Can you smell it? The sweet scent of capitalism. Sabrina Carpenter can. She would do anything for money. Yet another Disney gal gone bad, Ms Carpenter continues the trajectory of what the lascivious, prurient tabloids call the “she’s all grown up now” column, whereby it’s legitimate to openly ogle at young women, because, after all, they’re not twelve anymore.
Carpenter is that most modern pop star: she thinks nothing of opening her legs onstage, despite much of her fanbase being kids. She’s a cynical marketing ploy, a puppet for the industry bods, who like Britney and Christina before her claims to have full autonomy in every decision she makes.
This is the legacy Madonna left us. But even Madonna didn’t show everyone her bits in the live setting- she was smart enough to put that side in her infamous picture book. Also, Madonna came from punk, and queer culture. She was a dancer with Martha Graham and seemed to be in control of her sexuality.
Sabrina Carpenter , regardless of whether she likes it or not, has nothing new to say. Her music is hardly steeped in awareness of that which she claims to defend. Recent think pieces have defended her controversial ‘Man’s Best Friend ‘ album cover as ironic, playing with kink. But we’re in post-irony times now, and I’m failing to see anything ironic about it.
I’m not a prude, I’m a survivor of violence, and I’m failing to see the irony here. Provocation for provocation’s sake is not a good look, especially in these times of wider discourse around toxic masculinity and gendered violence. Carpenter doesn’t seem aware enough- or intelligent enough -to understand that distinction.Many of her fans are too young to understand internalised misogyny. But let’s be clear: that’s what this cover image exudes.Thousands of little girls will buy this and think they have to objectify themselves so boys like them. Now there’s the irony.
Hit The North 