Lana Del Rey covers the summer music issue of Fader magazine. She’s revving up to release her second studio album, Ultraviolence. The Fader journo trips all over himself for Lana. He describes the record as “a sprawling American desert, devastatingly huge, windswept by shrieking electric guitars. Lana Del Rey is surrounded by ghosts and completely alone.” Is Lana’s music really that profound? There is a song on this album called “F—ed My Way Up to the Top.”
Lana’s apathy towards matters of importance reaches a fever pitch with this interview. She famously doesn’t give a crap about some big issues. Now she doesn’t care about feminism. She doesn’t come out and say she isn’t a feminist. She simply doesn’t give a sh-t. Is that better or worse than denouncing feminism altogether? We’ve already heard about feminism this week from Keira Knightley (who gets it) and Shailene Woodley (who doesn’t get it). Let’s hear from Lizzie Grant:
She burst into tears at her Dublin show: “I’d been sick on tour for about two years with this medical anomaly that doctors couldn’t figure out. That’s a big part of my life: I just feel really sick a lot of the time and can’t figure out why. I’d gotten these shots in Russia, where we’d just been. It was just heavy. It’s just heavy performing for people who really care about you, and you don’t really care that much about yourself sometimes. I thought it was sad. I thought my position was sad. I thought it was sad to be in Ireland singing for people who really cared when I wasn’t sure if I did.”
Changing from her Lizzie to Lana persona: “Honestly, I feel like it’s more of a girl thing. I was just kind of playing, and, literally, I’m still playing. For me, being this way and dressed like this isn’t different than being out in a wig. It’s all the same to me. It’s all nothing, it’s all everything. I could really go any way. I’ve lived a lot of different lives. I lived down in Alabama with my boyfriend, I lived here in Brooklyn and in Jersey. I’ve been a lot of different people, I guess. I don’t really know what I’m doing. I’m trying to do what feels right. I tried a lot of different ways of life, you know, things I never really talk about, just because they are kind of different.”
She doesn’t care about the f-word: “For me, the issue of feminism is just not an interesting concept. I’m more interested in, you know, SpaceX and Tesla, what’s going to happen with our intergalactic possibilities. Whenever people bring up feminism, I’m like, god. I’m just not really that interested.”
Does she know what ‘feminism’ means? “My idea of a true feminist is a woman who feels free enough to do whatever she wants.”
Why is she always being choked in her videos? “I like a little hardcore love.”
On critical attacks: “My career isn’t about me. My career is a reflection of journalism, current-day journalism. My public persona and career has nothing to do with my internal process or my personal life. It is actually just a reflection on writers’ creative processes and where they’re at in 2014. Literally has nothing to do with me. Most of anything you’ve ever read is not true.”
[From The Fader]
Lana throws some excellent shade towards her critics with her mention of “writers’ creative process.” She’s saying that everyone makes stuff up about her. I assume she’s talking about her allegedly fake lips and her overnight transformation into retro torch singer. People also claim that her dad bought her a record contract, which yeah, she has a point there. No company would invest in an artist for that reason. That rumor is just mean.
On the feminism part, Lana doesn’t give a sh-t. Fine. She could have at least paid some lip service to the women who paved the way. Lana can afford the luxury of apathy because of the feminist movement. Lana should at least care enough to know that much, but she acts like it’s just so boring and beneath her. I’m not saying Lana has to be super passionate about feminism. Nobody is asking her to recite Mary Wollstonecraft passages, but some awareness would be nice.
Photos courtesy of Fader
I feel like interviewers just ask young female stars about feminism now just to see what dumb thing they’re going to say next.
Pretty much. It use to be the marry/baby question now it does seem they are getting this question. Can they start to ask the men these questions too?
Seriously, is it “Talk like an idiot” week? … Who’s next!?
I second that. If they really wanted to know, they would frame the question better and do follow-up. It’s a test to see how well they’re educated. It makes me wonder if the journalists care about feminism. They might as well ask them what “verisimilitude” means. It’s one of those SAT words that tests whether you took an SAT course.
And GRE.
You’re probably right. But to be fair, she gives an okay explanation of what feminism means to her.
Honestly, I don’t know any Lana Del Taco songs.
Yup – that’s what I was saying over on the Melissa McCarthy thread. They’re not asking mature, intelligent women these questions, it’s the young starlets who live in a little bubble.
I consider myself a mature, intelligent and quite successful woman and I don’t care about feminism either. Yes, I know what it is and no, I don’t care about it. I find the North American obssession with it and how it comes up in every other conversation boring. It seems trendy to throw in “feminism” often wherever possible. We are not all that interested though and I disagree it has anything to do with our maturity or intelligence. We are entitled to our opinions.
Here is Margaret Atwood’s answerhttps://www.goodreads.com/questions/816-do-you-consider-yourself-a-feminist-how?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=2014-06&utm_content=qanda_atwood . I fully agree with no tags and -ists abd with the simple fact men and women are not the same, thank God. The today feminism here, in North America is uncomfortably close to ttying to redefine nature. I am surrounded by women who struggle to behave like men. There is no benefit in that for no one
Ronia I’m not surprised you’re not interested in feminism because you clearly have no idea what it is. I’d like to see where you’d be today if feminism really was just a ‘trend’ and something people only talk about to seem cool.
The conservative media seems to be pushing back at the resurgence in feminist sentiment that occurred in response to the Isla Vista tragedy. And what better way to do it than to get a bunch of high profile women to express their indifference on the issue?
I prefer this attitude over “feminism means not to take down other women”. At least she is sincere.
This chick is never sincere.
Why is that?
+1 The very word Feminism is now being used by women to judge other women – surely the opposite of what it’s meant to be? Just saying.
Well, by *some* women. There is a lot of judginess, I agree. But most women understand “the concept” (to quote Lana), one would hope.
“The very word Feminism is now being used by women to judge other women”
Wrong. Being a feminist doesn’t mean you have to let dumbwaffles say whatever the hell they want.
No, that’s not the opposite of what it’s meant to be. Feminism is about changing social structures to ensure equality for women. There have always been women who opposed that for various reasons. Even during the first wave of feminism, I suspect suffragettes judged women who didn’t believe they needed the right to vote.
We owe so much to feminists for many of the educational and legal reforms that have improved the quality of life for women. It is doubtful that without liberal feminists’ efforts, so many women could have attained their professional and occupational stature. To be sure, there is more to feminism than educational and legal reforms aimed primarily at increasing women’s professional and occupational status. But such reforms are to be neither trivialized nor memorialized as past accomplishments. Liberal feminists still have much work to do before ALL women’s educational, legal, and professional/occupational gains are entirely secure.
There is also the question of female identity, aside form the structures that define them in patriarchy.
Well, the most important thing I’m taking away from this conversation is “dumbwaffle”, which I am unabashedly stealing.
Her current lyrics for Ultraviolence include, “He hit me and it felt like a kiss”
No wonder she has no use for feminism. She is promoting abusive fantasy.
Despite being a fan of her music, I do recognize the fact that her lyrics are indeed mysoginist; no wonder her characters are based on Lolitas, gangsta wives or women who are emotionally dependent. I tend to not overanalyze them…sometimes I think she’s just playing a character (i hope so). On the other hand, like it was said before, she only does have some freedom now because of the ones who came before her.
But that’s Lana. Apathy defines her completely!
That’s not even an original lyric! Courtney Love/HOLE had the same song, and before them it was The Crystals. God she’s the worst
@Tiffany She might also be referencing the Carole King song from the 60s with that title.
That is appalling. What a stupid young woman.
She’s referencing Carole king’s song. After all, she is referencing a clockwork’s orange in that song.
Eh I hate to say this but I love her music. I’m a big time feminist, but I enjoy her music even if it’s problematic.
That is straight out of “Carousel.”
Oh, there are those of us who have no interest in feminism and are not abused. I don’t see any connection except that feminism is trendy and *must* be used constantly. (sarcasm)
Isn’t that lyric from a Carly Simon Song ? I don’t know if Lana covered it on her album, but Carly wrote it and it was a hit for the Crystals in the 60’s. Carly recently spoke in an NPR interview about that song and her proclivity to get involved in emotionally and physically abusive relationships. I just want to say that we’ve all got baggage, even a song writing genius like Carly had her own stuff to deal with. I’m going to look at this in a positive light and say that MAYBE it’s an indicator of how far feminism has come that a whole generation of young women don’t see the need to identify themselves as one. My solace is that my teen daughters must assuredly identify as feminist and so of most intelligent PEOPLE, not just women.
not sure if she’s promoting violence, but my friend adores this uneducated, talented mess. vulnerable people love to soak up the identity of the ‘cool’ person that they identify with, as they are desperate to have an identity themselves.
I guess the real question is, why does musical talent (i only like 1 lana song, summer time sadness) outshine the other variants of talent (intelligence, artistic creativity, etc.) ? because music is the most accessible thing.
For people who can hear, sounds kind of help us construct and make sense of our reality, and our experiences.
I can say that lana is using her music to express something, and the girl’s who obsess over her (although they may have been hurt, etc.) identify with her the mindless privilege that her music reeks of.
I read the headline as “not just an interesting concept”, and I actually thought she was going to have something interesting to say. My bad.
*Debbie Downer Noise*
Can SpaceX design a rocket ship to launch this chick and Shailene into outer space, preferably directly into a black hole?
yes!
yes, please.
Oh, please, find a way!
let’s Pray they do!! Ugh She is why I cant with Lana del rey srly (only in the most undercoverest way in my car, with my bit torrent downloaded Music… No I’ll never pay for her shit nor see her crap the bed Live!)
God yes, where do I sign up?
She’s interested in SpaceX, huh? The president & COO of the company is Gwynne Shotwell, a woman who has degrees in Engineering and Mathematics, worked in the auto-industry, and then switched to aerospace.
Before feminism, I’m not thinking there were a lot of women studying those majors in college, employed in those industries, or running multi-billion dollar companies.
Ding ding ding, we have a winner.
I’m tired of hearing what every young starlet thinks about feminism.
seriously. yet another fool failing to acknowledge that she’s standing on the proverbial shoulder of giants, as someone stated yesterday.
I actually find it really fascinating how none of them – NONE – have the same definition of feminism. It’s interesting that there doesn’t seem to be a clear cut definition that can be agreed upon.
I think the definition is the same for the word. It’s just different stages of dumb on the part of air headed entitled wannabe starlets. And that’s not interesting, that’s sad.
The only reason they have different “definitions” is because the are completely clueless about what the word actually means and how much they, personally, have benefited from it.
Also, too, what Msmlnp said.
I don’t know if it has anything to do with them being ‘airheaded starlets.’ I wouldn’t be surprised if you got varying definitions from the general public, too. I’d be intrigued to see what the results were if regular joe-schmoes were surveyed on the meaning of feminism – I know that from personal experience alone, I’ve encountered several different definitions of the word from a range of different people.
^^This.
There seems to be no agreement among anyone as to what feminism means. Since the word itself is actually defined as “a social movement that seeks equal rights for women”, it can mean different things to different people.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/feminism
I prefer apathy to outspoken, uninformed denial. That being said, Lana’s comments about science manage to be both pretentious and idiotic. Could she be the next generation’s Gwyneth Paltrow, with more hipster and less talent?
How much of a pretentious twit do you have to be? Everyone has a mother, maybe even sisters, an aunt, etc… how could a WOMAN by all means be so ignorant?
I’m sorry she doesn’t find enough interest in making sure women get the minimum respect they deserve… I’m not the ultra hardcore and sensitive third or whatever wave type who is always going on about victim blaming and sl..t shaming and whatnot, but when there are still horrific crimes commited against women and terrible unequality (even on the western hemisphere) I cannot understand how one would not care.
Oh yea, I’m also not the type who says you should support everyone just because they share your primary s..x organs, so I saw STFU Lana……
Pretentious, moi? God, she makes me drowsy. Full of complete and utter twaddle passed off as artistic intelligence. Just goes to prove a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. I can’t see her being asked to do the theme for a Jolie directed film anytime soon.
sorry luncoma, I meant to post a new one not a reply 🙂
Heh, that’s how I read it anyway! I agree Lana tends to be a pretentious twit.
Don’t know her or like her music, but she just sounds apathetic. Makes perfect sense, and not everybody has to give a shit about anything or other things that other people may feel strongly about.
Yes this is absolutely true but it doesn’t stop me from feeling depressed that young women today find the feminist movement “boring”, especially given the fact that they would have none of the opportunities they have without its existence.
And it also seems like just another excuse to refrain from associating yourself with the word feminist. Makes me want to bang my head against the wall.
That could be why though, TheOringinalKitten, that these young girls don’t care. We are talking about a generation, at least in the Western/First World (is that even a concept? First World?), where they can go to go college without the fight, go into politics and business without much of a struggle (it is still there of course but compare that to 1960/1970). They don’t fully understand that while a small battle might have been won, the “war” still continues for equality.
@TOK- Take heart, there are surely young women out there who care. Personally, I find Lana Del Rey a boring concept, and one I do not really care about. How can one be so pretentious, yet so vapid at the same time? She bored me so much, I’m not even angry with her! I miss Amy Winehouse, with all of her issues and faults, at least she was interesting. This Nilla Wafer is a stale imitation.
I think it’s mainly depressive that she (as many other outspoken starlets) doesn’t know what feminism is…really, that answer was simply ignorant. She says she is not interested in it because she’s not able to discuss it. Easier to throw some words in there and sound like a technology hipster…but no, she is not the sharpest pencil in the box.
You’re reminding me of when my history teacher wanted to bang her head up against a wall, a few years ago, when over half the females in my class couldn’t remember the Amendment that gave women the right to vote–and it’s not like we had a list of twenty amendments to memorize either.
So many of these young women take their freedoms and liberties for granted with no thoughts about the sacrifices of the women that came before them. Today many of them are just vapid, narcissistic twits. There is no depth to these women, everything they do seems to be for instant gratification and self promotion. I worry for the next generation of little girls. Empathy for others is becoming a thing of the past. Sadly, only a huge catastrophe will shift the world back to humanity. Wow I am even bumming myself out.
Agreed, the ignorance is astounding!
I cannot understand how these girls are all so stupid. How can they not get that without feminism they wouldn’t even be free to say what they want? To be what they want? Just like I have sworn to myself not to support Shaylene Woodley’s career ( I will not be watching her movies), same goes for this fool. It’s a small thing, and it’s not like they care … but I just CAN’T with all this stupidity!!
Completely agree. Someone else sweat their blood and tears so they can soak it up like the ungrateful idiotic sponges they are.
OH MY FRIGGIN GOD. Feminism is not a “concept.” And I’m sorry, but apathy is not a viable alternative. Women *should* give a shit about it. It’s not “acceptable” to be apathetic about something that you reap the rewards of every day. Feminism gave these idiotic people the agency and the right to have such a “choice.”
FEMINISM IS WHAT HAS ALLOWED YOU TO WORK AND SPEAK YOUR MIND RIGHT NOW INSTEAD OF BEING A HOUSEWIFE OR WORSE A SEX SLAVE YOU WORTHLESS NITWIT.
/rant over
WELL SAID!!!! Before half a century ago most of these women would not have been allowed to do most of the things that they are doing now. They take their freedom for granted. They are ignorant about the sufferings of women in the past and even today all over the world.
I can’t stand her, but I sorta share what she says about the issue of feminism. Maybe because I’m so tired that every female celebrity seems to be asked about it nowadays. Rather talk about gender equality.
This I completely agree with.
Gender equality is the goal of feminism…………………….
THANK YOU!!!!
+5000
How in the world do people not get this? It is mind-boggling.
Gender equality is actually what feminism is about. Whoever tells you differently is wrong. And that’s the exact problem. The media has bastardized the word “feminism” to the point where people don’t even understand what it means anymore.
Exactly
Feminism has become totally misconstrued, and will continue to be, as long as stupid starlets spout crap about it meaning “they don’t hate men”. Ugh. I hate that so many people don’t understand it’s about gender equality. I hate that feminism has become a dirty word.
Feminism is about gender equality.
When lesbians working with the women’s rights movement decided publicly to avow their sexual identity, the leadership and membership of organizations such as NOW (National Organization of Women) disagreed about how actively and officially they should support gay rights. There was a fear that a vocal and visible lesbian constituency might further alienate the general public from “women’s rights” causes. In 1970, the president of NOW, A. Hernandez said that NOW does not prescribe a sexual preference test for applicants. She even accused the media in particular of employ a kind of
sexual” McCarthyism” in its eagerness to discredit the women’s movement by labeling it a “lesbian” movement.
” The media attempts to turn us away from the real business of the movement towards endless discussions on matters which are not at issue…We need to free all our sisters from the shackles of a society which insists on viewing us in terms of sex.”
While it’s true that the end goal of feminism is gender equality, there are areas where males face discrimination (although it’s very, very rare, I admit that). Gender equality implies to the basic notion that all human are equal, and should be treated equally — and that all sexes must strive towards this equality. From the 23 current members of the UN Committee of the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), only 1 is a male member, from Finland. Interestingly, it’s always been the Scandinavian countries that “contribute” male members to the CEDAW. And of course it’s the Scandinavian countries that rule the 1 year maternity leave and paternity leave (not necessarily 1 year, but enough time).
I agree though that the word “feminism” has been bastardized by media. Whether it’s intentional or merely ignorant, it has to change.
The two aren’t mutually exclusive though. One can be a feminist and still acknowledge that men can face discrimination. Women are as a gender still hugely disadvantaged across the world and using ‘gender equality’ tends to diminish this by ignoring the fact that women are already behind the 8 ball.
Urm, her response to the “why are you always being choked in videos?” response was a little more attention-grabbing than her apathy towards feminism. The “I like a little hardcore love” thing is a little bit worrying.
I took it to mean she’s interested in BDSM.
*shrugs*
Some people dig that and as long as it’s done safely, I have no issue with it.
If she’s interested in BDSM that might be the most interesting thing about her.
Whoops, I guess my sleep-deprived brain didn’t get that one. So that means nothing about this article is of interest. I’m not surprised at Lana’s answer. It’s what I’d expect from her, she always looks bored/uninterested in everything she’s doing.
EDIT: the lyrics from her latest song “Ultraviolence” are definitely worth side-eying though, “he hit me, it felt like a kiss”. That line makes me a little uncomfortable with her music tbh.
So are the lyrics to her current song, which sound more like an abusive relationship.
“I can hear sirens, sirens
He hit me and it felt like a kiss
I can hear violins, violins
Give me all of that ultraviolence
He used to call me poison
Like I was poison ivy
I could have died right there
Cause he was right beside me
Jim raised me up
He hurt me but it felt like true love
Jim taught me that
Loving him was never enough”
Ugh, see, earlier I thought I was completely taking her “I like hardcore love” quote out of context but these lyrics definitely hint at her romanticising an abusive relationship. I dunno, I hope I’m wrong and I just need to go to bed or have some coffee.
Eh. Yeah I don’t interpret song lyrics literally, like, EVER.
If I did that, then I’d never listen to music again. Hell, one of my favorite Florence & The Machine songs “Kiss With a Fist” would be considered to be about an abusive relationship (which it isn’t).
“You hit me once
I hit you back
You gave a kick
I gave a slap
You smashed a plate
Over my head
Then I set fire to our bed
Broke your jaw once before
I spilt your blood upon the floor
You broke my leg in return
So let’s sit back and watch the bed burn
Blood sticks sweat drips
Break the lock if it don’t fit
A kick in the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none
Whoa a kiss with a fist is better than none”
A lot of song lyrics are metaphorical and symbolic and given the fact that there’s a powerful bridge between pleasure and pain and their social equivalent–it’s hardly surprising that singers would write lyrics about both. In fact, pleasure and pain are the same where the brain is concerned.
Sometimes lyrics are just lyrics and not evidence of real experiences–they’re often simply designed to convey a mood or a feeling.
…and now I’m angry that you made me sort-of defend her.
And just to add, here’s Florence Welch’s explanation of the song lyrics:
” ‘Kiss with a Fist’ is NOT a song about domestic violence.
It is about two people pushing each other to psychological extremes because they are fighting but they still love each other. The song is not about one person being attacked, or any actual physical violence, there are no victims in this song. Sometimes the love two people have for each other is a destructive force. But they can’t have it any other way, because it’s what holds them together, they enjoy the drama and pushing each other’s buttons. The only way to express these extreme emotions is with extreme imagery, all of which is fantasism and nothing in the song is based on reality.”
I do think that lyrics are certainly open to interpretation and they aren’t “real life” so their consquence is limited…but at the same time, I do look back at history and see how acceptance of women being abused has been reflected/supported by pop culture.
I don’t think she should be prevented from writing songs like that, but at the time I could never release something like that into the world because I know that it could be used to justify an abusive relationship.
@TOK and @Tiffany I actually somewhat agree with both your points (if that’s possible? lol), you both make really good points and this is what I love about celebitchy, there’s actual discussion and debate and that’s so healthy 🙂
Anyways, I’m up really early tomorrow so hugs to you both, and I’ll leave you with a really awesome comment I found on ONTD:
“I don’t care about feminism” she says as she stands on the shoulders of feminism.
Does that comment not just floor you a little bit? It’s so true.
Yeah I mean, we don’t have to agree.
Personally, I think the people that use songs to justify an abusive relationship would use ANYTHING to justify an abusive relationship. If it’s not a song, it’ll be something else, because let’s face it-these are people who live in deep, deep denial.
Additionally, there are plenty of movies that romanticize violence as well, as do video games, as do many other art and media formats. I don’t think artists are responsible for impressionable people being influenced by their art, I just don’t.
Ultimately people have to be accountable for their own behavior, if it’s kids, their parents need to monitor what they watch, listen to, and read.
I just can’t get on the Tipper Gore-style idea that music or any other art form, is responsible for people’s bad decisions or misdeeds.
@Dani2-exactly. She cares nothing about feminisn, yet freely takes advantage of everything feminism has brought to her.
@TOK
I get what your saying, and I agree that artists shouldn’t be held responsible for the actions of those exposed to their work, however, I think it is more about the idea that if media and art are saturated with images/depictions/descriptions etc of abuse then abuse becomes normalised in the psyche of those viewing it.
In other words, the tipping point isn’t one song fetishizing or glamourizing abuse, it’s the hundreds of depictions that people – often passively – consume via various media and art forms that desensitises them to abuse and make it seem normal.
So, sure, one more artist isn’t going to make that much of a difference, however I do wish they’d take a moment and think ‘do I really want to contribute to this?’
“the idea that if media and art are saturated with images/depictions/descriptions etc of abuse then abuse becomes normalised in the psyche of those viewing it.”
Gretchen, you phrased that so well, and I agree with it fully.
For the record, I am not in agreement at all with Tipper Gore. I don’t agree with censoring art/writing/music/film. At the same time, I do think that glamorizing or romanticizing abuse is harmful to the greater good. It is up to the artist what they want to contribute to the world.
Shes just completely lifted he hit me and it felt like a kiss from the song with the same name by the crystals how tacky.
The problem with blaming art and its various incarnations for perpetuating violence against women is that perceived misogyny is open to subjective interpretation. I already gave a decent example with “Kiss With a Fist”, but to go further- a lot of people claimed Knocked Up or Deathproof was misogynistic–I never got that vibe from either movie. Not once. So a brilliant film like Deathproof should never have been made because a group of people found it to be misogynistic? So artists should be limited to creating only what WON’T possibly be perceived as misogynistic? I’m sorry, but I don’t think limiting artistic expression is the right solution.
I think blaming misogyny on music, movies, or any art form is easy and it doesn’t address the real issue. It’s an oversimplification and ultimately, a distraction.
The real issue at the heart of the never-ending cycle of domestic violence is men not being as involved as they should in the children’s lives, not setting the example and raising young men to honor and respect a woman’s body.
We can’t censor everything we don’t like-the constitution prevents it. However, we CAN change how men behave and think by raising them to understand and recognize feminism.
Change doesn’t happen through music or movies, it happens at home.
Just my two cents.
Eh, I think she just meant she is in BDSM. I think as long as people are consensual and okay with it, don’t see any harm in it (personally, I’m into BDSM, so *shrugs*).
I like her music a great deal. I think she has an incredible ear for melodies. The lyrics… yeah, not so much. I can live with the repeated mentions of various dresses etc. But the underlying themes do make her sound like a bit of a moron. It’s weird, I’ve heard/read interviews with her where she comes across as rather astute and smart. However, most of the time she seems to just blabber.
I don’t really get why feminism would have to be “interesting”, anyway. That’s such a weird word to use in this context.
Maybe she should be tested for Lyme Disease.
🙂 !!!!
Okay, I don’t even know who this is so I shouldn’t have clicked this thread, but I need to know why everyone is suddenly being asked about feminism. I’m a feminist and I’ll talk about feminism all day long, but it’s incredibly patronizing to make it a constant issue. Like, let’s talk about gay rights or civil rights non stop also, assuming people who benefit from those movements have no other meaningful things to say.
It’s not like that’s the only thing she was asked about and the reason she was (I imagine) is because she’s been criticized in the past for her lyrics, which some people view as anti-feminist (I appreciate that you can’t know that if you don’t know who she is ;-)).
Thanks for the tip. I googled her lyrics. Sigh. Explains a lot.
@bettyrose: It’s quite frustrating for someone who think she is genuinely really talented. Interestingly some of her early songs, or rather Lizzy Grant’s lyrics, are quite different. Pawn Shop Blues for example:
“In the name of higher consciousness
I let the best man I knew go
‘Cause it’s nice to love and be loved
But it’s better to know all you can know”
I used to be excited when a female celebrity had the guts to mention or talk about feminism. Now, I just getting to the point where I don’t think they should since for every Keira Knightly or Emma Stone, you get about 5 Shailene/Katy Perrys. I just can’t stop shaking my head. Is it a work thing? Do younger, not as established actresses have to play dumb to avoid pissing off the Hollywood Patriarchy?
i don’t think it’s particularly shocking that young, rich, privileged white girls have nothing to say about feminism. look at someone like lana del rey – successful, attractive – she probably really hasn’t really struggled or faced sexism in any real way. and she’s just stupid enough to see negative male attention as attention. so it’s boring to her because she thinks it doesn’t affect her. yep, it’s totally dumb and selfish, but not surprising. give it a few years and then ask them when their looks have faded and they aren’t skating by on their privileges any more.
Yes, she is rich, white, privileged and 28 years old. The way society treats older women should come as a big surprise to her in about 15 years or so.
Do you think she’ll change her tune then?
I wish male celebrities were asked more often or asked at all if they are feminists. 1. It’s stupid and gendered that only women are asked about feminism and 2. I like to imagine some of the responses. I’m sure, just like with women, some answers would be thoughtful etc. But then, like, how would Justin Timberlake respond to being asked if he is a feminist? The thought makes me laugh (and cry a little).
+1
I could be mad at her, but she, as a subject, bores me, so I….ZZZ-Zzzz-ZZzzz, chuchhmpyfastdxsy Zzzzz….drooly drooly…
What? Oh yeah, nodded off for a second. What was this about?
It was mostly her whining and saying stupid sh$t. You can nod back off. You didn’t miss anything.
Thanks Gnat, I need my beauty rest and Lana is like a human sleeping pill.
Indeed. I find the concept of her to be very uninteresting.
Yes, it’s easy to be not interested in the issue of feminism when you are Lizzie Grant.
This reminds me of the 90s when many young women were asked about politics and so many would stupidly answer: I’m not really political.
She doesn’t have to read all about feminism but not even acknowledging its importance is worrying.
Her idea of feminism sounds about right to me. Kind of like democracy – one has a right to do whatever one wants as long as it doesn’t interfere with the same right of the other.
So, she’s not really interested in equal pay for equal work?
THANK YOU.
I guess in her line of work that’s not a concern. She makes more money, the more record she sells. That’s about as democratic as it gets. That doesn’t mean, of course, that she shouldn’t care about the rest of the (female) workforce.
I bet she’d care if her label paid her less per album sale than they paid a male singer.
Hannah, that isn’t exactly how it works. Record deals and advances, etc. vary by artist. I know that actresses in a leading role in a major film are paid WAY less than men. It is hard to do an apples-to-apples comparison in music, but in my experience, I know that age is a big factor in how much money record labels will pay their female artists, not so much with men.
@Tiffany: You’re right, contracts vary. But Lana writes or co-writes all of her songs and, as far as I know, she owns the publishing rights to her songs, as well. So unlike Rihanna for example she’s less reliant on the deal she’s struck with her label.
Yeah, there’s such extreme class privilege in her apathy. Maybe she doesn’t have to worry about equal pay for equal work, because she is so well compensated (TOO WELL compensated, I believe. Thanks to luck no thanks to talent, I believe!). But if her life had taken another turn, she would certainly be worried about the issue, a la LILY LEDBETTER.
not everyone can be everything people just want them to be.
we ‘want’ her to have ‘at least awareness’ but that’s not her, and she’s not going to fake it for anyone.
nor should she.
fuck it. let someone else who cares and has something educated to say talk about it.
So it’s “not her” to be educated about an important topic. Alrighty. How is this democracy thing ever going to work out then?
“My idea of a true feminist is a woman who feels free enough to do whatever she wants.”
Oh fuck off Lana del Rey. We live in a world that doesn’t allow women to do whatever they want. That’s why feminism is so important – you know, the idea of equality between sexes and that women should be able to choose their own destiny without men telling us we can’t?
also, it’s easy to do what you want when you want it if you have the resources to do so. the rest of us need to put our immediate wants and impulses aside and show up for work, so that we can pay our bills.
Ah but her daddy, I believe, allows her to do anything she wants?
Maybe she is more a proponent of paternalism than feminism, eh?
It’s ok -she’ll become a feminist when she hits 30 and the media & music industry spit her out and starts calling her a tired old ugly has been who can’t sell records
see how you like dem misogynists then, sweetie
Yes, and her music is awful; someone on this site once described it as useless, weak noise. If you know anything about her real background, she gives manufactured a bad name.
Spot on. I hadn’t even thought of it that way, but you’re totally right. A woman isn’t free to do whatever she wants. That’s why we need feminism.
My take on her reply: The whole bringing Tesla into it, just sounded like, “I think feminism isn’t worth my time or attention because the men are into science, and all the ‘cool kids’ are into science. Didn’t the trailer for Interstellar come out recently? Yeeah… So I’ll say feminism is boring and put it down, but I really have no clue what it really means.”
I think she’s got a lot of internalized sexism and issues, which anyone can tell from watching her videos.
I agree, being honest and saying she doesn’t care is way better than making up an opinion and sounding like an idiot, as so many celebs have lately.
Seriously I don’t know who she is or why she is famous and, after reading excerpts from her interview, I’m ok with that.
So in some parts of the world we have girls as young as 12 being sold off to marriage to men 20-30 years older than they are, girls being kidnapped and converted to “set them straight”, girls with potential leaving school because their educations are not as important as their brothers, girls who can not walk alone at any time of day because she’d get raped and hundreds of other dreadful scenarios. Girls who, really, would have loved to even go near the “concept” of feminism…. And here’s Lana Del Ray saying “it’s just not an interesting concept for me”.
…. For some of us “feminism” saves lives. That’s all.
But she seems to have a right idea about who a feminist is? And rather encouraging, too? (Being free to do what one wants is something most women should want.) Seems to me she’s not into discussing it, as it isn’t her ‘problem’
is the “mysterious anomaly” also called “shit for brains”? there, i diagnosed it.
Equality amongst humans is not an interesting concept to her? I wonder if her royalty is 27% less than a comparable male artist.
He hit me and it felt like a kiss? STFU before I “kiss” you myself. Great, she has lyrics similar to noted feminist Jay-Z?
Another idiot.
And her face looks painted on. Fake.
Meh. Fiona Apple called – she wants her schtick and persona back. Lizzie.
Yes, I wonder if her fans know who Fiona apple is? Fiona is still putting out music I might add. If you combined her knowledge of “art” with Gaga’s, it wouldn’t even fit on the arse of a house fly.
Maybe she feels apathetic about feminism because much of today’s feminist conversations are wasted on: “how much nipple can I show to prove that I’m sexually liberated” or “how educational, feminist and cool it is to film myself while having a abortion”.
Yes, feminism is immensely important and we should be more focused on the huge inequalities happening in some Muslim countries, or about the rape culture in India, or about girl’s rights to be educated in 3rd world countries. Until feminism and their loudspeakers manage to solve or improve these tragic issues, allow me to also not give a shit about the mess that third-wave feminism is.
+1
Feminists today aren’t feminists…if they were they would support a women’s freedom of thought on issues including feminism. Instead we have this mind numbing thing called “feminism”…that is actually indeed anti women it seems unless you agree with this idealism and sexism today called ” feminism”.
Agreed, agreed, agreed!
Wow. She’s got the whole package: plain looks, no singing talent, and stupid. I feel fortunate to have grown up listening to amazing women singers, who were vocally committed towards many important ideals, feminism first and foremost, were beautiful or striking looking women and whose voice were off the freaking charts. Modern music…ugh.
While I enjoyed the article, I don’t believe any young women have the luxury of ignoring women’s rights, because now they are losing them as fast as the republican states can take them away. Civil rights attorneys work to get the new laws appealed in courts, but this takes time and then they are overwhelmed when new laws pop up. Its a vicious circle. If the young women of today (the third wave) don’t wake-up, and start standing up for women’s rights and equality, they are going to be in for a shock. The baby boomer gen and the vanguard of Gen X (the second wave) worked hard, protesting in the rain, marching on Washington, running political campaigns, etc, to get us the rights we enjoy now, but there is still work to be done.
I thank all those feminists who came before me and paved the way for me to not only be a doctor, but study interesting tops throughout my educational career. In fact, I thank them for my education. Lana Del Ray can take her manufactured image somewhere else as she is just not an interesting concept.
Well said!
Amen. And kudos to you!
Was there a memo sent out to every celeb rag that I don’t know about. Let’s ask every female celeb what they think about feminism?
It’s sad that Lana doesn’t realize why she should care.
Well I understand her. I’m apathetic about the booming sex slave trade. I’m apathetic about the 200 some odd girls kidnapped from school, who just wanted to learn, and may now be sold or married off. I’m apathetic about the right to vote or drive or go school or kiss a boy without being stoned to death. I mean, GOSH, why would that be important?!
Good grief. I’m sorry but after the toddler stage you should grow up and grow a goddamn soul and some empathy. If your own rights and freedoms mean nothing to you then I just give up on people.
LOVE her definition of feminism. Do whatever makes you happy without judgement. Period, nuff’ said.
The rumor about her father buying her career. I still believe it. I think he is a silent partner in her record label and the only artist that his money is invested in is his daughter.
I know I shouldn’t diagnose people over the Internet, particularly since I’m not even a doctor, but I really think she should consider being evaluated for chronic depression.
I think her music might be a root cause for depression.
UUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH……..
There was a time I really enjoyed music, but many of her songs reveal a pretty f***ing annoying element of her psyche: this chick LOVES being a damsel in distress. She wants SO badly for people to be obsessed with her and think she is a fragile, mysterious enchantress. She takes it to a really gross level. All I’ll say about that is there are a LOT of lolita themes and she seems to get off on them…
Just. F*** this chick. I’m so sick of this mentality. It is so depressing. Where are the empowered, educated women who have greater aspirations than being considered sex objects? Certainly not in la la land. Unfortunately, these are the people with some of the most influence.
Just. UGH.
For me, the issue of “Lana del Rey” is just not an interesting concept.
“Feminism” as defined by people has turned into a form of sexism. Given all the sexist comments from the mysogynistic posters above I’m not shocked that “feminism” has become a boring topic. But then again the sexists here only have a ideal of “feminism” and that’s basically to be thin skinned and mysogynistic towereds females you don’t agree with so no one here should even try to lecture her about this idealist sexism called “feminism”….and it is nothing more then sexist bigotry disguised as women’s rights. While only thinking one train of thought for someone is the only right feminism therefor it is nothing but a form mysognism…..
I wanted to say ‘NOPE’ but then I keep re-reading and I’m not sure whether you agree with everyone or not…..
I took it as: if you try to clarify what feminism is, you are somehow a misogynist if you disagree with another person’s understanding of the movement, even if that person’s understanding is completely wrong.
I just find it odd we have people here trying to lecture her about “feminism” while not helping feminism at all. Feminism should be about equal rights to a extent like sexism in the work place ect. However I find supposed feminists who are attacking her in let’s be blunt here sexist ways. To be hypocrites,let people have their own defintions. Otherwise it’s setting women back again because they have to conform to some unrealistic ideal…
Lana del Ray is not a very interesting concept.
She’s is a phony and her music is terrible. If her music was good I would admit it even if I don’t like her as a persona. But her music is snoore fest 2014.
“I’m more interested in, you know, SpaceX and Tesla”
So she’s interested in Elon Musk, basically.
A woman not caring about feminism is the epitomy of self-absorption. It’s the ‘I’m fine so who cares’ attitude.
Blarg!
I’d be ashamed and deeply embarrassed if it was printed for the world to see, if I had said the same quote as Lana.
Another stupid, uneducated little girl. What, no one learns about history anymore? She’ll have her 15 minutes and will disappear. Once she’s trying to cope in the real world, we’ll see how she feels about feminism.
Lame, but what could we expect from Lana Del Rey? Anyway, her songs are my guilty pleasure, even though her style is forced as hell.
‘I’ve lived a lot of different lives. I lived down in Alabama with my boyfriend, I lived here in Brooklyn and in Jersey. I’ve been a lot of different people, I guess. I don’t really know what I’m doing.’ — She sounds crazy. It’s only one life.