The first ever thread about Adam Ant in feminism!

[ISNT]

I've just been watching some Adam Ant on youtube to pass the time, as you do

And I was wondering what others would make of this video...

I have a couple of very dull and obvious observations...

Of coure, no-one really needs an excuse to watch an Adam Ant video but if you did, here it is!

go on then

I always preferred .

Do tell us your observations. I think both videos are "of their time" (when I was approx 15 and very easily swayed by a pretty male face - not that that has changed much).

Actually, Feminism section or not, I can't see much wrong with a young Adam Ant prancing about in leather trousers and a pirate shirt

are we allowed to swoon in the feminism section?

ISNT is it what would now constitute obvious gay imagery but which, at the time, I think was assumed to be referencing the pantomime tradition?

It was

• Adam is the sex object
• Video includes a woman in late middle age who is by no means as slim as a whippet (OK it's Diana Dors but still) being v glam
• Diana is on a cloud surrounded by oiled up young men
• All of the men and women doing the "prince charming" in the ballroom are the same IYKWIM

Plus of course the whole thing is very very silly.

I just can't imagine a video like this being made now - jokey, men the sex objects, older women present, etc etc

BDSM now you mention it a lot of it was rather camp wasn't it in the 80s.

But Adam was there for everyone to look at And loads of videos were like this (not taking themselves too seriously), and the boys were as "pretty" as the girls.

You just wouldn't get a video like this now would you? Or would you? I would love to know if you do. These days it seems to be all so serious, and for men the look = fully dressed and scowling and for women the look = not fully dressed at all gyrating like a pole dancer.

Anyway that was what I thought when I watched it

I am sure some of you will have deeper and more interesting observations.

Or not

Wasn't Diana Dors just marvellous?

What a fab time Adam Ant had dressing up and cavorting in vids...

I remember it first time around too, and enjoyed the Pimms advert which referenced it too. Just a bit of fun with exciting leather trousers, isn't it?

Not only Dittany

I think Adam Ant had a bit of a thing about Diana Dors from when she'd been younger but that may have been PR stuff from the time. Also, I love, love, love that car!

I'm still in love with Adam Ant. Diana Dors was gorgeous.

Some bands still make funny, non sexist videos. Foo Fighters and weezer have made some very tongue in cheek vids - stay away from chart crap and move to MTV2/Kerrang

Ooh yes lovely, nothing wrong with a nice man in eyeliner dancing around in one of those nice open shirts :o:o:o

Can we just point people to this thread every time we get the "you feminists are all joyless man-haters" thing?

Sorry, er, observations...None apart from the obvious I'm afraid :o

Yes Dittany, I am pleased to see that the trousers haven't counteracted your ability to say something sensible and relevant and interesting

I think that's probably a good point - and what are we missing? Freddie's on the telly now... Would Queen be famous if they came out now? Prob not. And why aren't we allowed to have fun any more? I saw the video for "In the jungle" by tight fit the other day and it was so silly I was sitting here with my mouth hanging open. I had forgotten it was like that.

"Ridicule is nothing to be scared of": a much healthier message about overcoming society's prejudices and stereotypes than some of today's misogynist attitudes.

Lostart I am pleased to hear it! That there is still silly stuff around...

Have to say that I don't spend any much time following new music and so my view of what is out there is very much what comes across my path ie mainstream. But in the 80s Adam was mainstream, wasn't he, he was a top charting artist.

It makes me think that when I grew up, with videos and music like this, things seemed so much more open and fluid and anyone could do anything etc...

When was the recession? Does recession inspire music that brings a smile to your face, to counteract the everyday gloom?

(Sorry moving away from The Trousers, and feminism, there)