. MORRIS Caryn, don’t play. You know I know Madonna’s set list from that night. I also remember how the emotional properties of the Boston bar where I watched that game completely changed as her halftime show began. The Patriots were about to lose another Super Bowl to the Giants, and even though they were up (by a point) going into the second half, that woman and her friends seemed to lighten the mood. Men were mouthing along to “Open Your Heart.” But they were also happy to partake in the spectacle of a 53-year-old imposing her sexual-identity gender circus (a phalanx of beefcake transported her to the stage) upon a sport whose stated orientation points, non-negotiably, one way. This is to say that the halftime show can be received multiple ways at once. It’s an event complicit in all that dismays us about American football as a whole and the N.F.L. especially: players’ physical and mental health; compensation and exploitation; the sanctioned conflation with the league and our military; the names. Kansas City’s excellent Super Bowl team is the Chiefs; and when fans are feeling confidently vicious, half the arms in the stadium begin to tomahawk chop. (They’re not the so-called Redskins, and yet the team brings with it many centuries of terrible history anytime it plays — anytime its “merch” is sold.) But the halftime show is also an event wholly outside the problems of the sport. Its stars have been imported and occasionally seem eager to practice subversion, as Madonna and Beyoncé have; to practice an exuberant nothing, as Katy Perry has. It is what its stars fight for it to be. I’m enormously excited to see what J. Lo and Shakira have fought for. We are, though, at a really fascinating place now. An aspect of the culture is asking these entertainers to consider what it means to partake in an event that could feature any number of problematic figures. (Tyreek Hill is a star Chief.) And on Madonna’s night, in 2012, Aaron Hernandez scored one of the Patriots’ touchdowns. Six months later, he shot and killed two men. GANZ Halftime may hover in a space outside the problems of the sport, but it has its own crises related to football’s troubled racial and gender dynamics. Consider how the Super Bowl completely reshaped Janet Jackson’s career. Jackson had five No. 1 albums and was known as one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, but less than three seconds in 2004 — so-called “Nipplegate,” when her bare breast was exposed by Justin Timberlake during the last https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/30/arts/television/super-bowl-why-watch.html?searchResultPosition=12 2/3 2/1/2020 The Super Bowl Is Problematic. Why Can’t We Look Away? - The New York Times moments of their performance — rewrote her entire history, plunging her into years of purgatory. It only briefly affected Timberlake’s, since he has the luxury of being white and male. (Remember, he returned to headline halftime in 2018.) CONSIDINE Does making Jennifer Lopez and Shakira the halftime show headliners — a first for Latinas — feel like a transparent scramble by the N.F.L. to virtue-signal? To be more charitable, it makes sense that the league might simply want to pay tribute to the Hispanic heritage of this year’s host city, Miami. But wasn’t the N.F.L. probably compelled to do something extra after the outspoken way in which multiple artists last year turned down the opportunity in support of Colin Kaepernick? And after Rihanna did the same this season? GANZ Sports and music are two arenas in which the stars are mostly young and black but work in a structure still largely controlled by older white men.
Recommended publications
  • Washington Redtails Marketing Plan
    Washington Redtails Marketing Plan Anne O’Dell March 16, 2015 Media, Marketing & Communications Dr. John Fenn & Mr. Darrel Kau Instructors Redtails Marketing Plan, p. 1 I. Introduction & Overview of Plan Organizational History The Washington Redskins, which shall be called “The Washington Redtails” for the duration of this plan, is a professional football of the National Football League (NFL). The team was founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1933 as the Boston Braves, and owner George Preston Marshall changed its name to the Redskins in 1936 just prior to its move to the Washington, DC, area. Unofficially, the name “Redskins” was chosen in honor of its then coach, William Dietz, who himself claimed Native American ancestry. Dietz had also recruited a number of Native American players to the team when it was still based in Boston as the Braves, so it was thought a fitting name and one that would differentiate the team from the Boston Braves baseball team. The organization was founded as a professional athletic organization to provide entertainment for the public. Today, it has two nonprofits under its umbrella that address various social issues in the region and nationally. This plan will primarily focus on the rebranding of the organization as it would impact its football team. Redtails Marketing Plan, p. 2 Main Goals 1. Improve Organizational Image The organization’s image is increasingly negative to those who are not fans because its current name is considered by many to be a racial slur. This is a deterrent to attracting potential fans. Changing the name to the Washington Redtails would accomplish several indirect objectives.
    [Show full text]
  • Super Bowl Sunday: an Unofficial Holiday for Millions
    Embassy of the United States of America Super Bowl Sunday An Unofficial Holiday for Millions Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson holds the Lombardi Trophy after the 2014 Super Bowl game. The Seahawks will again vie for the championship in 2015 against the New England Patriots. © AP Images ach year, on a Sunday at the this is because the Super Bowl is a single game each year between end of January or beginning a single game, a winner-take-all their respective champion teams. Eof February, tens of millions contest. Add the televised enter- Because many collegiate football of Americans declare their own tainment that surrounds the game, championships were known as unofficial holiday. Gathered in and Super Bowl Sunday becomes “bowls” for the bowl-shaped sta­ groups large and small, nearly half an event even for those who are not diums that hosted them, one AFL of all U.S. households participate football fans. owner referred to the new game as vicariously in a televised spectacle a “super” bowl. The name stuck. that has far outgrown its origins as Super Bowl Beginnings Four Super Bowl games were a sporting event. American football is unrelated played before the two leagues The Super Bowl, which deter- to the game most of the world knows merged in 1970 into a single mines the championship of by that name, which Americans National Football League, which American football, is most of all a call soccer. For most of its history, was subdivided into the American shared experience, when Americans professional American football was and National “conferences.” Each choose to watch the game with played within a single National year, the champion teams of each friends.
    [Show full text]
  • The Influence of the Super Bowl on the American Culture
    The Influence of the Super Bowl on the American Culture Kuserbanj, Leon Undergraduate thesis / Završni rad 2020 Degree Grantor / Ustanova koja je dodijelila akademski / stručni stupanj: Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences / Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Filozofski fakultet Permanent link / Trajna poveznica: https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:142:228736 Rights / Prava: In copyright Download date / Datum preuzimanja: 2021-09-30 Repository / Repozitorij: FFOS-repository - Repository of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Osijek Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku Filozofski fakultet Osijek Dvopredmetni sveučilišni preddiplomski studij engleskog jezika i književnosti i hrvatskog jezika i književnosti Leon Kuserbanj Utjecaj Super Bowla na Američku kulturu Završni rad Mentor: doc. dr. sc. Jadranka Zlomislić Osijek, 2020. Sveučilište J.J. Strossmayera u Osijeku Filozofski fakultet Osijek Odsjek za engleski jezik i književnost Dvopredmetni sveučilišni preddiplomski studij engleskog jezika i književnosti i hrvatskog jezika Leon Kuserbanj Utjecaj Super Bowla na američku kulturu Završni rad Znanstveno područje: humanističke znanosti Znanstveno polje: filologija Znanstvena grana: anglistika Mentor: doc. dr. sc. Jadranka Zlomislić Osijek, 2020. J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Double Major BA Study Programme in English Language and Literature and Croatian Language and Literature Leon Kuserbanj The Influence of the Super Bowl on the American Culture Bachelor’s Thesis Supervisor: Dr. Jadranka Zlomislić, Assistant Professor Osijek, 2020 J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Department of English Double Major BA Study Programme in English Language and Literature and Croatian Language and Literature Leon Kuserbanj The Influence of the Super Bowl on the American Culture Bachelor’s Thesis Scientific area: humanities Scientific field: philology Scientific branch: English studies Supervisor: Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Holding Allies Accountable
    Student Publications Student Scholarship Fall 2019 Holding Allies Accountable Gisselle Flores Gettysburg College Follow this and additional works at: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship Part of the African American Studies Commons, Chicana/o Studies Commons, Hip Hop Studies Commons, and the Sports Studies Commons Share feedback about the accessibility of this item. Recommended Citation Flores, Gisselle, "Holding Allies Accountable" (2019). Student Publications. 859. https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/859 This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution. Cupola permanent link: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/859 This open access student research paper is brought to you by The Cupola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of The Cupola. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Holding Allies Accountable Abstract Artists, including Rihanna, Cardi B, and Jay-Z, have turned down the NFL’s offer to perform in the halftime show out of solidarity with Colin Kaepernick , but it was recently announced that Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will be performing in 2020. This has sparked controversy because some are celebrating that there are two Latinas headlining the Super Bowl halftime show for the first time while others do not view this event as a cause for celebration because they believe that J. Lo and Shakira should have boycotted like other artists have. Jennifer Lopez and Shakira have given no prior indications that they stand with Colin Kaepernick, so there should not have been an expectation from them to reject the NFL’s offer.
    [Show full text]
  • Ncaa National Championship Game Tv Schedule
    Ncaa National Championship Game Tv Schedule Spectroscopic Jerrold overpeople her Benedictine so commandingly that Rubin immersing very exampled,uncannily. Gabrielehis Crete remains mudding expired reorientate after ambiguously.Tan salves mangily or poach any footprint. Hellish Klaus National championship 2021 Alabama vs Ohio State live. Ohio State vs Alabama CFP National Championship. College football bowl game alone for 2020-21 Scores. Lsua baseball and no influence from your most plays. Florida all eyes will have a huge win in what made it? National Championship Alabama vs Clemson game time TV. How deaf watch more listen to LSU in the CFP WWL-TV. But tyler in this is not struggled to do i root for those who can watch parties for misconfigured or, saying players on for their ncaa national championship game? The latest gulf coast schools not officially begin until halftime show me this option for nj local. Skalski would have shared network in miami gardens, schedule of those are. Fox media streaming from syracuse mets baseball news, college teams had the ncaa national championship tv schedule of impact and security features. Throwing six straight points out at cleveland, virginia had in full strength of transmissions can watch ncaa national championship tv schedule provides full advantage. The presentation will help get oregon in his race tracks in portland business team. Download the 201-19 NCAA Bowl Championship Series TV. This hugely anticipated game drew its fifth cfp national title, camping world of their affiliates, see pictures at once gdpr consent on ncaa national issues with fields. College Football Playoff National Championship game on Monday.
    [Show full text]
  • Super Bowl You Over by Reg P. Wydeven February 15, 2015
    Super Bowl You Over By Reg P. Wydeven February 15, 2015 A few weeks ago, my sister invited our family to her house for a Super Bowl party. She had a ton of tasty snacks and she made delicious glazed ham sandwiches. We had an absolute blast, other than lamenting the fact that the Packers should have been playing. The game was the most-watched program in television history. While there were spectacular plays, like Jermaine Kearse’s juggling catch, and terrific performances, like Tom Brady’s four touchdown game, and a last-minute game-winning interception, my niece’s favorite part was the halftime show. A huge Katy Perry fan, my niece loved listening to her music and watching all of her costume changes. Again, she was not alone. America also loved the game’s intermission, especially the dancing sharks. One shark in particular, the ‘Left Shark,’ was extremely endearing because he forgot the choreography and stumbled through the routine. The Left Shark quickly went viral, and like many viral phenomenon, someone looked to capitalize on it. Merchandise showcasing the shark sprouted up all over internet retailers. Fernando Sosa was one such entrepreneur. The Florida-based designer quickly started selling 3-D models of the Left Shark on Shapeways.com, an online marketplace, for $24.99 each. Shortly thereafter, however, Sosa got a cease-and-desist letter from Katy Perry’s attorneys claiming that she owns the copyright to the shark. While Sosa complied, legal experts are speculating as to whether Perry actually holds the copyright to the costumes.
    [Show full text]
  • Ticket: # 3798142
    _____________________________________________________________________________ Ticket: # 3798142 - Super bowl 2020 half time Date: 2/3/2020 3:37:40 PM City/State/Zip: Montrose, Colorado 81401 _____________________________________________________________________________ Description Was extremely offensive and inappropriate for kids, was during prime time and many children watching. _____________________________________________________________________________ Ticket: # 3798148 - Super Bowl halftime show indecent Date: 2/3/2020 3:38:29 PM City/State/Zip: Mission Hills, Kansas 66208 _____________________________________________________________________________ Description The half time show was the furthest thing from a "family friendly" broadcast as possible. The depiction of strippers, close-ups of croth and anus, the orgy by back up dancers, naked buttocks, are NOT APPROPRIATE for children viewers. I should not have to send children out of the room when watching a FOOTBALL GAME. The NFL and FOX are contributing to the total sexualization of our culture and cramming it down our throats. No where is safe. _____________________________________________________________________________ Ticket: # 3798156 - 2020 super bowl halftime performance Date: 2/3/2020 3:39:56 PM City/State/Zip: Bardstown, Kentucky 40004 _____________________________________________________________________________ Description This performance by the the two female performers ie. Shakira and Jennifer Lopez was patently obscene for the viewing time slot and vowing audiences that
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Communications Commission FCC 06-68 1 Before the Federal
    Federal Communications Commission FCC 06-68 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) COMPLAINTS AGAINST VARIOUS ) File No. EB-04-IH-0011 TELEVISION LICENSEES ) CONCERNING THEIR FEBRUARY ) NAL/Acct. No. 200432080212 1, 2004 BROADCAST OF THE SUPER ) BOWL XXXVIII HALFTIME SHOW ) ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION Adopted: May 4, 2006 Released: May 31, 2006 By the Commission: Commissioner Adelstein concurring in part, dissenting in part, and issuing a statement. I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Order on Reconsideration, issued pursuant to section 405(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), and section 1.106(j) of the Commission’s rules,1 we deny the Petition for Reconsideration of Forfeiture Order (“Petition”) filed by CBS Broadcasting Inc. (“CBS”) in this forfeiture proceeding.2 The CBS Petition seeks reconsideration of our decision to impose a forfeiture of $550,000 against CBS Corporation, as the ultimate parent company of the licensees of the television stations involved in this proceeding, for the violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1464 and the Commission’s rule regulating the broadcast of indecent material.3 We find that CBS has failed to present any argument warranting reconsideration of our Forfeiture Order. II. BACKGROUND 2. This proceeding involves the broadcast of the halftime show of the National Football League’s Super Bowl XXXVIII over the CBS owned-and-operated television stations in the CBS Network (the “CBS Stations”) on February 1, 2004, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.4 Super Bowl XXXVII was the most-watched program of the 2003-2004 television season and had an 1 47 U.S.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Sports Super!
    Sports Super! Movie Quotes: Test your knowledge of common sports movies by naming the title of the ​ ​ movie that the given quote originated from. All traditional sports movies as well as ones where sports are heavily involved are fair game. 1. Quack...quack...quack..quack... 2. I'm not looking for the best players, I'm lookin' for the right ones 3. There's no crying in baseball! 4. Iowa? I could've sworn this was heaven. 5. Go! Get out of here! I don't want you anymore! 6. Let's get tropical! 7. I don't wanna name names but one of the coaches took him to a titty bar. 8. You mix your Wheaties with your mama’s toe jam! 9. Did you just kick your son? 10. West Ham wins 3-nil in a blindin' performance, and our little scrap makes the headline. Bloody muckrakers. 11. Wax on...wax off... 12. I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn't be our style. Pain heals, chicks dig scars, glory lasts forever. 13. You're gonna eat lightin' and you're gonna crap thunder! 14. Baseball may be a religion full of magic, cosmic truth and the fundamental ontological riddles of our time, but it’s also a job. 15. Listen, Lupus, you didn't come into this life just to sit around on a dugout bench, did ya? Now get your ass out there and do the best you can. 16. Well. We're waiting. 17. Show me the money! 18.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Communications Commission FCC 06-19 1 Before the Federal
    Federal Communications Commission FCC 06-19 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) COMPLAINTS AGAINST VARIOUS ) File No. EB-04-IH-0011 TELEVISION LICENSEES ) CONCERNING THEIR FEBRUARY ) NAL/Acct. No. 200432080212 1, 2004 BROADCAST OF THE SUPER ) BOWL XXXVIII HALFTIME SHOW ) FORFEITURE ORDER Adopted: February 21, 2006 Released: March 15, 2006 By the Commission: Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps and Tate issuing separate statements; Commissioner Adelstein concurring and issuing a statement. I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Forfeiture Order (“Order”), issued pursuant to section 503(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”), and section 1.80 of the Commission’s rules,1 we impose a monetary forfeiture in the amount of $550,000 against CBS Corporation (“CBS”), as the licensee or the ultimate parent company of the licensees of the television stations listed in the Appendix (“CBS Stations”).2 We find that CBS violated 18 U.S.C. § 1464 and the Commission’s rule regulating the broadcast of indecent material3 in its broadcast of the halftime show of the National Football League’s Super Bowl XXXVIII over the CBS Stations on February 1, 2004, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.4 1 47 U.S.C. § 503(b); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80. 2 The Appendix is an updated version of Appendix A from the Notice of Apparent Liability in this proceeding. See Complaints Against Various Television Licensees Concerning Their February 1, 2004, Broadcast of the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show, Notice of Apparent Liability, 19 FCC Rcd 19230 (2004) (the “NAL”).
    [Show full text]
  • Sports & Entertainment
    Sports & Entertainment Sports and Entertainment Group Brochure Representations of all 31 NHL hockey clubs and/or their owners, over 20 Premier League, La Liga, Championship and other international football (soccer) clubs across seven countries and teams, owners, players and/or sponsors in each of Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NFL, the NHL and Major League Soccer, as well as the NBA itself and the NCAA. Service as national coordinating counsel for the NCAA for their nationwide sports injury and concussion claims. Over 130 different legal projects involving over 400 lawyers for the Olympic Delivery Authority in the build-up to the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. United States Anti-Doping Agency’s cases against Tour de France winners Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis, Marion Jones and other gold medal winners. The BALCO scandal and the Mitchell Report on steroid use in baseball. Among the largest known naming rights deals on each side of the Atlantic for SoFi Stadium, Citi Field and The O2, the naming of the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards, and the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village adjacent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sponsorships of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, NFL Pro Bowl and MLB All Star balloting and USA Basketball’s marketing and licensing deal with the NBA covering the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Men’s and Women’s Olympic Basketball Teams. Major resort, stadium and event venue development, financing and leasing projects, including for Ballpark Village in St. Louis, Beaver Creek Resort, FA National Football Centre at St. George’s Park in London, a Jack Nicklaus golf resort, STAPLES Center, The O2 and The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and the development, Page 1 of 10 redevelopment or relocation of stadiums for multiple Premier League and Championship international football (soccer) clubs.
    [Show full text]
  • Nipplegate and the Effects of Implicit Vs. Explicit Sexuality in Pop Music Performance
    Nota Bene: Canadian Undergraduate Journal of Musicology Volume 12 | Issue 1 Article 4 Nipplegate and the Effects of Implicit vs. Explicit Sexuality in Pop Music Performance Jessica MacIsaac University of King’s College Recommended Citation MacIsaac, Jessica. “Nipplegate and the Effects of Implicit vs. Explicit Sexuality in Pop Music Performance.” Nota Bene: Canadian Undergraduate Journal of Musicology Vol. 12, no. 1 (2019): 46- 64. https://doi.org/10.5206/notabene.v12i1.8146 Nipplegate and the Effects of Implicit vs. Explicit Sexuality in Pop Music Performance Abstract Janet Jackson’s pop career was severely impacted by Justin Timberlake ripping her costume during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. The exposure of her nipple was deemed vulgar and became the subject of a heated media backlash, while numerous sexually provocative moments of the show that did not include Jackson were seemingly accepted This paper analyze the performance and its aftermath, and explores factors that contributed to the Nipplegate controversy, including race, gender, and the corporate entities that controlled the media reaction. Keywords Janet Jackson, Nipplegate, Super Bowl, sexism, sexuality Nipplegate and the Effects of Implicit vs. Explicit Sexuality Nipplegate and the Effects of Implicit vs. Explicit Sexuality in Pop Music Performance Jessica MacIsaac Year V – University of King’s College In 2005, the video-sharing website YouTube was launched. Jawed Karim, one of the three founders of the site, revealed in an interview that a major televised moment inspired the need for YouTube: Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s halftime performance during Super Bowl XXXVIII.1 The performance remains notorious in pop culture, mostly for a specific moment that only lasted a half-second, dubbed “Nipplegate” by various news outlets.2 Jackson performed a medley of her own songs and a duet with Timberlake; at the end of which he tore off part of her costume, exposing her right breast to a potential 89.8 million 1.
    [Show full text]