Totally hysterical clip from 2005 and for me the proof that Britney has an ironical distance to what she's doing -love it! Nice: The pink flying jeep. Big mov here
         

Weird, never seen that. It was apparently co-directed by Britney herself (as, er, Mona Lisa). Actually better than some of her other vids..

         

you're right, kev - I should update that ...

         

There's actually a pretty funny Mona Lisa easter egg 7 seconds into the video.

As for the ironic distance thing, I can see what you mean. A lot of her expressions are so over the top and campy that they look like intentional self parody (throwing her cash in the air :34, the spin move at 1:12, popping her collar 1:17). I say they're not. I think if Britney Spears thinks it's cool to go to the club dressed in a pink fur shawl, a cut-off love boat shirt and pants with one leg rolled up, then she's probably unaware of how much she looks like an idiot. I think practically everything Britney has done since 2004 has proved this. Here’s another take on it.

         

"Britney has an ironical distance to what she's doing" lol

         

something tells me her girls at the end don't really know how to play those instruments...

but yeah this does sort of feel like the American equivalent of those cheesy-and-hilarious J-Pop music videos.

         

What is an ironical distance of a popstar to what she (or he) is doing? If there are fans of this popstar who have this distance, who think "oh my god, she's so over the top!" - then I think this distance is part of the pop of the popstar and so it is part of the popstar. Does Kylie have an ironical distance to what she's doing? Watch her in her showgirl-tour (here) which was maybe the most over-the-top-tour ever- does she have a distance? Hope she has. Does she count on fans who have it? I'm sure she does. And we have to count on Britney being more intelligent then we're thinking she is and that she has at least a financial reason to count on ironic fans. I guess I'm one of them. (Maybe just let me my own distance and the illusion she, Britney, has it too) ...

         

That Esquire article is chasing its tail. Analyzing Britney Spears as a postmodern feminist is unwise, for if she is she is vastly unsuccessful, or, more likely, she is a clear symbol of postmodernism's very awkward death or, at the very least, sublimation. (Even Beck's feeling the pressure..)

"Britney: Well, some people might say it's just to make money and sell magazines. But another reason—a better reason, and the one I choose—is that they do it to inspire people."

         

Spreech - "And we have to count on Britney being more intelligent then we're thinking she is"

Watch this!

www.thesuperficial.com

         

...treading water in a sea of retarded sexuality.

         

So far as pop divas go I would classify Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera and Madonna as "self-aware." Meaning that they're hyper-conscious of how the they present themselves public and remain more or less in control of their image (Madonna obnoxiously so). Kylie is a maybe.
Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Fergie I would classify as "un-aware."
It would be interesting to find out exactly who was behind Britney's most provocative/important moment's from back in the prime of career (Her VMA "No Satisfaction" and "Madonna Kiss" performances, her virginity claims, her video outfits etc.). Chances are you would find everything was heavily manipulated by outside forces. I think she has no idea how stupid she looks in this video, she's not trying to be ironic or tongue-in-cheek. I do like the J-pop comparison though, I wonder what other cultures must think of this video. But that's just my opinion. I think I'll go watch the toxic video again now.

         

I agree on Miss, Madonna & Christina on being self-aware. I would add Kylie. I'm close to give up my thesis that Britney is self-aware - BUT! - at least she has humor & almost self-humor. Ever watched her in punkd? - otherwise watch it here: www.youtube.com

• I don's agree on J Lo being self-un-aware. She is so stupid, she has no awareness on anything in the world.
• watching "toxic" again is great, I'm gonna send it on yousendit again and update the post: videos.antville.org
• just gimme a second for that ...

         

I have no argument on Madonna's self-awareness I can not fail to note however, her sumwot challenged perception, that projecting a slutty or trampy image is akin to modelling as sum sort ov anorexic member ov the 'Fat Slags''

         

Actually dis is more like wot I meant 'Fat Slags pix'