MTV bans Gaga and Beyonce's 'Telephone'

[schmevil]

MTV bans 'Telephone'. Few people notice. But serious faces now people, let's do a poll (yes, another one). Why did MTV (bother to) ban the video (considering it doesn't actually air videos)?

Poll #2442 lolbanned!

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 18

View Respondents

Why was Telephone banned?

View Answers

Pixelated vagina
7 (38.9%)

Women sexing other women
5 (27.8%)

Women fighting other women
2 (11.1%)

Women killing men
3 (16.7%)

Too long
6 (33.3%)

Anti-Gaga conspiracy
5 (27.8%)

Other
4 (22.2%)

The ~shocking video can be found under the cut, for all two of you who haven't seen it yet.

Comments

[mecurtin]

Except for where you mean "vulva" or "labia" -- or "primary sex characteristics", that'll do, too.

[schmevil]

Heh, well. It reads 'vagina' because I was originally going to use 'vag', but decided to dial down the potentially off-putting slang. But yes.

[penguinparity]

Oh Noes, aggressive female sexuality! BAN IT!

I really doubt it's the vagina or the length. In the rare instances when MTV still plays videos, they don't play full length videos, but shortened versions that correspond with roughly the radio release length or an even shorter version. And her nakedness is at the very beginning in the story section where there isn't any music, which would be cut out normally for a TV broadcast even absent pixelated body parts.

[schmevil]

Didn't they also ban "What It Feels Like For A Girl?"

Can I just say though, fem/butch prison girlfighting? This video was MADE for me.

[pseudo_tsuga]

This post and this picspam sum up my feelings on the video pretty well.

[schmevil]

Oh man, I've been brainstorming a BB Kiddo/Nicki Green fic as my NYR fic for Yuletide...

[whatistigerbalm]

To be honest, the plugging of Virgin Media is a little too blatant for this to be a good, let alone artistic video. I like the outfits, but aside from them there's nothing really inventive, least of all the dance moves. I expected more from all the hype. :/

[schmevil]

Did you get a Thriller vibe from some of the dances? I felt like I'd seen them all before and was trying to place them.

I have complicated feelings about product placement in visual media, so I'll get back to you on this.

[whatistigerbalm]

Thriller, yeah! Thing is, I'm getting tired of dances that boil down to several people stepping forward synchronously while swaying a little. The only thing that made me go "wait, who let this be shown" was the smoking cigarette visor or whatever it is. Shows what a Guardian-reading sandal-wearing hippy I am. :/

[whatistigerbalm]

Grar, I didn't put in all I wanted there. I am not against commercial art - in fact, I find advertising to be one of the best venues for creativity - but I like to know whether I'm watching an advert or not. If this is presented as a music video and then I see the Virgin Media logo thrust towards the camera, I'll start thinking of it in terms of being a sneaky advert -- and I much prefer honest adverts.

[schmevil]

I don't mind artists like Gaga blurring the lines between commercial and pop art. If it were... The Black Keys, I'd have a serious problem with it. Double standards, I've got them. I'm not sure how to explain my feelings on the subject. I suppose when it comes to pop idols, I expect a certain amount of crossover, and don't mind if they overshoot even my expectations with blatant product placement.

[valtyr]

Oh, uh, MTV desperate for publicity?

[schmevil]

Lol, right? It's so cute that they think people will be affected.