Jennifer Lopez's provocative performance during last week's American Music Awards left many viewers with two lingering questions: 1) Why was there a car on the stage, and 2) Where were her clothes? Robin Givhan writes in a piece for the Daily Beast that while the artist probably doesn't spend much time thinking about the cultural significance of her clothing choices, this one sent all the wrong messages:
But her costume too closely resembled the glitter-encrusted bodysuits favored by Britney Spears — a style that became a signature for the pop singer as she transitioned from tween star to adult performer. For Spears, the revealing bodysuit was an in-your-face display of bravado — a loud proclamation of her sexuality. Coming from a young woman barely into adulthood, the stance was — if not admirable — at least not surprising.
On Lopez — a 40-something accomplished performer who has regularly shown a more sophisticated, nuanced, and original take on sexuality and provocation — the bodysuit was a disappointment. There was no finesse or thoughtfulness in that costume. Its sole purpose was to show off her figure: to her peers, to her fans, to her estranged husband Marc Anthony, who performed separately … to herself. It spoke of insecurity rather than control, defensiveness instead of dynamism.
Almost without fail — and for better or worse — as Lopez’s star has risen, she has always owned her look. At the American Music Awards, she seemed to be borrowing a cliché.
Read more at the Daily Beast.
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