More Thoughts on Kanye/Taylor
I was surprised by the virulence in the emails at Kanye West’s doucheyness at the VMAs, and it got me thinking.
Why wasn’t I as bothered as most by this silliness? The answer, as with all douchebaggery, lies in the context.
These types of awards shows thrive on unscripted spectacle. It is part of the routine.
Blunders, mistakes, nip slips and strange moments are part and parcel of the scenario that fuels the Perez Hilton media machine. People are so hungry for any unscripted moment of authenticity to break the celeb marionette dance that they’ll take anything they can get. Shouting “you lie!” at presidential speeches or boobies at superbowls.
It is the performativity of douchebaggery as per the environment and search for the TV news cycle, a variation of the Rockstar Leniency Rule. Is it douche? Hell yes. But complaining about this would be like complaining when a fight breaks out at a hockey game. It’s the scripting of the unscripted.
None of this excuses Kanye. He can and does deserve an Honorary Douchebag of the Month for his jackassery. And Taylor Swift is the hottest faux-humble mass-marketed media constructed ingenue since Jewel was pretending to sleep in cars.
Only to remember context, people. These shows seek the spectacle. Kanye, in his own foolish way, was trying to create it. Not excused. But slightly mitigated by context.
