Britney Spears, the Bubbly Shark

Tom Perrotta poses a challenge to take a second look into the stardom of Britney Spears. Forget the glances in passing by and ask yourself who Britney is, could she possibly be the music icon, the American icon of our 90’s youth? Tom cleverly places Spears into the arenas of widely accepted and ground breaking artists, such as Elvis, Madonna and Kurt Cobain. Britney places balance in the scales with Madonna, as an opposition to Madonna’s sex-driven-for-religion success. Sitting face to face with Madonna, Britney carried her musical success in a loose, light grip on morality, religious founding and enshrined virginity. Why do I feel dirty mentioning her exposed bubbly flower-print panties? It does appear the unveiled undergarments brought her attention in the same manner Elvis was set before conservative inquiry regarding his attention-getting leg shake. Both, Elvis and Britney persevered to successful and arousing musical endeavors with an easy claim to innocence, to which I imagine the white-head protectors of good morals shaking their heads in disbelief, gauntlet cocked, but with no stiff leg to stand on. Britney Spears verse Kurt Cobain, from where did this comparison gurgle-up? In the early 90’s, Kurt Cobain marred the country with his catchy, prefect timing rip into the music scene. Kurt appealed to the hearts and souls of generations fighting their way thru recession and war. By the end of the 90’s, the pounding overseas and dip in the American pocketbook had subsided. Mark time for entrance, Britney Spears. Britney launched the fireworks for pop music lovers and all who craved departure from war and a return to profitable investments. The stage is fresh and colorful with an abundance of happy thoughts. Who cares what she is singing, it makes me feel good.

When you look at a bubble, noticing all the iridescent colors refracted from the sun and swirling in hippie fashion, do you wonder or even care what holds the spherical shape so perfectly? Most people would not have the slightest interest in a bubble past its trancing visual appeal. Tom Perrotta decided to step back and wonder for a moment. In his “The Cosmic Significance of Britney Spears,” Tom brings us some insight into the substance behind the shell of Britney Spear’s bubble as a late 90’s musical icon. “But there’s more to Britney than that, isn’t there? Isn’t there?” (568), if you are receptive to a head-bopping, people-pleasing blondie taking the stage as an American icon, consider Britney both a prodigy of her dear mother and Hollywood, as well as, modern America in iconical reflection. Britney successfully markets and sells her audience the imagery of the American Dream. She spreads testimonies of religious roots demanding she wait for her worthy husband, but in the meantime Britney casually delivers sensual teases, a bright smile and uplifting music. And certainly, her “most adorable abs in the universe” offer nice packaging for her image (568).

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In the “Taster’s Choice” moment from the movie, Good Will Hunting, Will (Matt Damon) is enlighteningly reprimanded for his presumptuous judgments founded mostly on book knowledge. Sean (Robin Williams), Will’s psychologist, declares Will “just a kid” and lacking substantial real-life experience. I declare Britney Spears’ iconic achievement to be apropos. Her climb in the charts of a highly competitive music market, at such a young age, must have started with her mother, Lynne. “The unintentionally revealing autobiography she cowrote with her mother” (570) - How much was written by Britney and are you curious as to what extent Lynne pressed influence into Britney’s words? Spears has presented a rehearsed image without too much detail, leaving the truth to be conjured by the presumptuous onlooker. Britney has the appeal and ability to captivate her audience and she played her role in simple form. “Like the rest of us, she makes do with simple pleasures… She’s just so pleasant and thoughtful; she wouldn’t want to do or say anything that might upset anyone” (570). All you have to do is like her, Britney tackles that challenge with continued success, and you get to imagine what great moral ground she stands on and how she is everything you always wanted to be, happy! Care-free, simple-minded and always able to enjoy the view, is how most Americans have viewed the young Britney Spears, and why not mention her having plenty of good life ahead?

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What is this seemingly perfect shell surrounding Britney Spears? Could it be the end result of a master-mind mother determined to provide her beloved daughter with as much opportunity as motherly possible? Consider the scenario, finding little Britney a phony and just as intellectually on her game as she is with her abs and fashion sense. Being someone overly concerned with your opinion of her and not able to pinpoint a specific movement she might represent, Britney could be outwitting us all. What a stealthy shark in the pond.

It seems Britney Spears could be a double American icon. She made the dreams of happy opportunity seem possible during a time America was returning to the notion of this being the land of opportunity. Britney just might be willing to do whatever it takes to keep her own dream alive and that is typical of great American success stories. Something tells me the school-girl image Britney’s early fame was hinged upon may not tell the whole story. In the end, whether Britney remains solely the 90’s icon of the time or she is able to break into a larger scale representation of American times, hangs in the balance, waiting for her next move.