Reified and Refined

oneweekoneband:

Björk - “I’ve Seen It All (Live at the Oscars 2001)”

In 2001, Björk appeared at the Oscars in a Swan Dress and laid an egg on the red carpet.*

She was there to sing “I’ve Seen It All” from the musical she did with Lars Von Trier, Dancer in the Dark. It was nominated for an Oscar (it lost to a Bob Dylan song). Predictably, Björk was criticized by the “media.” Noted intellectual luminary Cojo said her dress was “probably one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen.” It was called the “fashion faux pas” of the year. The consensus was that she was crazy. Joan Rivers said Björk needed to be put into “an asylum.”

The criticisms are not a one-off thing. Björk has been repeatedly characterized as crazy and kooky, and as elfish and deranged – even by her supporters. Von Trier said she was so crazy on set that she ate her costume. Aside from the fact that these descriptions are a standard way to diminish the power of female artists, what they do show is a basic distaste for art, except in its most sterilized forms.

Matthew Harris’ series on Bjork at oneweekoneband has been by turns deeply personal, broadly insightful, joyful, critical, and touching. More music writing like this, please.