Nine Sixteenths
by Paula Varjack
In 2004, in the SuperBowl halftime show finale, 23 year old Justin Timberlake ripped off 37 year old Janet Jackson’s top. Her breast was exposed on screen for nine sixteenths of a second. A pop icon and role model for many black women, and an outspoken ally for the LGBTQ community, the moment derailed Jackson’s career for many years, while Timberlake’s thrived.
Who was invested in the backlash? What does all this have to say about the demographics of who controls the media, and the ways in which black women are scrutinised in the public eye?
From THE MALFUNCTION to THE AFTERMATH and a celebration of RECLAMATION, Nine Sixteenths is a journey through 3 acts, exploring themes of representation and pop culture with a nostalgia for the early 00’s, and the hopes and dreams of 4 black female performers through a visual variety of devised theatre, dance and lip sync.
The show contains integrated BSL.
Content warnings: Strong language and references to sexism and racism.
Age guidance: 12+
Running time: 70 mins approx. (no interval)
“A fast fun multi-media look at iconic black female role models”
“Varjack’s work allows for the reclamation of the pride and power that Jackson held”
“Entertaining with an eye for prejudice”
