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Arts & Entertainment
The Spelman Spotlight
6
Has Rihanna gone too far with S Sc M?
Courtesy of Island/Def Jam, Universal Records
Lakin I. Starling
Staff Writer
As soon as Rihanna’s music video for her hit
single “S&M” hit the internet and television
stations, the controversy sparked like a broken
fuse. The pop singer has a new album “Loud”
that has a few songs similar in content to her
new album that are comprised of risque lyrics.
The term “S&M” abbreviate the word
“sadomasochism” which alludes to the idea of
one finding pleasure and causing and receiving
physical pain. The lyrics to the song are racy,
“Sex in the air I don’t care I like the smell of
it/sticks and stones may break my bones but
whips and chains excite me”, however the
content of the video is even more extreme.
Plenty of a songs get played on the radio that
have highly suggestive lyrics about sexuality
and sexual behavior, but when it is transferred
into a creative idea to portray those messages
visually, that is when the artists usually have
problems. In the “S&M” video, Rihanna uses
a ball gag, and elements of dominatrix and
pretends as if she is tied up while making
very sexual movements and gestures. The
video is already banned from being played in
11 countries, and on Youtube.com the viewer
must be over the age of 18.The reaction of the
Kelly N. Harper
Managing Editor
While Spelman College is often seen
as an oasis amidst an urban jungle, it is
virtually impossible to ignore the needs of
the community that surrounds Spelman.
The community that surrounds Spelman
is comprised of real people with real needs
that cannot be ignored. Recently, Spelman
launched a new service initiative to strengthen
community ties, entitled “Project Impact”
on Sat, Feb. 5, 2011 in the Cosby Academic
Center.
Dr. Jane E. Smith, executive director of the
Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement
at Spelman, has been an integral part of the
development and execution of Project Impact.
Dr. Smith worked with President Dr. Beverly
Tatum along with community leaders from
The Center for Working Families, Greening
Youth Foundation, Hands on Network/Points
of Light Institute, United Way of Metro
Atlanta, and Emerging Leaders Institute.
LEADS intern Alexis Crews says that the
launch of Project Impact was well received,
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public seems to go further than the concern
for a half-naked woman walking around in a
video because unfortunately, that is what most
of today’s video’s entail.
Earlier in the week she tweeted “They
watched Umbrella ... I was full nude”, but in
the Umbrella video there was something left
to the imagination. The larger concern seems
to be about what exactly the song means
and how Rihanna has not stayed within any
boundaries while portraying those ideas.
Most argue that “S&M” should be banned
because there is no discretion when it comes to
what type of viewer could potentially see the
video. Anyone has access to the internet, and
regardless of how old a person truly is, with
the smarts of most tech-sawy youth, there are
ways to get around weak restrictions. MTV
is one of the major stations that still insist on
playing the video, which is a major way for
the video to get into the hands of teenagers
all across the country. It is proven that they are
the largest group of people who watch music
videos.
It seems to be a reoccurring issue about if
the artist should create their art with discretion
and their audience in mind, or whether they
should be able to express themselves freely
through their crafts. It is a very sticky issue,
since over time, artist will grow out of the
and it generated a great amount of publicity
and attention.
“I was excited to see so many students come
out to support this new initiative—the number
of attendees surpassed the amount that we had
hoped would come!” says Crews.
Project Impact is aligned with the purpose
of the Johnnetta B. Cole Institute for its
community outreach foundation. The Institute
is designed to support LEADS’ endeavors to
create forums for experienced leaders to assist
with enhancing the respective communities
that surround Spelman. Project Impact was
launched during this Institute, which had
surpassed its goal for attendees.
One of the strengths of Project Impact is
that it utilizes the College’s longstanding
community partnerships. The College works
with and supports organizations such as KIPP
Strive Academy, The Center for Working
Families, Neighborhood Planning Unit T,
the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, and
the Center for Black Women’s Wellness.
Moreover, through the use of the partnerships
of the College and Project Impact, Spelman
students will be have the unique opportunity
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image that they once upheld in the beginnings
of the their careers. Yet and still, as a public
icon, it is still important to be realistic in who
is consuming most of the product.
Although “S&M” has shocking lyrics, it can
still be played on the radio, maybe even in an
edited version, it may not be the best idea to
play the video on all mainstream channels. In
doing so, it is sure to conflict with Rihanna’s
profit and marketing tactics, however there is
a group of viewers who could potentially not
have enough intellect to decipher the fact that
the video is for pure entertainment. Rihanna
has grown into a woman and it is her right to
be able to express her sentiments about sex and
her sexuality freely. There was no sugarcoating
the meaning in tbe song nor the lyrics, but in
creating the video it may have been a clever
idea to make an edited version as well.
Sometimes it seems as if the artist want to
have that wow factor, and when they cause
controversy it solidifies their career. The idea
is somewhat factual however the issue still
remains, should Rihanna’s video be played or
banned from television. With such immediate
restrictions on the video, perhaps “S&M”
should be shown in an edited version on
everyday television because it cannot always
be assumed that viewers will watch with
discretion.
to complete ongoing, meaningful service in
the area surrounding the campus.
Many of the initiatives of Project Impact
focus on community issues such as education,
health, environmental sustainability, and
economic development. LEADS created
Project Impact to also align with the College’s
Strategic Plan for 2015, and each of the four
aforementioned areas will be a substantial part
of the Project’s Initiatives.
After the information session and the
Johnnetta B. Cole Institute, which was held
from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., there was a
community outreach walk that was designed
to dispense the Project Impact information
into the community. The walk lasted from 4:30
p.m. until 5:30 p.m., and it was a crucial aspect
to ensure that a varied amount of community
A Constant
Triumph
Jordan Harris
Exective Editor
With arms stretched wide and a solemn
face, the young woman on the screen serves
as a canvas as the words monogamy and
polygamy are being carved in her arms.This
provocative image pushes the boundaries of
contemporary art and is now available to the
Spelman College community.
The Spelman College Museum of Fine Art
will feature the Constant Triumph exhibition
by artist IngridMwangiRobertHutter Feb. 4
through May 14.The exhibition is the first in
the United States to feature an extensive col
lection of the artist’s work.
IngridMwangiRobertHutter’s work has
been featured in solo exhibitions in Belgium,
Egypt, Italy, Germany, Japan, Kenya and
Tanzania. The exhibition features 13 works of
photography, video and performance.
This season, the Museum of Fine Arts
presents artistic exhibitions that explore the
theme of artistic partnerships.
In the fall 2010 exhibition Evenly Yoked:
Bradley McCallum &Jacqueline Tarry, the
artists McCallum and Tarry examined race
relations and the issue of interracial affairs in
the United States.
IngridMwangiRobertHutter expands this
conversation to cover socially relevant topics
that affect the human experience in all com
munities across the globe.The works featured
in the exhibition explore private journeys of
the artists and the challenges of race, gender
and cultural heritage.
The theme of Constant Triumph was in
spired by Mwangi’s sister’s battle with breast
cancer.
In an interview with News Blaze, Andrea
Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D, director of the
Museum of Fine Art said the exhibit is both
“pertinent” and “timely” as the Museum of
Fine Art presents contemporary exhibitions
that provoke thought and expose injustice.
Mwangi is of Kenyan and German heritage.
Hutter is a German native. The two merged
their names and biographies to work as one
identity and formed IngridMwangiRober
tHutter in 2005.
According to News Blaze, the artists de
clared that their work would be dedicated to
them as a collective and cohesive unit.
The exhibition includes a series of events that
will touch basis on the interpretation of the
artists and their works.
Through poetry readings, gallery walks and
discussions, the museum staff will facilitate
conversations with the Spelman community
and outside communities on the ideas behind
race, skin politics, appropriation and cultural
identity.
Major support for IngridMwangiRobertH
utter: Constant Triumph was provided by
the Fulton County Board of Commissioners
under the Arts Council.
members are aware of what the Project Impact
is designed to do.
Spelman’s service reach will only
be strengthened by the creation and
implementation of Project Impact, and
students or community members who are
interested in working with Project Impact
should contact LEADS at leads@spelman.edu.
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Project Impact Arrives at Spelman College