Well... I Guess This Was Inevitable... “Hot Chicks of Occupy Wall Street”

[WillyT]

:hide::evilgrin::hide:

“Hot Chicks of Occupy Wall Street” creator defends film
In a q-and-a on Salon, Steven Greenstreet discussed his motivations -- and critiqued the angry response from women
BY EMMA MUSTICH - Salon
WEDNESDAY, OCT 19, 2011 7:28 AM PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME

<snip>

A stunningly sexist commentary or a beautiful, harmless art project? Steven Greenstreet’s video/Tumblr experiment, “Hot Chicks of Occupy Wall Street,” has certainly caused a commotion over the past few days, including right here on Salon.

Yesterday, Greenstreet himself responded to our staff roundtable, “Is this video ‘Occupy Wall Street Gone Wild’?,” by directly engaging with readers in our comments section. “Ask me anything,” he repeatedly volunteered. Read a selection of his responses to readers’ questions below.

Questions from Mike Mariano: “Are you trying to say anything about Occupy Wall Street with this video? These hot chicks are doing all the hard work of being hot and politically hot. Was there any motivation beyond ‘hot chicks are hot?’ I’m not complaining/indicting/etc., if that’s all it was, but if you were trying for more I’m missing it.”

Steven Greenstreet: Thanks for the question. I guess I can only speak to what the video does for me. I’m a pretty cynical guy. I see movements come and go and it seems like the “bad guys” always come out on top. So I’m getting to that point to where even “hope and change” becomes bittersweet. Interviewing the women at OWS, I felt a strong sense of optimism. They were full of such firm dedication and political strength. I almost envied them. The “We Can Do It!” attitude was something I’d thought I’d lost. And these women, they made me feel legitimately proud to be an American.

<snip>

More: http://www.salon.com/2011/10/19/hot_chicks_of_occupy_wall_street_creator_defends_film/singleton/

:D

:hi:

[TNLib]

1. I guess it's better than "Old Fat Guys of the Tea Party"

nt

[Ken Burch]

3. A long prison sentence would be better than that.

:eyes:

[Warren DeMontague]

35. Yummy!

[Ken Burch]

2. Somebody needs to do a parody of this

that features actual baby chickens with protest signs.

[Zanzoobar]

6. A parody of a parody hardly ever works.

It's the reason SNL has sucked forever.

[Ken Burch]

8. Except that this idiot meant what he did as a rip-off, not as a parody.

n/t.

[Zanzoobar]

10. Arguable.

[Warren DeMontague]

42. That would piss off PETA

could get messy.

[Scuba]

4. Hey, Palin's fans have to go somewhere.

[madrchsod]

5. noooo comment on this.......

[WillyT]

7. LOL !!!

Love that emoticon!

:rofl:

:hi:

[saras]

9. And the not-hot chicks of OWS think - what?

[pnwmom]

12. I wouldn't mind if they thought all OWS people were hot. There are

worse images to have.

[Modern_Matthew]

11. There's nothing wrong with admiring beauty. nt

[baldguy]

13. "...these women, they made me feel legitimately proud to be an American."

Watch the video. Then comment.

http://vimeo.com/30476100

[Extend a Hand]

14. Greenstreet on why he chose the title "Hot Chicks of OWS"

* MiddleOfMayhem
* Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 6:44 pm

Of course there could have been a million other titles. But "Hot Chicks" was my gut feeling and I went with it. And chances are, you and I wouldn't be talking right now if I'd changed the title to something blander.

* Permalink
* Login to Reply
* flag

* skwjcw
* Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 11:23 pm

Kinda like if I titled a youtube video "Watch Me Trying to Fuck a Pig," which shows me asking New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, embarrassing policy questions?

[Warren DeMontague]

36. You shouldn't demean, degrade, and obectify

pigs like that.

[silverweb]

15. I don't understand the anger.

I just watched the video and think it was completely nonexploitive and beautifully done. The title's just a gimmick to get attention.

In my opinion, the film maker is praising the strength, courage, and beauty that he sees in activist women on the front lines.

FWIW, I'm a woman over 60 years of age. I raised two children alone and consider myself a strong feminist. (Feminism ≠ hating men.)

[seabeyond]

16. he used title to get attention. little drunk girls pulling up their tops to get attention?

he made a nice video and reduced the women to things. yes, to get attention. as all the ads and the movies and all the other stuff uses reducing women to things, to get attention.

hot chicks of ows gone wild.

[silverweb]

17. I know all about the other "hot chicks" films.

This just isn't them and isn't in any sense equivalent.

He has NOT "reduced the women to things," there are no "gone wild" segments whatsoever, and the women are given a voice to say why they're part of OWS and believe it's important.

If the title and the controversy get more people to watch the video and maybe gain greater appreciation for the women of OWS, then the title has served its purpose.

I just can't get offended by it and feel the anger regarding this video is sadly misplaced.

[seabeyond]

20. more of a sigh

than anger.

the point ignored, is we are always reducing women/girls to derogatory "hot chick" for all kinds of gains.

breast cancer. a disease that kills. using the womens tits in a TITilizing fashion in order to get more money

it is the continued perpetuation of identifying women thru their sexuality, not thru their accomplishments.

again, not anger. but at what point is it enough, women only being presented thru sexuality.

[baldguy]

21. Did you even watch the clip?

No, you did not.

[seabeyond]

25. yes... i did. and as i said, it was a lovely clip.

they title it a airbrain GGW and it is not that at all. they used a title to sexualize these women when it had nothing to do with that, in order to get attention for people to watch. they reduced women to their sexuality when it had nothing to do with their sexuality. which is my point. when do women get to get beyond only their sexuality. why must they always be presented by their sexuality

[silverweb]

28. I understand your feeling.

However, as long as there sexes on this planet who are chemically and biologically attracted to each other, there will be a certain amount of exploitation in dealings between them.

We'll never get away from it in advertising, entertainment, politics, or everyday living.

I'm a whole lot more concerned with the RWers who are trying to resubjugate women and rob us of our hard-earned rights than I am with some sophomoric (but appreciative) guys doing a little ogling along with their democratic protesting.

[redqueen]

51. I'm more concerned with children dying due to lack of access to clean water

than I am about people not spaying or neutering their pets.

That doesn't mean I ignore the problem of people not spaying or neutering their pets.

[socialist_n_TN]

23. Yeah, I liked it too.........

And I'm a fan of Rosa Luxemborg and Mother Jones. Socialists have ALWAYS had women heroes and I'm no different. In addition, I have a nice looking wife and a couple of truly beautiful daughters (yes inside and out). All I can say is I would be VERY proud if any of my female kin were in that video.

Very well done, IMO.

[silverweb]

27. Thanks.

I sent it to my daughter and asked what she thought, and she liked it well enough to tweet the guy who made it and compliment him. :D

She said the title was a bit sophomoric, but she understood why he kept it and she loved the overall result, and that she thought those offended by it were being "a bit reactionary."

[socialist_n_TN]

29. You're welcome.........

I have to call it as I see it. :)

[Kennah]

18. Compare and contrast with "Teabaggers Gone Wild"

http://youtu.be/_OFYO_SIy5Y

[Warren DeMontague]

49. Teabaggin' teabaggers from teabaggistan

Yes, sure, they're beating the crap out of that lady. But at least they're not expressing admiration for her attractiveness in a sexual context!

[Name removed]

50. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Kennah]

19. Is it at all possible ...

... that the title was chosen with the specific goal of tapping into more prurient interests of those NOT ideologically aligned with OWS so that they click, watch, and just maybe shift their views in support of OWS?

[Voice for Peace]

22. I thought it was quite beautiful.

[coalition_unwilling]

24. The title is ironic, a tease that uses the Madison Ave. notion

tbat 'sex sells' to subvert that same Madison Ave. ethos.

Come on, DU, think critically for more than a nano-second.

[trumad]

26. Awesome video

and very beautiful women...

[Codeine]

30. Oh my goodness, those are some amazingly beautiful women.

The dark-haired lady with the prominent arm tattoos was stunning.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Yeah

have to agree with you, there.

[Erose999]

31. Fucker KKKarlson's blog "Daily Caller" had a section about "hot chicks of OWS" today... with creepy

and disparaging commentary.

http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/20/top-ten-the-sexy-women-of-%E2%80%98occupy-wall-street%E2%80%99-slideshow/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=TheDC+Morning&utm_campaign=The+DC+Morning+&utm_term=5__29+Show+me+what+democracy+looks+like

[alfredo]

32. The right wing seeks out the unattractive men and women in the left

to make fun of us.

Remember how Russian women were portrayed during the cold war. As far as we knew, all Russian women were old, fat, and covered with warts and moles. Same goes for the right's portrayal of feminist.

[kctim]

33. I only counted four.

[Warren DeMontague]

37. They put the girl with the silly hat in there.

I guess they missed the part where she wasn't really sure what the reason for the protest was. She was being all set up to be the voice of a generation, until it became clear she was there to take pictures for her blog.

[redqueen]

38. A feminist perspective:

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2011/10/14/hot-chicks-of-occupy-wall-street/

http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2011/10/19/steven-greenstreet-proves-hes-definitely-not-a-misogynist-by-making-rape-jokes/

[seabeyond]

39. i didnt realize he picked his "hot chicks" for website without their consent. wish people would READ

these articles.

doubt that they will

having more facts on this dude, i am even less impressed with the person than i was initially. and not awfully impressed to begin with

[redqueen]

40. Did you read the second one yet? Typical stuff, and hardly surprising from this jerk.

Also? The early “he’s a misogynist creep” vibe that I got off of Steven Greenstreet appears to be pretty on. I avoid Twitter fights like the plague because nothing productive ever happens in 140 characters, but last night Mr. Greenstreet apparently spent the evening google-imaging me and then kindly used his Twitter account to link to photos of me wearing — get ready, ladies, it’s shocking — a dress, in a feminist eco-friendly fashion show my friend Kate hosted, where she used her friends because she didn’t want to exclusively feature traditional very thin models. Greenstreet added commentary like, “Oh I see, dressing in a short skirt and showing off your body to leering men is totally cool only when you do it” and “Love how these guys stare as you show off your curves.”

Because walking in a friend’s fashion show is totally the same thing as taking pictures of women on the street without their knowledge or permission and putting them on a “hot girls” website. And yes, by wearing a skirt in some photos I was obviously asking for it, right? Not creepy at all. Just totally normal guy stuff.

[seabeyond]

41. ya. i feel bad i gave him as much credit as i did. i was wrong. nt

[redqueen]

52. I find when this level of sexism is involved...

that there's very little reason to give the person the benefit of the doubt.

[seabeyond]

53. oh no, the girls arent naked so not porn. just guys making these girls their porn

for their entertainment, without consent.

geezus fuckin christ.....

[redqueen]

54. It's so beyond played out. All these excuses... so tired and flimsy.

Just grasping at straws to try to keep things as they are.

[seabeyond]

55. the problem is the insecure man. they always reduce it to the insecure woman that goes after

this objectivication. but really it is the insecure man that cannot deal with a woman owning her own sexuality and having fun with it. it is the fear of a woman being as sexual as a man. and it is a continued need to take that power away out of their own insecurities. it is THEIR place to have ownership in sexuality in dominance of. us women today tend to forget and they are reminding us. repeatedly.

[Warren DeMontague]

56. You know what? ... You're absolutely right.

No, seriously. You're right. I thought about what you said, and if this guy is going around the protests taking pictures of women (or, really, anyone) to put on his "hot..." website, he should ask them their permission, after telling them exactly what his site is about and what they're signing on for.

You're totally right on this one. There's no snark or sarcasm there- I mean it.

[seabeyond]

58. You know what?

surprisingly, i am not surprised by this post

i like that we can agree on this.

[dana_b]

43. “hot chicks being all protesty”

ick - gross. He wanted to go and "pitch a tent" - yeah, I'll bet.

Thanks for the links. This guy had some good points, even as crudely said as they are:

Thomas MacAulay Millar 10.14.2011 at 2:00 pm

The reductiveness of attractiveness in patriarchy. Nobody stops listening to Ryan Gosling or George Clooney while acknowledging their fuckability; it’s merely another feature of them, because the members of the dominant group in a kyriarchal structure gets to be multifaceted. So a man can be fuckable and not be a sex object and not be ignored, erased, reduced … objectified. And conversely, the absence of attractiveness in men doesn’t mean that nobody will listen to what they have to say. Men don’t have to be fuckable to get attention, and if they are fuckable, that doesn’t draw all the attention away from everything else about them.

[redqueen]

45. Yeah, that was good. I liked this one, too.

Posted in response to someone who says that because the reactions are mostly good elsewhere on the net, that feminists are just humorless.

Weird. A video celebrating young, smart, political women is criticized by young, smart, political women for being sexist. You come back with, “It was just a joke,” and, “You should be flattered; we said we’d bone you!”

It’s telling of you, not us, that you’re trying to divide a category like “young, smart, political women” into hot chicks and feminists, where “hot chicks” are pictures that don’t talk back and “feminists” are women that do.

[seabeyond]

46. where “hot chicks” are pictures that don’t talk back

and “feminists” are women that do.

damn right

[dana_b]

47. yeah, feminists

come in all shapes, sizes, ages and degrees of beauty (in the eye of the beholder). Sometimes even a different sex!! ;)

[redqueen]

48. Yep.

And I love all the claims that all men objectify women. It must make them feel better about their unenlightened views to think that that's the case, though, so I suppose it's understandable that so many cling to that misguided belief.

I'd love to know what the misunderstanding stems from. A failure to understand what objectification means? A failure to recognize that there are male feminists who know better than the brogressives? It's puzzling.

[retread]

44. This guy gives me the creeps! Another Loofah Boy!

[Liquorice]

57. It has been my experience that people who refer to women as "chicks" are not to be trusted. nt