VANCOUVER – For anyone who’s followed the #FreeBritney movement in recent years, Framing Britney Spears is not so much a revelation as it is a re-hash. The highly polished documentary, produced by the New York Times and distributed by Hulu, is a heavy look at the popstar’s career and conservatorship, but one that feels light on new information. Even so, it struck a nerve with many this week, inspiring renewed support for Spears – and not just from her biggest stans. Casual listeners, too, were reminded that, for all of our conversations about misogyny and mental health, the entertainment industry is all too happy to take a talented young woman and destroy her.
Personally, I think we’ll look back on this as the tipping point in Spears’ conservatorship, the moment she reclaimed public sympathy. In less than a week, Justin Timberlake was forced to admit he did Britney and Janet dirty. Anything, it seems, is possible. And yet I can’t help but wonder what her career would look like if she had been free to make her own decisions.
And while we’re here … where tf was Lynn Spears in all this?!
Links
Dear Justin Timberlake, Just Fucking Stop
Nipplegate Revisited: Why America Owes Janet Jackson a Huge Apology
(Framing Britney may be the tipping point, but I want to emphasize that the conversations around Britney are nothing new. 5 years ago Matt Stopera wrote this incredibly detailed account of how Timberlake crafted an unchallenged narrative around Spears for his personal benefit. He did the same thing with Janet. And he sold MILLIONS.)
Uncorking The Complicated Politics of Chrissy Teigen's Cabernet
(Published this piece on Monday and I’m really proud of it. If you enjoy it, or anything else I write, maybe consider sharing it.)
Women's rights activist Loujain Alhathloul released after 1,001 days in Saudi prison
(Michelle has been following this story for all 1,001 days, so it’s great that she got to cover its resolution. It’s not included in the web story, by Alhathloul’s first stop after leaving prison was to get ice cream.)
The Cosmic Journey of Kacey Musgraves
(“The queen of "galactic country" is following up a career-defining album (and a divorce) with a little help from Bach, Greek tragedy, and magic mushrooms”)
Taylor Swift – “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)”
Books
In progress
The Kid Stays In the Picture by Robert Evans
A Simple Twist of Fate: Bob Dylan and the Making of Blood on the Tracks by Andy Gill
Finished
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen (would recommend!)