I went in The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears I think I’ll see what they have to say, but what is this documentary really going to tell me that I do not yet know? I was a teenager at the height of her success and MTVs Total request live was to me nothing less than a formative experience. I have a navel piercing. I traveled through the country to see the Las Vegas accommodation. I may not be bold enough to call myself an expert, but if I were a trivia night and the subject was Britney Spears, I am confident I would have the round on lock. And then I watched this documentary, and it changed everything I think I know.
It’s not so much Framed by Britney Spears taught me a ton I had not yet known about her career, but the holy hell it opened my eyes and especially saw the events of 20 years ago through the lens of today. I will admit that I was also quite skeptical about the #FreeBritney movement. Sometimes it feels out of proportion or a little dramatic, and we all know how dangerous conspiracy theories are spreading on the internet today. But my mind has definitely moved on the matter, and it not only feels more legitimate and urgent than ever before, but another example that, despite the song on her 2000 album, What U See Maybe not always what you get.
This document immediately confirms its credibility with the inclusion of Felicia Culotta, or Fe, as Britney fans will already know her. It is especially noteworthy that she takes us into her life today as well as her career at Britney and how it has changed over the years while remaining her shiny, cheerful, optimistic self and never making straight or damning claims in one direction or the other . She makes it clear that her participation in the documentary is to ‘remind people why they fell in love with her in the first place’, and she succeeds a lot in that.
However, what does not take long to become crystal clear is that we, the people, have failed Britney. Similar to last month Tiger documentary, this one is a raw and brutal exploration of fame in america and exactly what a dangerous game that always turns out to be. If anything, this story is even more messy and definitely more worrisome. Britney has not had her return yet. Although that’s what this special reveals, the key may be to help her achieve it.
While early moments provide first-hand reports suggesting that Britney was not the puppet in the early stages of her career, it becomes cool to see how the media, and therefore all of us, treated this young woman. The misogyny in the early 2000s will make your stomach sick. That journalists (often male, natch) find it within their right to ask such curious and private questions about her breasts, body and virginity is disgusting. But we ate it then. Ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake is always an easy target, but he was also implicated here, at the beginning of his solo career when he desperately wanted to be accepted, via a grip of him making a stupid comment on a radio program – one that does not go unnoticed today. Britney was judged for every single choice she made and no one seemed to hold back. When Kendel Ehrlich, wife of the former governor of Maryland, said bluntly that she would do it shoot Britney, the pop star’s instinctive and innocent response to “ew” is as genuine and concise as it gets. This documentary shows more than one interview where Britney bursts into tears and I think we just … watched?
Her downfall is accurately chronicled as the indifferent circus it was, but due to the fast-paced sequence of tracks, viewers can watch the light leave her eyes. It was there at the beginning of the Kevin Federline relationship, but in the end, along with her hair, it’s gone.
In addition to Felicia, those who have worked with Britney at the height of her career include Decider Pal and former MTV VJ Dave Holmes, as well as New York Times editors, music and media professionals, paparazzi and lawyers . They all paint a picture that is really very difficult not to feel guilty about. Even though we did not contribute directly, we did not help when she clearly called for it. As a fan, I feel involved. The images of the night with the umbrella are difficult to look at, but impossible to look away. I remember I was in the Bahamas during the spring break at the time and saw that image on the cover of a tabloid newspaper in a small market where you may not thumb magazines unless you bought them. Imagine walking away from that image! But I have. I could not believe it was true and neither want to believe that it was true. And I can not believe we have achieved that up to that point.
But we have, and Framed by Britney Spears explains exactly why: it is likely that Britney suffered from a severe case of post-partum depression, but we just went to her shaved head and laughed at the numerous jokes about it. It says it all about the treatment of women, the most famous in America, and it will definitely make you wonder: what did we hope to achieve from this? What did we expect the outcome to be? Why did we not help? And what can we do to compensate her now?
Enter Britney’s father, Jamie Spears, who begins to get involved when her health is as fragile as ever before, and as the documentary suggests, probably for his own financial interests. That’s when the conservatory started. Framed by Britney Spears provides context for Jamie’s interest and involvement in his daughter’s lifelong career that has so far not been so explicitly stated. The lawyers here, with some involvement on both Britney’s and Jamie’s side, do an excellent job of thoroughly explaining specific elements of a conservatory case, while also emphasizing what a major legal impact this one could have for years to come – both on her life. and in future cases as well. Fans concerned about her safety and freedom as part of the #FreeBritney campaign are also being lined up outside the courthouse, showing off their support with homemade neon pink signs.
The one thing this heartbreaking, furious and eye-catching documentary knows for sure is that this moment is and should be a wake-up call. You will hear the expression “we do not know what we do not know” more than once and that is really and unfortunately the true fact. We do not know what her current state of mind is today – we only know what it was, what we hope for and what the potential is. We can not know for sure whether Jamie’s control is detrimental, although there is little to suggest that it is necessary or beneficial. We do know that there needs to be an agreement that feels safe and satisfying for Britney, her father and her fans.
The documentary also wisely addresses her Instagram, which is regularly analyzed for clues about her well-being, her desires and her current stability. I want to believe the selfies and the dance and the “Q & As” and the fashion modeling videos, and the random, captions, emoji-filled captions are those of a contented and even happy woman. But please know that it will be a great challenge to cling to this belief after looking at it.
Framed by Britney Spears is a must-see not only for Britney fans but also for anyone with even the slightest interest in modern pop culture. It offers just as many questions as it answers, and maybe it’s up to us to lead the conversation or demonstrations outside the courthouse after we have watched it. It is impossible to come forward without having extreme feelings of guilt about the way she has been treated, growing over what we now consider acceptable (although there is still a lot of work to do), and ultimately an urgency for this unique situation. . This document can and should inspire very important conversations in the legal, music and media industries. Framed by Britney Spears is entertaining to watch, but even more than that, it’s shocking and hopefully motivating.
#FreeBritney
Current The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears on FX and Hulu