American Doll, by Russ Rogers – Musings On a Song #1

January 6, 2011 Russ Rogers 0 Comments

The Repeal of the Military Policy, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” just passed.  Hooray! It was more than I thought this last lame duck Congress could get done.  The policy that forced members of our armed services to lie and hide who they are was outdated even before it was implemented 17 years ago.  It’s about time our Military began operating on a more honest and rational level.

For social conservatives the question of “Where are the Gays going to shower?” seems very important.  OK.  I understand.  The thought of homosexuality makes some uneasy, a little squeamish even.  It’s an attraction that they don’t understand, so it has to be wrong.  Get over it.  As Barney Frank told a conservative reporter from CNS News, “To accept the principle that homosexuals can’t shower with other people is a degree of discrimination that goes far beyond [‘don’t ask, don’t tell’]. We don’t get ourselves dry cleaned.”

“American Doll” written and recorded by Jason Morris.  Jason Morris was the runner up in the Masters of Song Fu 2 Songwriting Contest.  He spends time locked away in his studio, writing and recording songs. It doesn’t pay the bills, but he has a good time doing it. You can download Jason’s song, “American Doll,” and pay what you want!

“American Doll,” by Jason Morris is a great song.  It’s sweaty, gritty, nasty ROCK and ROLL!  It’s also about a fascination with a Love Doll.  And that’s a sexual attraction that I just don’t understand.

I don’t think that Love Dolls are even particularly healthy things.  It literally objectifies women.  (Or men, I guess there are also male sex dolls.)  It’s takes the idea of a “sex toy” to what is an uncomfortable anthropomorphic extreme.   Beyond that, for me the thought of a Silicone Love Doll is just oogy.  It makes me feel all squeamish inside.

Now, I haven’t seen the movie, “Lars and the Real Girl,” (2007) starring Ryan Gosling. But it got good reviews and I would like to.  It’s not a porn movie.  It’s a heart-warming, character-study of a social invalid who finds an odd way of coming out of his shell.

OK, I get it.   A life-sized Love Doll offers unconditional pseudo-companionship, with no questions and no reservations.  I can understand the appeal … in theory. But, like many modern conveniences, I can see how these things might be used as a substitute for real relationships.  And that’s sad.  That said, I have more respect for someone who treats their Love Doll like a Real Woman, than the guy who treats their Girlfriend or Wife like a Love Doll.

Now, Rule #34 states that whatever can be imagined, there is porn of it.  And I’m not such a moral relativist as to say, “Whatever turns you on is OK by me.”  Some things some people find sexy are just icky to me. But life is too short to try to legislate against everything that makes us squeamish. So, if you’re not hurting anybody, I won’t ask. And seriously, you don’t have to tell.

Russ Rogers is a songwriter, comedian and children’s entertainer.  He has a Childrens Show called Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree and has recently recorded an albums worth of more grown up songs in the duo Godz Poodlz. “Musing on a Song” will feature a different Creative Commons Copyright song each week. Hopefully this will introduce you to songs and artists with which you’ve been completely unfamiliar. I might take the time to talk directly about the song or the artist. Maybe even do an interview. But sometimes the song will just be a jumping off point or another way to illustrate the column. So, if you know of some Creative Commons Artist that deserves more attention, let me know in the comments. One more thing, I’m not in love with the title, “Musing on a Song.” If you’e got suggestions for a better title, please leave them in the comments.