No Doubt Are All ‘Looking Hot’ In New (Racial Stereotyping?) Music Video
Filed under: Music, Nic
Author: Nic
Date: Nov 2, 2012
No it’s true. It may be the name of the song, but clearly the director and stylists took some inspiration from the title of the song (“Looking Hot“), because Gwen is SMOKIN’ in their new music vid!
This is the group’s follow up single to “Settle Down” off of their sixth studio album Push and Shove, released earlier this year. The first single had mediocre success, and for good reason. The single was on the weak side, and 100% on the safe side, and did nothing to showcase the album. But I have higher hopes for this new single, ’cause I dig what’s going on in almost every corner.
The song itself has a more classic No Doubt feel: a good beat, a great hook, a little reggae breakdown, and a whole lot of Gwen and the boys doing their thing. The video taps into old Western Americana, showing Gwen as the (bleach blonde) Native American Princess in distress in a classic kids game. But is this just an innocent game of cowboys and indians?
The YouTube comments have been controversial to say the least, one user even stating:
“it has nothing to do with intent. whether they intended it to hurt or not, it’s irrelevant because it’s still trivializing and appropriating the culture. it hurts. thats it. this is hurtful to Native American communities. very simple.”
I can understand how someone of a specific ethnicity could see this as carelessly degrading. What do you think? Sound off below. Harmless video? Or racial stereotyping?
No Doubt ‘Looking Hot’ Music Video
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Ryan
November 2nd, 2012 at 10:04 pm
I don’t find it offensive although I wouldn’t hold it against anyone who might take offense. Its art and art tends to spark a variety of discussions. :)
justin
November 3rd, 2012 at 2:39 am
i dont see anything offensive there was nothing negative being portrayed about native americans it seemed more on the artistic portrayal. especially that red dress looked like something from a vogue editorial. its like saying madonna nothing really matters video was offensive it was not. people need to calm the fuck down since its annoying how only certain things are offensive but not others because it doesnt have to do with them. if your gonna be offended then be offended by all things offensive instead of picking and choosing things that seem offensive. like chelsea handler said if your gonna be offensive dont discriminate offend everyone.
Native Beauty
November 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 am
Inappropriate. What would be the response be if she wore blackface? It would NOT be accepted. These negative stereotypes in media need to stop. We no longer live in a time period where stereotypes should be perceived okay.
obi
November 3rd, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Disgusting. I’ve been a fan for 2 decades and have watched as they continually appropriate other cultures (Harajuku slave girls, really, Gwen?), and this is it for me. I’m over them.
Kris Davidson
November 4th, 2012 at 2:44 am
Gwen and No Doubt, quite honestly, need to show their respect for other cultures in different ways. It’s offensive because they used Native American culture as merely a fashion statement for a video called “Lookin Hot.” Those headresses and amulets actually have legitimate meaning and stories, y’know. And anyone who sincerely doesn’t understand why it’s offensive just further proves the point of how culturally insensitive it was.
gogo shipi
November 4th, 2012 at 4:12 am
this is stupid. they played a game of dress up basically. i mean really…is it offensive that she (gwen) used to wear a bindi…no it’s imitation …which is flattering to say teh least…and if anything the ideo drew attentionto how badly the europeans treated the aborginals….but w/e the song rocks and i stilll love them.
Joey r.
November 4th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Iam first nation indian from saskatchewan canada I still want to see this video they took it off how does on see it I may most likely don’t find little stuff like this offensI’ve they took it too far our people an the complanints this time I read a little about the video I personally don’t find that racist
Franco
November 4th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
This is so stupid,
I’m italian, should I be offended by every hollywood production that portrays our women dressed in black with their heads down praying and our men with a lupara and a mafia attitude? Let alone The Jersey Shore…
Everyone knows who they are, which is their nationality,their culture…
Stereotyping is just simplifing something to hit the viewer faster, to make something or someone immediatly recognizable…it is a simplification…if you are offended by something simple it is probably because you are simple yourself…
Are all white americans like Honey Boo Boo Child?Are all black american misoginist rappers? Just know who you are…who cares if people are so simple they need stereotypes to understand? Learn to take yourself less seriouslyThis is so stupid,
I’m italian, should I be offended by every hollywood production that portrays our women dressed in black with their heads down praying and our men with a lupara and a mafia attitude? Let alone The Jersey Shore…
Everyone knows who they are, which is theyr nationality,their culture…
Stereotyping is just simplifing something to hit the viewer faster, to make something or someone immediatly recognizable…it is a simplification…if you are offended by something simple it is probably because you are simple yourself…
Are all white americans like Honey Boo Boo Child?Are all black american misoginist rappers? Just know who you are…who cares if people are so simple they need stereotypes to understand? Learn to take yourself less serious.
Racism is something completely different.
Helen
November 28th, 2012 at 7:57 am
I’m Native American and I don’t consider most of these portrayals to be offensive – I do consider them to be a bit of a cheap shot, however. I think people forget that Native Americans are still a people today. I don’t live on a reservation but there are still others who do, and some of them are extremely poor. In the meantime, I think many Americans don’t realize that Native Americans are not just a historical people. We haven’t died out like the Incan Empire or something. We’re still here. And we still greatly value certain things. And so wearing clothing that we value in the wrong context is a little frustrating.