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Tuesday, 13 October 2020
The Physical Video by Olivia Newton John, Offensive?
I know it was the 80s, but even by those standards, was the music video for Physical (by Olivia Newton-John) offensive?
Was the music video for Physical offensive?
There is an excessive number of 'fat jokes', and the speedos on the fit guys...were they supposed to degrade the men in a humorous way?
The video starts off with 'ripped' guys working out...in very, very, very small outfits. A nice reversal of the typical 80s music video that started off with thin women in skimpy bikinis.
Reversal of stereotypes, 80s music videos usually showed bikini clad women!
Then it just started getting weird. Like the butt shaking machine? Why add that? That's just taking it too far in my opinion.
Butt Shaker machine. Was this too far?
Olivia really plays the part of the aggressive person, eyeing up the men, giving them her 'bedroom eyes'.
Olivia Newton John and her bedroom eyes, at the gym!
Then she is seen touching the equipment the men are working out with. But, the touch is very, very, suggestive. Vulgar suggestive. Maybe a bit too far?
Newton John touching 'equipment' - vulgar!
She totally invades their personal bubble. On many occasions she saunters by them, inches away, caressing their muscles. Then she is lying on the floor inches from the guy doing the squats. I get it, but again it goes a bit far.
Personal Space Violated!
Then the fat jokes! A room full of obese men who are looking sad, and are wearing the worst clothing. Not like the in-shape guys who have well fitting workout gear. Nope, these slobs have flip flops and big shorts pulled up to their man-boobs! From today's perspective it is just offensive.
Fat Jokes were common in the 80s, but now offensive.
Then Olivia Newton John goes around teasing these guys. She doesn't eye them up, or caress them nicely like she does with the muscle men. Nope, she quasi-humiliates them.
Olivia Newton John teasing the obese guys.
She is rough with them.
Olivia Newton John being rough with out of shape man.
She treats them like bags of dirt.
Newton John getting Physical
Then the next scene when the body builders reappear she is gentle to them.
Olivia Newton-John nice to the fit fellows.
It's offensive, even if it won a Grammy award for best video.
Let me know what you think.
Here is one man's opinion. He's offended by Physical on so many levels.
Apparently the song was written with Rod Stewart in mind. After his Do Ya Think I'm Sexy song I can see why.
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