The article on Jennifer Lopez focuses on the theme of how sexuality is oriented to culturalism whereas the one on Gender, Race and Class in media resonates on a similar subject but with a twist with its insightful ideological approach on how the media influences this topic. With a primary explanation on Jennifer’s butt, or derriere in a more euphemistic word, the articles captures the fact that this part of the celebrity’s body has been the source of many discourses, interviews and celebrity gossip. The idea is that Lopez is Puerto Rican in nationality but this fails to hit many people as the first thing that pops in people’s mind is her physique, particularly her derriere which is somewhat a source of fascination and focus for a lot of people. The second article gives information on how the media is responsible for portraying “problems” associated with a given race.
The writers’ main arguments are that women from other races, or rather those who are not white are objectified relative to their bodies, while their white counterparts are not. Using Lopez’s example, the writer builds on the assertion that sexuality is greatly affected by one’s culture hence non-white women, especially in Hollywood receive unnecessary scrutiny about their derrieres, a sad fact that may prompt them to give in to the social norm of the entertainment industry of having a slender body. Culturally speaking, women from some backgrounds tend to have different physiques from others, making some of them a subject of unending conversations in this entertainment hub. As a conclusion, the writer posits that race will always remain to be an integral part of the topic on sexuality as it influences to a great extent people’s perception on sexuality. I pretty much agree with the writer’s assertion since it has always been evident that sexuality is a very cultural phenomenon and there is a lot of biasness that goes into the perception of people’s sexuality especially with regard to other races.
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To support the argument, the writer uses Jennifer Lopez, a celebrity who since her early days in the entertainment industry, has been the subject of numerous focus on her butt. As an actor and an artist, Lopez has been interviewed very many times and the subject of her derriere has popped out in almost all of these interviews. Only one interviewer, Dream Hampton, made a clear connection between this objectification and the common ideology of white America’s gaze on ethnic bodies. The objectification of Saartje Baartman, also adds on to what the writer is trying to bring forth, using her also as a source of eminent evidence. In ‘The White of Their Eyes’, the example of Gone With The Wind which is a popular film, to indicate how misplaced cultural concepts are commonly attached to specific genders and races, since some practices are assumed to be part and parcel of them.
The first article is well in line with a majority of related articles that I have read. Citing what most celebrities mention when they are asked how they feel in the event that their body parts are made the subject of discussion in platforms such as mainstream media and magazines, most of them give similar reactions such as Lopez’s. It is evident that at first they do not mind it until later on when it subdues more important subjects that it actually starts to bother them. The second article which pretty much relays what the first contains but with a twist in it, also corresponds with much of what I have come across concerning the same topic.
Some questions come to mind after carefully reading and analyzing the article. For instance, is Jennifer Lopez creating a positive image of the typical Porta Rican girl, given the fact that this is a background that upholds stringent sexuality standards? The question on inferential racism with regard to The White of Their Eyes is also one that comes to mind. From a critical perspective, the authors could have used both female and male examples, since in the contemporary entertainment industry, even men are subject to similar objectification.
The implication of the authors’ arguments is sensitization among readers, of an existing problem that many might known have known about. From a personal front, I can relate to the article to the scenarios in my life that I have had to do things which the society holds as right which in my opinion are not necessarily correct. However, in order to fit in, I am forced to do what the majority require. With regard to sociology, popular culture, gender, race and class; one can definitely draw a lot from the principles, theories and outline of these subjects. The information provided in the article is like a demonstration of what the course entails.
