Ariana Grande and the Question of ‘Too Woke’

In the 'Stuff Mom Never Told You' podcast episode titled 'Ariana Grande and the Question of 'Too Woke',' hosts Annie and guest co-host Miranda delve into the complexities of pop culture, social awareness, and the potential pitfalls of being 'too woke.' The conversation begins with Miranda's interest in discussing Ariana Grande, particularly in light of the controversy surrounding Grande's 'Thank U, Next' music video. Despite Annie's admitted unfamiliarity with Grande's work, they both recognize the singer's ubiquitous presence in the media and the timeliness of the topic. The episode aims to dissect the concept of 'wokeness,' its origins, and its evolution from a term rooted in black activism to one that has been co-opted, diluted, and sometimes mocked in mainstream culture.

The hosts explore the term 'woke,' tracing its history from Erykah Badu's 2008 song 'Master Teacher' to its adoption in response to social injustices like the death of Trayvon Martin. They discuss how 'woke' has been used in various contexts, often to express outrage or solidarity with marginalized communities. However, the term's meaning has fractured over time, leading to its use in trivial or contradictory ways. The episode then ties this conversation back to Ariana Grande by examining a think piece that criticized her 'Thank U, Next' music video for being 'surprisingly anti-queer.' The article in question, which was later removed, had drawn ire and accusations of reaching too far in its analysis.

Miranda and Annie discuss specific allegations made in the original think piece, such as queer antagonism, queer phobia, trans misogyny, and blackface. They dissect each point, referencing responses from the LGBTQ community and other artists who found the criticisms unfounded. A rebuttal piece by another author, Kent, is also explored, which argues that the original article lacked context, evidence, and a nuanced understanding of the cultural references in Grande's video. Kent's article asserts that while some points, like digital blackface, warrant discussion, others are a stretch and do not hold up to scrutiny.