Was J.Lo Too Sexy at the AMAs?

Jennifer Lopez's provocative performance during last week's American Music Awards left many viewers with two lingering questions: 1) Why was there a car on the stage, and 2) Where were her clothes? Robin Givhan writes in a piece for the Daily Beast that while the artist probably doesn't spend much time thinking about the cultural significance of her clothing choices, this one sent all the wrong messages: 

But her costume too closely resembled the glitter-encrusted bodysuits favored by Britney Spears -- a style that became a signature for the pop singer as she transitioned from tween star to adult performer. For Spears, the revealing bodysuit was an in-your-face display of bravado -- a loud proclamation of her sexuality. Coming from a young woman barely into adulthood, the stance was -- if not admirable -- at least not surprising.

On Lopez -- a 40-something accomplished performer who has regularly shown a more sophisticated, nuanced, and original take on sexuality and provocation -- the bodysuit was a disappointment. There was no finesse or thoughtfulness in that costume. Its sole purpose was to show off her figure: to her peers, to her fans, to her estranged husband Marc Anthony, who performed separately ... to herself. It spoke of insecurity rather than control, defensiveness instead of dynamism.

Almost without fail -- and for better or worse -- as Lopez’s star has risen, she has always owned her look. At the American Music Awards, she seemed to be borrowing a cliché.

Read more at the Daily Beast.

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