Blow Me (One Last Kiss) by P!nk Empowers Women Everywhere and More.

Without realizing it, people view cultural artifacts every day. Sociologist Wendy Griswold defines a cultural artifact as a “shared significance embodied in audible, visible, or tangible form.” (Griswold 3). This means that these artifacts give information about the culture that they were created from. One example of a cultural artifact that uses audible and visual form is music videos. While people listen to the melody and lyrics, they also see the dancing, props and costumes in the video. In addition to Griswold, Mimi White argues that cultural artifacts are a “form of social expression.” (White 163). One example of this is how P!nk expresses her values, beliefs and ideas in the song “Blow Me (One Last Kiss).” Likewise, P!nk’s audience can relate to this song and if it expresses their emotions or experiences, it is a shared significance as well.

Cultural Artifacts are predominantly expressed through forms of popular culture. Dustin Kidd, author of “Harry Potter and the Functions of Popular Culture,” related pop culture to crime in order to show their similar functions in society. His main concepts are that popular culture and crime “produces norms, establishes boundaries, provides rituals, produces innovation and leads way for social change” (Kidd, 71). Social norms are a guide to social behavior. As a form of mass media, pop culture plays a role in developing norms because it displays and distributes them for the entire population to see. It also establishes boundaries. The audible, visible and tangible forms of pop culture that people like separate their identities from others. In addition, popular culture provides rituals by producing social cohesion. Furthermore he believes that pop culture produces innovation by also producing solidarity. Lastly, Kidd argues that popular culture is the driving force behind social change because it brings forth new ideas and concepts that change people’s ideas and actions.

Alecia Moore, otherwise know as the singer and song writer, P!nk, released the song “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” in 2012. While this song inspires women to be empowered, it is more significant in the sense that it defines social norms, and leads way to social change. Therefore, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” is not just a song, but an audible cultural artifact. P!nk’s song expresses that women empowerment can come by overcoming conflict. P!nk uses her video’s story line to encourage girls to stand up for themselves and never settle, whereas other songs advocate sorrow and crying.

“Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” supports a modern version feminism. Feminists such as Samhita, NineteenPercent, and Natasha either praise or criticize P!nk’s actions in this song. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” encourages women to get what they deserve and to stand up for themselves. Her video portrays a strong and powerful women that is persistent even when the weight if the world is crashing down on her. However, several arguments arise about P!nk’s choice in provocative clothing and use of the male gaze are apparent. Natasha Theory, publisher of “Why I Like My Feminism Gray,” explains the male gaze as, “a term that was first used by feminist scholars to describe how the film industry typically adopts the point of view of heterosexual men by using camera angles and filming techniques that objectify women.” (Theory, 3). In all, P!nk vociferously refuses to live up to the female pop singer stereotype by encouraging empowerment, not sorrow in her songs. However, her revealing clothing and use of the male gaze makes her song susceptible to arguments by feminists that would disagree with her actions.

As a piece of popular culture, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” reshapes social norms. Using Kidd as a lens, it is apparent that P!nk sets a new guide to social behavior by changing the way women act. The visuals in her video make this point apparent when she throws a glass of wine at a man who does not treat her right.

The color of her wine is symbolic. Red is a representation of her anger towards the man when he choses his cell phone call while they are about to kiss. Samhita, feminist and publisher of “Behind every strong man, there is an even stronger Beyonce,” and with vlogger, NineteenPercent, agree that gender wars are not over. Samhita illustrates that a video can obscure “the reality that women are far from running the world, instead we are often forced to make choices that are not really choices but conditions we are managing.” (Samhita, 5). P!nk breaks this norm because she does not manage the condition. Instead, she takes charge of the situation and boldly changes it. A kiss is suppose to be something intimate and personal, yet it is clear that he does not feel this way. She does not let this action go unpunished. By throwing the red wine, her action shows just how upset she is when the man’s phone takes priority over their kiss. Samhita and other feminists would praise P!nk for setting this example and standing up for herself. NineteenPercent would support P!nk’s action because she believes that only actions will resolve problems. She thinks that women are a long way away from being equal to men and that women must take charge of the situation. Similarly, when the cell phone seen as more important than P!nk, she decides to change this and demonstrates that he is not good enough for her. She holds herself on a higher level than him. NineteenPercent also believes that some girl power anthems provide women with a false sense of achievement because they do not take action. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” does not fit this standard. She realizes that she deserves better and he pays the consequence of his action. This is exactly what P!nk demonstrates through negative sanctions. On the other hand, it could be argued that P!nk is showing too much dependance on men. Throughout the video, she is constantly trying to find a new man to replace the old one. However, by doing this she is setting the example that men don’t bring happiness and fulfillment, which is what she is looking for. This video shows girls that being too dependent on men can lead to heartbreak and disappointment.

Moreover, Kidd claims that mass media such as “Blow Me (One Last Kiss),” is a form of popular culture. This video sends the message that girls should stand up for themselves. As a result, this can develop a norm. Women know what to do in a situation like this because they see it in the video. Kidd relates to this using the example of fashion. He explains, “I know what to wear when I see it advertised on television and in magazines where these norms of fashion are presented” (Kidd, 75). Likewise, this video introduces a new norm of women taking action that justifies their values. By throwing the wine, P!nk’s uses this bold action to help her viewers express an emotion through something they might not actually do. NineteenPercent might disagree with this action because it is fake, and people would not do this in real life. This action does not help women in the long run. However, Natasha would argue that any form of female empowerment can start with the internal decision of women to be empowered.

In addition, P!nk uses her music, visuals, lyrics and context to reinforce her message. Kidd argues that norms are need to be reinforced. Continuing to use fashion as an example, he explains that film, actors, and musicians that advertise this norm, reinforce it. For example, P!nk uses drums in her music because their hard hitting sound projects a sense of power and energy. She also uses her facial expressions to relay emotion. In the video, she goes through a series of emotions, as seen in the picture above. Her expressions help the video’s storyline because it shows her reaction to a conflict which helps the viewer know what P!nk is thinking. Relating this back to Kidd, P!nk is displaying what is and is not a good social behavior. This video lets the viewers know what is a norm by how she reacts to people and by how people react to her. When their reactions are not the same, it is clear that a norm was broken. In the wine example, she get a look of disgust of her face as he check his phone. As a viewer, we know that him checking his phone is the source of her anger. Her emotions as seen in her facial expressions provide the viewer with a sense of what is acceptable and what is not.

“Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” paves way to social change. P!nk is a feminist icon that uses her songs to express the way she feels while tampering with the ideas of others. She does this in “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” primarily through visuals. One example of how P!nk portrays feminism through her video is in her clothing choice.

She stands out from everyone else and is not afraid to be herself and express her feelings. In one scene, she wears black to a wedding as if she was at a funeral. Not only does this make her stand out, but it shows her protesting the marriage. In doing so, P!nk is breaking social norms to make a bold statement. In addition, when red paint explodes on the wedding, she dances while everyone else is upset. Given P!nk’s overall theme, this could be because she finally got revenge from being scorned or she sees the karma in life. Overall, P!nk’s song promotes female empowerment by using actions to solve her problems and not giving up. P!nk’s song stands out from other songs because it promotes girls to not give up whereas songs such as “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum advocate sorrow and crying.

Although P!nk is a feminist, some critics might not view her as so. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” uses the male gaze in many scenes. Feminists feel that women should not use their body’s appeal to get their point across, yet this is exactly what P!nk does in her video. In order to attract a man, she takes off her long dress, and wears more revealing clothing. As a result, she gets the attention she was looking for. Multiple concerns can be formed around P!nk in this scene. For example, Samhita believes videos that reveal the singer as sexy do not help women to progress.

She believes that girls empowerment does not come from her body. However, later in the video, the same man leaves her for another girl. Although feminists may protest to P!nk using her body to get a man’s attention, the overall lesson is that nothing good can come from it. Therefore, the video sends the message that girls should not depend on their looks to get what they want, which is what feminists advocate. Over all, Girl Power Anthems such as this lead way to social change in feminism by projecting a sense of empowerment over men.

In today’s society, women’s self esteem rely heavily on their body image. Mass media tells women what to wear, and how they should look. Magazines, commercials and internet ad’s constantly show new diets to help women lose weight. Samhita justifies, “girl’s empowerment …has become increasingly commodified in the mainstream media. Grrl power is often a pop culture tool used to encourage female buy in to mainstream product.” (Samhita, 5). The video itself might not promote female empowerment, but instead is just used to advertise P!nk’s albums, concerts, and merchandise. Parallel to this, Kidd claims that that, “Popular culture is found in all societies in which capitalism has advanced far enough to include the commodification of culture” (Kidd, 72). “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” can be a part of commercial culture while still empowering women as a Girl Power Anthem. Singer’s such as P!nk use their fame and fortune to be influential. Because P!nk is so popular, she is able to reach out and positively influence her fans. In doing so, her concept of female empowerment produces a social change in her audience.

Singer, song writer, and feminist icon, P!nk, caught America’s attention with the release of her song “Blow Me (One Last Kiss).” It empowers women but is more remarkable in the way it provokes changes in social norms and paves a way to social change with women. As a result, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” can be considered a cultural artifact that expresses female empowerment. Although many critics can argue that P!nk is not a feminist, her overall message supports the idea that women are strong and can overcome any obstacle. “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)” further advocates feminism because the video’s story line encourages girls to be more confident and stand up for what they want. It is very relatable to younger girls who are having a difficult time after a break up. In the end, P!nk shows that good things don’t come to those who wait, but those who work for what they want, even through trying times. She doesn’t collapse even though the weight of the world may feel like it is crushing her. Instead she stands strong through emotional times and encourages other women to do the same.

Heather Curran

Works Cited

Allen, Robert Clyde. “Ideological Analysis and Television.” Channels of Discourse, Reassembled Television and Contemporary Criticism. 2nd ed. Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina, 1992. 161–173. Print.

Griswold, Wendy. “A Methodological Framework for the Sociology of Culture.” Academia.edu. University of Chicago, 1 Jan. 1987. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. http://www.academia.edu/1086406/A_methodological_framework_for_the_sociology_of_culture.

Kidd, Dustin. “Harry Potter And The Functions Of Popular Culture.” The Journal of Popular Culture 40.1 (2007): 69–89. Print.

Moore, Alecia. “P!nk — Blow Me (One Last Kiss).” YouTube. YouTube, 26 July 2012. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jNlIGDRkvQ.

NineteenPercent. ”Beyonce- Run the World (LIES).” YouTube. YouTube, 20 May 2011. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p72UqyVPj54

Samhita. ”Behind Every Strong Man, There Is an Even Stronger Beyonce.” Behind Every Strong Man, There Is an Even Stronger Beyonce. Feministing, 24 May 2011. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.http://feministing.com/2011/05/24/behind-every-strong-man-there-is-an-even-stronger- beyonce/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p72UqyVPj54.

Theory, Natasha. “Why I Like My Feminism Gray…” The BeGirl Manifesta. WordPress.com, 23 May 2011. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. http://begirlmanifesta.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/why-i- like-my-feminism-gray/#wrap