It’s easy to jump on the feminist wagon and disregard the reality you live in and the history of rock and metal that preceded magazines like that. Revolver didn’t set the tendency to see women as sexual objects. It has been in the mainstream culture for ages. The magazine also wasn’t the one to bring it into the rock and metal subculture. Then who did it?
Let’s travel a few decades back in time when the first self-proclaimed groupies like Pamela Des Barres et al decided it was appropriate to give sexual favors in order to show their appreciation for one’s musicianship. Reading books and watching interviews with girls who were in the scene back in the days always amuses me, because it obviously never occurred to them that you don’t have to suck anybody’s cock to demonstrate that you like their music. It got worse and soon enough boy bands like Guns ‘N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe were swimming in bigger piles of naked girls than Led Zeppelin ever did. It is highly ignorant not to acknowledge the fact that groupies are an inseparable part of the rock scene.
Nobody forced these girls to be there, nobody forced them to do what they did (with a few exceptions). These women were fine with being seen as sex objects, a distraction for one night. Yes, in many of their heads it was a different story, and they hoped that one night would lead to a happy marriage. However, it was their conscious choice to be objectified. Ever since it is very hard to prove to musicians and men who work in the industry that you are not interested in getting laid, and that you actually are there for music or work (or both). One can’t really blame these men for assuming the contrary, because in 9 cases out of 10 their assumption would prove to be correct.
Now, fast forward to the autumn of 2011 and the Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock issue. Obviously, none of the women presented there were forced to do this. They understood the necessity of it for the sake of promotion or, as was stated by some, didn’t even give it much thought. What Revolver Magazine does is just business, plain and simple. Their task is to sell the magazine and that’s what they do. So when you are going to throw a bitch-fit about why some extremely talented front-woman, from a band that you and 10 other people know, was not chosen to be in this issue, the cruel reality of the business world will hit you in the face. Ten people know this singer and thousands know Amy Lee and others. It is highly probable that X singer is indeed more talented than Amy Lee, but selling 10 copies of a magazine will result in a complete failure. It is unfair to blame one publication for the fact that your favourite band is still underground. Oh and, why would you think that the awesome-singer-from-your-fav-unknown-band would want to be objectified in this horrible issue?
When you set to write an angry message/tweet/article about the evil misogynist and “female objectifier” Brandon Geist, why not bash instead every godforsaken string fiddler and his technician who see any remotely attractive female being in their sight as a piece of meat? Why not also bash thousands of women all around the world for indeed being just meat, accepting this and then posting pictures and stories on the Internet, publishing books to inspire the population of vagina meat to grow? Why not get that finger out of your ass and realize that the problem is rooted much more deep in this music culture than just a magazine making its profit?
If you think it’s wrong to look hot on a picture in a rock magazine – it’s your free choice not to do it, but don’t expect others to live by your morals. Don’t be an object if you don’t want to be objectified.
Yours untruly,
Tanja C.
Related links:
Revolver Magazine
I just stumbled upon this, and actually I agree. Women in the subculture are their own worst enemies a lot of the time. However, mainstream media and personalities allow for this hyper-sexuality to perpetuate on. So, really the whole game needs to be changed inside in out. Women need to view themselves as worth more, and big name labels, magazines, etc. need to allow women the room to grow as something more than "the hottest chick in such and such." Will this ever happen though? I doubt it. It's easier to show your tits to get recognition than it is to be noted for your talent. Most don't like taking the harder route.
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