Pop or Porn: Why the Sex Debate is Dividing Music Again
The music industry has long been a platform for artists to push boundaries and challenge societal norms. However, a recent controversy surrounding pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s new album artwork has reignited the debate about sex and exploitation in the music industry.
According to a report by The Times, Carpenter’s new album, Man’s Best Friend, features artwork that has been accused of being sexist and misogynistic. The image depicts Carpenter on all fours, with parted lips and glassy eyes, while a man pulls her hair. This has led to criticism from some quarters, with Glasgow Women’s Aid calling it "a throwback to tired tropes that reduce women to pets, props, and possessions".
As The Times reports, Carpenter’s fans also expressed their disquiet with the album cover on Instagram, with some commenting that it was "low-key degrading to women" and "girl get up". The controversy has sparked a wider debate about the objectification of women in the music industry and the impact it has on young fans.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Carpenter shrugged off charges of oversexualisation, stating that her critics were obsessed with sex and that she felt like she had never lived in a time where women had been picked apart more and scrutinised in every capacity. However, this stance has done little to quell the criticism, with some accusing her of being disingenuous.
The debate about sex and exploitation in the music industry is not new. In the 1990s, artists such as Madonna and Janet Jackson were busy breaking taboos and reaping huge rewards, both creatively and in terms of publicity. However, as The Times notes, this came with a high price, with Madonna being heavily criticised for her bestselling 1992 coffee table porn book Sex, and Jackson nearly being sunk by the controversy over her "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl.
In recent years, there has been a shift towards a more nuanced understanding of sex and empowerment in the music industry. Artists such as Billie Eilish have spoken out about the problems with pornification, with Eilish stating that watching porn as an 11-year-old "destroyed my brain". Eilish’s lyrics may not be puritan, but her style has little truck with the male gaze.
As The Times reports, Carpenter’s cover for Man’s Best Friend feels oddly mistimed, with the reflexive defence of porn aesthetics being a relic of millennial culture. Gen Zs like Eilish, having grown up in an environment thoroughly polluted by porn, are often astute critics of its influence.
The backlash to Man’s Best Friend has been swift and decisive, with many accusing Carpenter of perpetuating the "sexual degradation as empowerment" trope. As The Times notes, this trope has always been a con, and it’s clear that Gen Z girls are already wise to the swindle.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend has reignited the debate about sex and exploitation in the music industry. While some may argue that Carpenter’s artwork is a bold statement of empowerment, others see it as a relic of a bygone era. As the music industry continues to evolve, it’s clear that the debate about sex and exploitation will remain a contentious issue.
Source: The Times – Pop or Porn: Why the Sex Debate is Dividing Music Again
