Beyonce and Baartman

The other portion of my argument that I forgot in class this morning was that there is such a difference between power and control in both situations. Baartman was powerless, and forced to be on display for Europeans who wanted to ensure their superiority through her. Also, the fact that she was forced to say things in court in the defense of her abusive owners proves her powerlessness. On the other hand, Beyonce uses the power she has and in a way "stares back" at the audience. She asserts that her body is beautiful, but more in the context that she is sexually desirable and empowered through that. The video has a strange mixture of this empowerment and sexual imagery, the latter most likely a result of the rest of the industry at the time and societal concerns. I realize now that both of my arguments sort of conflict, and that there is some basis for comparison, but it's difficult to place. Mostly I find it hard to compare them because Baartman was regarded as a freak, but Beyoncé is considered conventionally beautiful and sexy, someone women desired to look like and men wanted to be with. This is what makes it truly different and almost frustrating in my mind.