20th
Week 9
This week we read, “Hottentot 2000,” “Selling Hot Pussy,” and “Why Black Sexual Politics.”
“Hottentot 2000,” discusses Jennifer Lopez and the reputation of her buttocks. At one point in the article she is compared to Saartje Baartman, better known as the “Hottentot Venus.” The reason why the comparison according to the author, is because no one needs to mention race, their butts are shorthand for “otherness.” In other words, that specific body part has becomed a representation of these two women and as a result it is racialized sexuality.
“Selling Hot Pussy,” also continues on with the topic of the representations of black female bodies and fascination with black “butts,” like J-lo’s. An interesting point in the article is when it mentions that there is prevailing representations of black female sexuality in white supremacy society. This reminds me of the discussion we had in-class, every actress in hollywood that is known is due to the oversexualized body part. In-class we mentioned, Scarlett Johanson and her mole, Pamela Anderson and her breasts, and so on… this is a clear example that I think answers the question, well is it due to nature or nurture that we oversexualize things like this. I belive that it is mostly society that oversexualizes body parts and not necessarily nature or biology, if people around you say this is what sexy/sexual is then you will start following along and belive that is sexy/sexual.
“Why Black Sexual Politics,” also discusses Sarah Bartmann and how she is a sign of racial difference used to justify the growing belief of white supremacy and inferiority of “primitive people.” This article also mentions that due to the story of Bartmann the label began for African American women “Freaks of nature,” and as a result adds in to racial difference.
