Read more in Music at Boing Boing

Boing Boing editor/partner and tech culture journalist Xeni Jardin hosts and produces Boing Boing's in-flight TV channel on Virgin America airlines (#10 on the dial), and writes about living with breast cancer. Diagnosed in 2011. @xeni on Twitter. email: xeni@boingboing.net.

MORE: Art and Design • music • pop culture • Weird

More at Boing Boing

Eurovision 2013: An American in London

The technology that links taxonomy and Star Trek

Anonymous

@maryofkentucky.

I do see your point but, on the other hand, if a woman wants to appear sexy, is she supposed to however not do that because we’ve hit some arbitrary saturation point of too much female sexuality in our culture? But, I believe you have the right to not like the video for your reasons and you would then support an artist who agrees with you on that. That’s how the yin-and-yang of modern female perception/self-acceptance will go on. I think it’s working pretty well.

I’m actually kind of miffed by everyone finding an excuse for their liking this video by saying Die Antwoord is being actually making fun of objectification of women, etc. No they’re not. Just because they are somewhat satirical sort of does not mean every image they present is the opposite of what they’re saying. I think they genuinely find something intriguing, sexy, etc., about that Zef culture and, like Outkast rapping about life in the South, reveling in the culture while also finding some things amusing about it. Sorry readers-trying-to-be-sensitive-but-also-trying-to-find-a-reason-to-keep-listening-to-Die-Antwoord, but Yolandi probably actually likes dressing in the gold outfit and being a little trashy. There’s nothing in the video that indicates she’s making fun of women who value richness and beauty above all else. It’s a mood piece.
Ocker3

wait, 38 comments, and noone’s mentioned that she spends half the clip sitting on a toilet with her pants around her ankles?? I reckon she’s taking aim at Paris Hilton et al more than anything!
agates

but I really wish there was more consideration for women and theirs rights, specifically that women should not have to deal with their constant sexualization.

But what happens (as clearly is the case here) if a woman chooses to “sexualize” her own image.

Should she be taken out to a field for “re-education”? Does this video violate some mandatory world view about how women “should be , should act” ?

Yeah. YoLandi’s rights are just being SHIT on here aren’t they?

Sigh…
- maryofkentucky
  
  As I said at the beginning of my comment:
  
  “I don’t like when women sexualize themselves or allow themselves to be sexualized… ”
  
  You’ve probably heard of internalized racism, this is along the same lines. Thank you for such polite replies. When someone sexualizes themselves in the context of exploitation and the context of women being sex object in media, then yes, I see a problem with this. You don’t have to be sarcastic when I am trying to be sincere. “or something” like it’s funny to make fun of someone when they try to say something they feel strongly about…
  - TenInchesTaller
    
    Basically, women are not smart enough to know for themselves whether they want to dress sexy or not or whether someone else has decided that for them, so they should always default to ‘not’ regardless of their own feelings.
    
    Very liberated.
  - Anonymous
    
    I definitely feel like Yolandi is owning her sexuality in this video. I think there’s a difference between objectifying and sexualizing. I think pop stars like the Pussycat Dolls are objectified in their sexualization. I think Yolandi in this video is completely owning her own sexuality, and not giving into traditional standards (she’s peeing most of the way through the video, for instance).
Anonymous

I loved the pictures of Julius Malema on the loo rolls.

For those not in the know, Julius Malema is a highly controversial South African political figure (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Julius_Malema)
Anonymous

LOL.

She’s knowingly sexualising herself for the purposes of satire! It’s not a signifier of patriarchal oppression, it’s a lady and her mates having a laugh and poking fun at EXACTLY the sort of video you’re complaining about!

If you can’t see that the video is nothing more than a comical parody of a Gaga/Madonna video, you should probably step… away… from…. the… internet.
maryofkentucky

I will admit I am probably sensitive when it comes to this subject, (I got all sorts of unwanted comments and ass slaps from older dudes when I was earlier puberty 11 yr old and I had to deal with sexual abuse in my family, as live in a conservative place, and another shit), so this is affecting my ability to see the satire in this, if there very well is a satirical intent.

I addresses specifically female sexualization because it is the problem at hand in this video. I understand that gender stereotypes are harmful for both sexes. My best friend growing up was always very skinny, he got a lot of shit. I remember taking up for “fat kids” at school, too. Kids like to pick on others based upon the information they receive regarding “normalness” and how everyone is suppose to fit into a role.

In the context of society now, I don’t think it is possible to empower yourself by sexualizing yourself. You are just playing into the role, that’s not power, that’s leaving yourself as meat for the prey.

It’s so easy to throw around the prude word. I like sex and have sexual urges, I get it, its biological, that doesn’t mean we need to make it such as huge part of our culture. It is all the god damn time, jesus christ, like there is nothing else to show.

Thanks for the lolz/get away from the interwebz type of comments, you have such thoughtful and kind discussions. Also, thank you moderator for telling me I’ve made my point, I’m not sure if that was sarcastic, too. I see you have a side against me on this point.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Also, thank you moderator for telling me I’ve made my point, I’m not sure if that was sarcastic, too.
  
  It wasn’t sarcastic. I have no problem with you arguing your point, but we discourage repetitive comments.
The Mudshark

Some people make it sound as if sexualizing oneself was morally objectionable. WhatÂ´s up with that? I mean, weÂ´re not talking about sexual discrimination or abuse here but your own choice how to present yourself.
Have you even watched the video? Do you really feel the female image projected here is anything but empowered? Yolandi burns down her trashy, abusive relativeÂ´s home to live in a palace brimming with male slaves and doesnÂ´t pay enough respect to them or the viewer to even close the door when sheÂ´s taking a shit on her golden toilet for crying out loud.
alowishus

Is that a spinner-rim ring? Brilliant.
Baron Karza

I dunno. I fail to see the amazingness of this. I think it’s a really ugly song lyrically, and there isn’t much music behind it.
Spencer Cross

Answering my own question because, frankly, you’re all a bunch of goddamned useless layabouts. Here’s a YouTube version.
- catgrin
  
  Bwahahahahahaha! You just didn’t read the post directly above your original one. Please see #3. I’ll make myself useful by helpfully explaining that early posts are frequently shot out so so rapidly that questions get answered before the post containing the question pops up on screen. ; )
  
  (So helpful that I even posted twice this after I came back and realized that it had cleared out the fact that I was replying to you when I logged in. Feel the love!)
maryofkentucky

Let me ask you guys a question, do you know what it is like to be a 13 year old girl and be yelled at on several occasions by dudes in cars/walking by you on the street who say explicit things about you and your body? (Cause I do, earlier puberty) Do you know what it’s like to be constantly targeted in media about how inadequate your body is? Do you know that 1/4 women has been sexually abused? I AM NOT BLAMING THIS BAND for these problems. I am saying that in our society of sexualized women, who are judged by their body, that this type of sexualization can not continue. I’m not saying censor them, I’m just saying they should know better! They should care about this problem of inequality!

Owning your sexuality isn’t about displaying yourself to sell albums.

Please try to understand why I find this such a huge problem, and I please ask that you refrain from responding in a shitty, satirical manner when I have the best intentions in mind.
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Fine. You’ve made your point.
Anonymous

“alll the betttaaaa to loveee ya wittttt”

is this video really that sexy? i don’t get it…to be fair, there is a scene where she burns down a s african shanty full of grabby relatives.
putty

I don’t like when women sexualize themselves or allow themselves to be sexualized

Really? Is it okay when men sexualize themselves, for example Elvis’s signature pelvic thrust? Was he diminishing the artistic merit of his work by using his sexuality as part of his performance?

What about the Village People? Were they giving the gay lifestyle a bad rap by using their sexuality to sell records?

When you say Yolandi is exposing herself to sell records you are implying that she has no other redeemable talent, like a booty girl in a rap video. Clearly Yolandi is more than just eye candy, even if booty girl parody is part of her onstage persona.

Your attitude strikes me as arrogant, prudish and narrow minded. Just because you prefer not to “exploit” your own sexuality, that doesn’t mean other people should “know better”. Some of us enjoy flaunting our sexuality and for many talented artists, both male and female, their sexuality is an integral part of their work. You are free to spend your money elsewhere on material that’s more suited to your tastes.
wylkyn

I couldn’t understand most of the lyrics. Hard to judge a song when I can’t even understand what she’s saying.

And Mary – do you know what it’s like to be a wimpy 13-year-old boy, constantly picked on and called “fag” by tougher boys because of some male ideal constantly promoted by our society? Do you know what it’s like to walk the halls of school in fear? Do you know what it’s like to be constantly targeted in media about how inadequate your body is? How your emotions and compassion is a sign of weakness, and your lack of interest in cars and sports means that you are some sort of deviant?

We all have axes to grind. I’m not mocking your point at all. I’m trying to explain that your insinuation that that all “guys” don’t know what it’s like to be a victim of gender-descrimination shows a certain lack of empathy. I’m a heterosexual guy, married with kids, and I still feel like less of a man when I see TV programs or commercials mocking “sensitive” guys as effeminate. It’s irritating as hell. Is it a problem with society? Or is it my own problem – i.e. feelings of self-worth? I tend to think it’s the latter.

I don’t connect with the tough male rapper in this video anymore than you connect with the female. But I do think they are being intentional in their stereotyped portrayal with artistic purpose. I think they are hilarious and fascinating. Maybe I’ve misinterpreted them, though.
- osmo
  
  Personally I love Die Antwoord. I like their lyrics and the music aswell as the videos (remember Evil boy, the lyrics?) But thats sort of besides the point.
  
  Yes she is sexualizing her self. But I think that in it its more criticism of the situation at hand than accepting and being part of it.
  
  Also saying “fuck the patriarchy” or being sexualized as a woman doesn’t mean youre, or anyone else, is excluded from sexism and the structures of it. Its like when leftists complain when socialists drink coca cola. Leftists want an ascetic lifestyle and outward conviction when it is just posturing and basicly doing nothing. Fighting sexism (of the many things you could, should, work against in your life) is about seeing the underlying structures of it and attacking them (according to me).
  
  Also I think that sexualization of women is, at least here, the lesser problem. The asexualization of women is more relevant. Wheere women are seen as non-sexual beings accepting the advances of men but lacking any libido of their own.
  
  CATGRIN: but the sexualization of men happens more on the terms of men. As a guy the sexualization of me does forces me into a role just as much as women but my position and role in society asa man protects me in some ways against all the negative effects women endure. But some parts are problematic with the idea of men being the sexual half of our species and women being asexual.
  - catgrin
    
    Hiya osmo! When I was 12, I developed to a C cup. That summer I took a stroll to the local 7-11 for a coke and a grown man stopped me in the street and said, ” Them be the most bodacious set of ta-ta’s I have ever seen!” Then we each went our own way. A few years later, during morning practice, I spent every weekday in high school ogling one of the more attractive members on our school men’s swim team. Mmmm. Sorry if you didn’t realize that I’m a woman, and I’m stacked. Believe me, I’ve been objectified in spades. The fact is, women objectify men all the time. We just don’t tell you about it, and we don’t always need someone to dress like a Chippendales dancer to notice their body. (Women are far from asexual, or they’re doing it wrong.)
    
    I let Mary know about Die Antwoorp’s past incarnations so she’d understand that the artist was making a conscious choice to present herself that way, and let her in on the joke.
    
    Honestly, if you pay attention, Yolandi’s not showing any more skin than Marilyn Monroe did. You can check if you go Google image her. The appearance of vulgarity is all in the attitude.
    
    (Anon #26) As far as any concern I may have with Yolandi goes – there is none. I think if you decide to put yourself into the public eye, and you’re satisfied with the version of yourself being shown, show it. I like even better the fact that she’s a healthy weight, strong person, and is a girl who is able to keep up with the guys. I agree with that she probably gets a kick out of “dressing in the gold outfit and being a little trashy.” (which is a costume done to match zef styling, they’ve spoken about this in interviews) After all, she won’t have that body forever. I hope my earlier comment wasn’t read as “oh, she’s making a joke and in that instance only, it’s okay.” That wasn’t what I meant. I’m okay with this because it’s her body, and she can do with it as she pleases.
steverb

Couldn’t get the video link to work. Here it is on YouTube though: http://www.youtube.com/user/DieAntwoordVEVO#p/a/u/0/8bdeizHM9OU
mausium

“I don’t like when women sexualize themselves or allow themselves to be sexualized, which is TOTALLY HAPPENING in this video. With all the problems in society concerning this I think it is immoral to continue to this blind attitude. I keep seeing posts on boingboing that support this type of stance and I am very disappointed. You can make a big deal about pornoscanners,copyright, republicans doing stupid shit, problems in the Middle East, etc., which I agree with, but I really wish there was more consideration for women and theirs rights, specifically that women should not have to deal with their constant sexualization”

So, how do you feel about Amanda Palmer?
Spencer Cross

My combination of OS X, Chrome and Flash does not deal well with custom embedded Flash videos. Anybody have a YouTube link?
agates

Owning your sexuality isn’t about displaying yourself to sell albums

Why not? You have to at least agree that for some, it could be? Yes?

As far as we know maybe this is how YoLandi defines her “sexuality”. And perhaps playing with these typified images could be considered “empowering” for some?

I see Die Antwood take this heat all the time. I just don’t buy it.

It’s just art. Change the channel if you don’t dig it…
TenInchesTaller

I find the conversation about whether or not Die Antwoord is sexist pretty hilarious, considering that any objectification they do is pretty equal in both directions. Did you already forget the junk slanging in Zef Side and Evil Boy? Or just somehow not notice Yolandi’s man-slaves in this one?
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  Yep.
Willie Fondler

Isn’t this a parody of the objectification of women and vapid consumerism? If it’s not, doesn’t this portray Yolandi as a strong, self possessed woman who, however shallow, knows what she wants and knows how to get it?

I agree that perhaps some people are so self absorbed with their own axes to grind that they fail to be in on the joke.

Go Yolandi! Rich Bitch, indeed!
catgrin

Bwahahahahahaha! You just didn’t read the post directly above your original one. Please see #3. I’ll make myself useful by helpfully explaining that early posts are frequently shot out so so rapidly that questions get answered before the post containing the question pop up on screen. ; )
Ness

Hey Mary,

I understand the point you are making, but I disagree that sexualization is harmful. To me, a person has a right to choose how they are represented. If Yolandi wants to sexualize her image, I see no problem with that. It is pretty clear that is in control of her image and lyrics. I personally think it would feel pretty awesome to be a strong, sexy woman who is desired by many.

Yolandi’s image is especially interesting to me. She is tough and very much in control and I doubt very highly that she would tolerate unwanted advances.

Humans, by nature, are sexual beings. This can manifest in many ways. Even if there were no sexual images in media*, people would still lust after each other. Removing images of “sexy ladies” would do nothing to shut down the sexual desires of millions.

I personally like the permission implied by someone who presents themselves as a sexual being. I don’t mean to say that they want everyone to have sex with them. Rather, I don’t think Yolandi would be offended if someone thought of her as sexy, and may very possibly enjoy it.

No one is forcing anyone to be sexualized here. I also don’t think this video will lead to anyone sexualizing you(or other women) any more that they already would. I think biology is the much stronger force at work.

-Ness

*It is interesting to note that with every new form of media, sexual imagery is some of the first produced.

Here is a link to the wiki article entitled “History of erotic depictions.” (There are erotic/nude images of humans, (nothing too shocking IMO, but it may be NSFW, depending on where you work)

Also, here is an article about the history and relationship of pornography and technology. (again, the same NSFW warning)

(Both articles were written to educate, not arouse.)
- Ness
  
  Whoops, the first paragraph should read: “It is pretty clear that SHE is in control of her image…”
jhavatar

I LOLed at the “Hol ringe” cereal in her flashback. It is so my kind of joke.
Manooshi

I fully agree with Willie’s Fondler’s comment. I think this song/vid is indeed a parody. Die Antwoord are ZEF performance artists. I guess you either get it, or you don’t.

Yo-Landi totally rules!

Btw- I have NO idea why my previous comments of appreciation for Yo-Landi were deleted. Whatever, it’s not a big deal. Thanks!
Neon Tooth

Sexist?

Well, so what? What’s wrong with bein’ sexy?
Anonymous

There’s no logic in thinking that it is liberating to prevent other women from making independent choices in how they define and use their sexuality. Especially when its so obviously tongue in cheek. I’m from England and having worked in both publishing and media for 10+ years I can tell you that the majority of press journalists obsessing over the female body in celebrity and lifestyle magazines (and even the broadsheets where it is accompanied by middle class guilt) are female themselves. Similarly, most producers in advertising and the media are female. On an anecdotal level, I’ve also heard much more devastating comments about how women look from other women than I have from men. This, of course, isn’t to imply that (some) men aren’t guilty of sexualising (some) women some of the time but that we are not convenient groups defined by gender with blueprinted personalities. Might be convenient to blame a phantom like Patriarchy for all the woes in our life but it would be more productive to put all that energy into proving the myth wrong.
Leto Atreides

I liked really Evil Boy and Enter the Ninja, but the rest of Die Antwoord’s music is not my cup of tea, especially this song.
maryofkentucky

I don’t like when women sexualize themselves or allow themselves to be sexualized, which is TOTALLY HAPPENING in this video. With all the problems in society concerning this I think it is immoral to continue to this blind attitude. I keep seeing posts on boingboing that support this type of stance and I am very disappointed. You can make a big deal about pornoscanners,copyright, republicans doing stupid shit, problems in the Middle East, etc., which I agree with, but I really wish there was more consideration for women and theirs rights, specifically that women should not have to deal with their constant sexualization. I don’t like the pressure I have on myself, and I see all the time the effects of this sort of complicity for “sexy lady” images in society.
- Moriarty
  
  Yes, there should be more consideration for the rights of women to stop other women from sexualizing themselves, or something.
- DoctressJulia
  
  I agree with you, mary… it gets very tiresome to be inundated with this shit every day. Just repeat after me: fuck the patriarchy.
- catgrin
  
  To calm your fears, you should probably get told that Die Antwoord is a new incarnation of another band called Max Normal.TV in which Yolandi did not choose to dress in gold lame’ and flash flesh. During that period, she stayed in the background and covered herself quite decorously as can be seen in this vid:
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRy6pBpwVbk&feature=related
  
  “Yo-Landi Vi$$er” (real name Yolandi Visser) isn’t endangering her feelings of self worth. She’s a performer, who in this character has decided to take on the role of 80′s rap chick.
  
  In fact, according to Wikipedia, “Die Antwoord performs music which incorporates many Zef elements and references. Zef is a South African slang term that describes a unique South African style which is modern and trashy and also includes out-of-date, discarded cultural and style elements.” The band have stated that their intent is to mimic (if not mock) that style. Direct quote from them, “It’s associated with people who soup their cars up and rock gold and shit. Zef is, you’re poor but you’re fancy. You’re poor but you’re sexy, you’ve got style.”
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Antwoord
  
  Women are objectified all time. So are men. (Did you catch the Int. Women’s Day ad with Daniel Craig in drag?!) Our only real option IS to choose HOW we are objectified. Yolandi clearly took her time and made a choice.
  
  In this case, I think you just weren’t in on the joke.
- Danny Vegas
  
  Owning your sexuality is about doing ANYTHING you chose to do with it. If its your prerogative to keep it private, keep it private. If its your prerogative to use it to sell albums then by all means do so. Imposing your view of morality on other peoples sexual expression sounds to me exactly like the same ideas some very conservative middle eastern regimes seem to have. Things don’t seem to be working out very well for them in this regard.
  
  Sexual abuse is a very serious crime and is very clearly immoral. There is no excuse for it. Harassment and verbal abuse are also, in many cases, criminal and by most judgements immoral. The fact is, human beings are sexual and respond to displays of sexuality. Simply saying that this kind of display is the cause of such behavior and the elimination of, for example, Yo-Londi in a sexy outfit would solve these problems is a bit myopic and dangerous.
RyonRyon

its like mcdonalds.. you know its unhealthy, probaly bad for the world in general, you feel a little sick and disgusted with yourself and swear never again, then six months later omnomnom
TenInchesTaller

Ahahahaa! I saw the video and was wondering where the customary Boing Boing post was. I was almost about to submit it.

Beautiful.

Die Antwoord: "Rich Bitch" (video)

Read more in Music at Boing Boing

More at Boing Boing