ULTRAVENUS ISSUE 1: GODS AND MONSTERS May. 2014 | Seite 23

Robin Thicke has become a household name this year after the success of his smash hit “Blurred
Lines”. With pushy lyrics, talk of “domesticating” women and the distasteful accompanying
video starring women wearing only knickers, seductively dancing and thrusting at animals (not
to mention, a scene featuring balloon letters spelling out “Robin Thicke has a big dick”) …it’s
no surprise it has hit a nerve amongst anyone familiar with the word “sexism”.
At this point, I’m not really that fussed about the whole ordeal. Women, naked, in a music
video, and some guy trying to be “out there”, it’s not really catching my attention –
unfortunately, this is common. Besides, Emily Ratajkowski (great name), and her female
counter parts, all appear in the video of their own accord and are celebrating their bodies whilst
looking bloody wonderful. The awkward viewing, brushing of the hair and suggestions of
bestiality aside, I’m willing to give Robin, Pharrell and T.I the benefit of the doubt. JUST.
That was until, Thicke addressed the track and the controversy surrounding it during an
interview with GQ magazine in May, where he claims that “of course” the song and video are
“derogatory towards women” and unwittingly added that it’s a “pleasure to degrade women”,
justifying it by pointing out that he has a wife and children, has always respected women and
he’s “never gotten to do that before.” But ofcourse! Respecting women deserves praise and if
you do it for long enough that grants you the right to behave otherwise, pat on the back for you,
Robin.
It doesn’t end there through, hitting back at his critics; the singer addresses the further backlash
he’s received, by fobbing off the shocking misogynistic babble in the interview as a “joke”.
That’s right, degrading and exploiting women is something to be laughed about, apparently.
Sexist men disguising their unacceptable behaviour as a joke and that being ok? how original.
But he’s “been with the same girl since he was a teenager” (poor woman) so how can he be
disrespectful to women?! That’s like saying something blatantly racist and defending it by
saying “What? I’m not racist, my best friend is black!”
Ever modest, he then describes the video as “great art.” So now, not only is demeaning women
pleasurable and funny, it’s also art. Who knew? Anyone would think he’d been a woman and a
victim of misogyny, he obviously know what it feels like and is addressing it accordingly. Then
came the K.O blow for me. “If you listen to the lyrics, it says, 'That man is not your maker.' It's
actually a feminist movement within itself.” Oh thank you Robin, women aren’t made by men.
How groundbreaking. How worldly and equal rights of you. He’s labelling himself a pioneer of
feminism when by his own admission he can’t even muster up the intelligence to find something
to rhyme with “hug me.” (On reading the lyrics again, it seems he’s considering “fuck me”,
gross.) Lets just ignore every other aspect of the video and the lyrics including (Along with the
chilling inference that the only thing blurred is his idea of consent) because of that one line you
use to sweet talk this poor hypothetical woman to give in to you, because, as you say, “you
know she wants it”, shall we?
The balloons in that poxy video should read “Robin Thicke IS a big LETCHY dick.” Here’s
hoping this narcissistic moron disappears and takes any other songs giving men the thumbs up to
joke about misogyny, with him.