The dream of Feminism should have become a complete irrelevance in the modern world and it is a dream that is veering into reality, as women beat men in college, the workforce, and even popular music. But it hasn't become irrelevant and never shall be because men are so much more aggressive than women, they physically intimidate women even when they aren't physically intimidating.
The result is sexism doesn't die and can't die. Because it is a built in natural mechanism. Men are a danger to women and as big a danger to each other. They win through intimidation.
These things comes to mind after hearing about Odd Future's set at the UK's Leeds Festival where they beat on an inflatable doll before exploding its head. Teenage hi-jinx but only up the point where it isn't Odd Future themselves being killed in effigy. Look at it this way: what if it was Empire Falls (the White Supremist hardcore band) killing a black man in effigy? When Public Enemy hung a white man in effigy. I called them out and I think Odd Future crossed the line with this pathetic antic.
As a hip hop crew, what they have is one of the great rappers of our time, Tyler The Creator, but even with that, these are black teenage Ghetto kids, one parent household kids who certainly caught it big. When Tyler came to nyc a couple of years ago to perform at Webster Hall, it was both his first trip out of California and first time on a plane. They don't know what's hit them. But that doesn't excuse this, as thinkers go, they aree imbeciles. The moment you go from thought to action, you cross the line. And beating an inflatable doll, is a repulsive, political action. This is not IMPLIED violence. This is actual violence against an image of a woman meant to stand in for ALL WOMEN.
To what end? I never really cottoned on to Odd Future's sexism. I never got why they hated women for having sex with them… no wait, that isn't quite it. I understand why Tyler was upset that after a life time of being turned down by women, he was suddenly popular. I can see why he wants to call out that other sex for it. What I don't see is how this manifests it YET AGAIN in the the pathological Madonna And Whore syndrome. It isn't funny, it isn't clever, and I don't like it. But I don't care enough to give up on the music. And certainly, when two members of your crew are gay (who knows with Ocean's stupid double talk, but absolutely Syd The Kid is an out lesbian) I had a valid reason to say shut up with the anti-gay baiting.
But not when they are beating on a naked, female doll on stage. It isn't simply stupid, or youthful high spirits. It is flat out misogyny. A horrible, hateful action. A metaphoric hate crime.
Again, what if Empire Falls did that with a black man in effigy? How would we find a way to excuse it, to excuse the inexcusable. Sexism isn't dead, men beat and kill wives and daughters and mothers, girlfriends. We kill each other as well, of course, but there is a terrible bullying brutality in our actions towards women. And Odd Future can get away with art for arts sake rapping, even if it's stupid, but not this. This sucks and I am thoroughly ashamed of them.