originally published 21st September 2023
“Consumer capitalism is a theoretical economic and social political condition in which consumer demand is manipulated in a deliberate and coordinated way on a very large scale through mass-marketing techniques, to the advantage of sellers.” (Wikipedia)
To the casual and disinterested bystander, the recent hysteria over Russell Brand sits on a scale somewhere between a kind of cynical yawn at another media industrial complex ratings rant-thing and an anxiety-induced terror where we try to calculate the socio-cultural ramifications of another ‘sexual misconduct’ witch hunt.
If there’s anything of interest in the messiah complex it isn’t the narcissists themselves but the way the socio-economic elite feels compelled to shut them up and down when they feel the need.
The Global Financial Crisis might have something to do with the way we feel about Russell Brand in 2023 compared to a time before 2008. Actually, the Russell Brand cancellation thing going on right now is just one of many similar and increasingly common take-down performances (viz. Heard and Depp, Rapp and Spacey et al., etc.).
The #MeToo movement, as with all initially just causes, rapidly becomes weaponised by power elites. After all, there’s no greater weapon than mob moral opprobrium and self-righteous indignation. The consumer capitalist’s olfactory sensitivity can sniff out one millilitre of opportunity in one million.
If we can manage to join the dots here, there’s a picture of what’s going on with Russell Brand.
Those who own or control resources exhibit a powerful reflex when threatened; they attack civil liberties. These might include removing freedom to express contrary opinions (any opinions), and, of course, controlling the private (sex) lives of individuals (not that there was anything particularly private about Russell Brand’s proclivities).
Through weaponzing movements like #MeToo or the growth of 2SLGBTQIA, consumer capitalists commoditise privacy. The kleptomaniac sees everything and anything as possessable and Orwell’s dystopia was never about the future but the now.
‘This’ is this. (Or maybe: This is ‘this’).
Or, indeed, that was that, if we feel the need for examples from socio-cultural history that show how Grundyism and the puritanical actually function. The No Sex, Please, We’re British (1973) joke had its roots in a Victorian England fearful of the spread of the French Revolution when busy with its own industrial version. Before 1789, the Brits were as horny as any of their French counterparts. Shakespeare, forced by the back lash puritan closure of theatres, had to float the timbers of his playhouse across the Thames (1598) at a time when England was just recovering from the threat of a Spanish/Catholic invasion (1588). And so on…
It’s foolish to think times don’t change or that people don’t change. It’s important to understand that Russell Brand before the 2008 crash lived in a completely different world. We all did. It’s disingenuous of people like Emily Maitlis (see below) to pretend that Brand and all of us, live in a here and now essentially the same as then. Times change (not necessarily progressively) and people change. Maybe they evolve and become wiser, better people. Isn’t that what we all hope to do?
When Russell Brand was type casted into the role of the eponymous Arthur (2011) we were living in the Promiscuous world of Nelly Furtado (2006) and the Pussycat Dolls (Don’t Cha – 2005). Even three years after the GFC, when the Arab Spring was kicking off, women, in particular, were salivating over Christian Grey (Fifty Shades of Grey was the fastest selling paperback ever).
By way of a slight digression, I’m not sure how the whole Fifty Shades thing ties in with #MeToo unless the hashtag somehow morphed happily enough into ‘#IGotMyCopy’. Interestingly, publishers seemed disinclined to fill the shelves with me-too versions of sex abuse erotica. If you’re confused, then me too.
The world of Promiscuous is another universe to whatever the hell is going on now. Sex was sexy. Now it’s just dirty yuck. And, fair enough, sex is yuck when it’s not sexy. Thanks Weinstein, Savile, Epstein et al. You really screwed it up in ways we prefer not to imagine. Their making sex unsexy was a crime against a culture where youthful humanity can only look forward to paying the guilt price (a price it’s paying with a vengeance, it would seem). Sins of the father…
‘Sexual misconduct’ is a phrase that lends itself to weaponisation because its looseness and openness to different interpretations creates a wide spectrum of potential meanings and applications. The consumer capitalist puritan will get in there straight away. For the religious bigot, all behaviour that could be construed as having some element of sensuality is misconduct. Dancing, for example, is utter filth. Equally, any action that seeks to attract by sexual objectification is misconduct. Women, cover your hair. Cover everything. All flirtation leads to GBV. We’re one step away from ‘You asked for it’. Sad, bad, mad times ahead.
Do human beings now need to be taught what ‘misconduct’ means? From the rape-end of the spectrum through to about half way along, just about all human beings would agree on what constitutes misconduct. Push beyond the nuanced half way point towards, I don’t know, a smile across a room, eye contact, ballet lessons, tight fitting clothes, flirtation, holding hands in public, blushing, and you’re moving rapidly towards consumer capitalist’s totalitarian dream. Cover the table legs!
I’m going to plonk down here some links and texts that might help jog the amnesic voyeur.
Warning, some content below may arouse discomfort:
[I think it’s worth exposing how Maitlis, for example, seeks to establish a link between perceived acts of inappropriateness in men like Brand and the monstrosity that was Jimmy Savile. There’s an unpleasant parallel in the Maitlis review of her interview with Brand and Andrew Neil’s interview with Savile (poured over by the self-appointed ‘Behaviour Panel’). I’ve provided links below for anyone interested to see how this works. No doubt the so-called ‘Behaviour Panel’ is collecting interview material on Brand even as I write this. How did we fail to see that Brand was just another sex monster? Russell Brand is not a Jimmy Savile not just because he didn’t get a knighthood and not just because he’s better looking but for reasons I’ve tried to fathom in this blog.]
The Behaviour Panel on ‘Sir James de Savile OBE’:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yAf_ybE…
Emily Maitlis on Brand interview:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WgH1k1M…
The interview and consumer culture:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjir-En… (2017)
‘This’ is this, Stewart Lee:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qljGMw9… (2016)
Nelly Furtado Promiscuous (2006):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0J3vgcE…
Am I throwing you off?
Nope
Didn’t think so
How you doing, young lady?
That feeling that you giving really drives me crazy
You’re dope have a player ’bout to choke
I was at a loss of words first time that we spoke
You looking for a girl that’ll treat you right
Have you looking for her in the daytime with the light
You might be the type if I play my cards right
I’ll find out by the end of the night
You expect me to just let you hit it
But will you still respect me if you get it?
All I can do is try, gimme one chance
What’s the problem? I don’t see no ring on your hand
I’ll be the first to admit it
I’m curious about you, you seem so innocent
You wanna get in my world, get lost in it
Boy, I’m tired of running, let’s walk for a minute (hey)
Promiscuous girl, wherever you are
I’m all alone and it’s you that I want
Promiscuous boy, you already know
That I’m all yours, what you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl, you’re teasing me
You know what I want, and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy, let’s get to the point
‘Cause we’re on a roll, you ready?
Roses are red, some diamonds are blue
Chivalry is dead, but you’re still kinda cute
Hey, I can’t keep my mind off you
Where you at? Do you mind if I come through?
I’m out of this world come with me to my planet
Get you on my level, do you think that you can handle it?
They call me Thomas, last name Crown
Recognize game, I’ma lay mine’s down
I’m a big girl I can handle myself
But if I get lonely I might need your help (whoa)
Pay attention to me, I don’t talk for my health
I want you on my team
So does everybody else
Shh, baby we can keep it on the low (low)
Let your guard down ain’t nobody gotta know (know)
If you with it girl I know a place we can go
What kind of girl do you take me for? (Hey)
Promiscuous girl, wherever you are
I’m all alone and it’s you that I want
Promiscuous boy, you already know
That I’m all yours, what you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl, you’re teasing me
You know what I want, and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy, let’s get to the point
‘Cause we’re on a roll, you ready?
Don’t be mad, don’t get mean
Don’t get mad, don’t be mean
Hey, don’t be mad, don’t get mean
Don’t get mad, don’t be mean
Wait, I don’t mean no harm
I can see you with my t-shirt on
I can see you with nothing on
Feeling on me before you bring that on
Bring that on?
You know what I mean
Girl, I’m a freak you shouldn’t say those things
Only trying to get inside of your brain
To see if you can work me the way you say
It’s okay, it’s alright
I got something that you gon’ like
Hey, is that the truth or are you talking trash?
Is your game M.V.P. like Steve Nash? (Hey)
Promiscuous girl, wherever you are
I’m all alone and it’s you that I want
Promiscuous boy, I’m callin ya name
But you’re driving me crazy, the way you’re making me wait
Promiscuous girl, you’re teasing me
You know what I want, and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy, we’re one in the same
So we don’t gotta play games no more
Pussy Cat Dolls, Don’t Cha (2005):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YNSxNsr…
Okay
Yeah
Oh, we about to get it just a little hot and sweaty in this mothafucka (oh, baby)
Ladies let’s go
Soldiers let’s go (Dolls)
Let me talk to y’all and just you know give you a little situation
Listen (fellas)
You see this shit get hot
Every time I come through
When I step up in the spot (are you ready?)
Make the place sizzle like a summertime cookout
Prowl for the best chick, yes, I’m on the lookout (let’s dance)
So banging, shorty like a belly dancer with it
Smell good, pretty skin, so gangsta with it (oh, baby)
No tricks, only diamonds under my sleeve
Gimme the number, but make sure you holla before you leave
I know you like me (I know you like me)
I know you do (I know you do)
That’s why whenever I come around
She’s all over you
And I know you want it (I know you want it)
It’s easy to see (it’s easy to see)
And in the back of your mind I know
You should be on with me
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?
Don’t cha?
Don’t cha?
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me?
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me?
Don’t cha?
Don’t cha?
Fight the feeling (fight the feeling)
Leave it alone (leave it alone)
‘Cause if it ain’t love
It just ain’t enough to leave my happy home
Let’s keep it friendly (let’s keep it friendly)
You have to play fair (you have to play fair)
See I don’t care
But I know she ain’t gonna wanna share
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? (Oh)
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me? (Like me)
Don’t cha?
Don’t cha baby? Don’t cha?
Alright, sing
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me? (Raw)
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me? (Big fun)
Don’t cha?
Okay, I see how it’s goin’ down (ahh, don’t cha)
Seems like shorty wanna little ménage pop off or something (let’s go)
Well let me get straight to it
Every broad wan watch a nigga when I come through it
It’s the god almighty, looking all brand new
If shorty wanna jump in my Aston Vanquish
Looking at me all like she really wanna do it
Tryna put it on me ’til my balls black and blueish
You wanna play wit’ a playa, girl, then play on
Strip out the Chanel and leave the lingerie on
Watch me and I’ma watch you at the same time
Looking like you wan’ break my back
You’re the very reason why I keep a pack of the Magnum
An wit the wagon hit cha in the back of the magnum
For the record, don’t think it was something you did
Shorty all on me ’cause it’s hard to resist the kid
I got a idea that’s dope for y’all
As y’all could get so I could hit the both of y’all
See I know she loves you (I know she loves you)
I understand (I understand)
I’d probably be just as crazy about you
If you were my own man
Maybe next lifetime (maybe next lifetime)
Possibly (possibly)
Until then old friend your secret is safe with me
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? (Oh)
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me? (Like me)
Don’t cha?
Don’t cha baby? Don’t cha?
Alright, sing
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was raw like me? (Raw)
Don’t cha wish your girlfriend was fun like me? (Big fun)
Don’t cha?
Don’t cha?
Russell Brand has been blocked from earning more money from his YouTube channel as his ability to make millions from social media started to crumble in response to the sex attack allegations against him.
YouTube said it had taken action “to protect” its customers because the comedian had “violated our … policy” through his “off-platform behaviour”.
Evening Standard 20th Sept 2023
Arthur (2011):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoJN7…