I’m not much of a fan of CCM (mainstream Christian music) in the first place. But I haven’t entirely thrown the baby out with the bath water. There are some phenomenal Christian artists who God uses to engage my heart in worship. I’m grateful for music with biblical lyrics that encourage my walk with Jesus.
But there is something I’ve noticed with the promotion of female artists that really annoys me. Here is another one of those areas where I believe CCM follows culture a bit too much.
Let’s take a look at a few album covers by some of the top selling Christian male artists:
Here Matt Maher is apparently marking off his steps to measure the distance of his makeshift football field on top of a roof somewhere.
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Michael W. Smith, obviously a guy in deep thought about music.
Here is Jeremy Camp obviously watching a slug in a salt ring.
Notice something about these pictures. They are simple photos that you’d expect in any type of artistic photo shoot. They clearly aren’t glamour shots intended to attract people by their level of hotness.
Now consider a few album covers of top female artists:
Notice the positioning of the left arm. Can you imagine a Christian male artist posing in this fashion? What is this meant to evoke?
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I’m not really sure what is going on here. But consider this tip from a professional photographer for adding sex appeal: “Have the model sit on the edge of a chair and arch their back. This gives the appearance of a long, sleek body which will add sexuality to a photo.” Something tells me they never asked Big Daddy Weave to sit on a chair this way…
Contrast this JJ Heller album with the Michael W. Smith album. Are we led to believe that she’s going to perform a trick while she plays the piano—or is she going to hop up on it and give us a Marilyn Monroe impersonation? One seems to be saying—”this dude likes music and plays the piano, he’s serious about his craft”. The other is saying, “Look this attractive woman can do piano tricks”.
I’m not trying to say that every female album cover is designed with sex appeal in mind. There are many of them that look similar to the album covers of guys. But far too many seem to be selling the woman rather than her music. You don’t see this with male artists, their music seems to be enough.
This bothers me. Am I alone in this?
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No disrespect is meant to any of the female artists represented here. My beef is with the CCM music industry and how they, in my opinion, are using sex appeal with female artists and they shouldn’t be. As I tweeted the other day, I want to know if she can sing and that she loves Jesus—I could care less how well she straddles a chair.
I never noticed this because I don’t really listen to CCM, but you’re so right!
I’m sorry, but I don’t even know how to respond to your statement that JJ Heller’s or Rebecca St James’ covers are suggestive. I don’t particularly like Nicole Nordman’s cover but I don’t find it “sexy”. Heller is in a relaxed pose with her instrument and she isn’t wearing anything suggestive. Rebecca St James appears to be looking out an open sliding glass door with her arm rested against the frame and she is also dressed very modestly. These are relaxed poses that I have used when being “sexy” is the last thing on my mind. But it doesn’t seem like that’s the last thing on your mind.
I have followed your blog for quite a few months and enjoy reading what you write. But frankly, I’m thankful I don’t know you in person. I would hate to feel that how I stand or cross my arms would be viewed as suggestive. Also, given that you admit to not being a fan of CCM, I can’t help but wonder how small your sampling was to lead you to the conclusion that female CCM artist are being marketed using sex appeal. And these were the best examples you could find?
Deb,
First of all, thanks for your readership. Secondly, I’m not trying to say that it is as bad as it could be. Nor am I saying that these photos somehow appeal to me sexually or something. As you said if RBJ was standing this way in person I don’t think it’d be a big deal. I’m not even saying necessarily that these are over the top sexual…but I’m saying the way they have ladies pose is different than how they have men pose.
You are free to disagree but please don’t assume I’m some pervert just because I happen to know a bit about photography.
I like your sense of humor in describing the guy album covers…. But I’m gonna have to agree with Deb on this one. I have seen a few album covers in the past that I thought were a little suggestive. But these examples seem pretty innocent to me. There are probably a lot of issues with CCM that could be addressed, but I think this issue falls pretty low on the list.
(In defense of Deb, she didn’t call you a perve….)
I’m convinced that I’m just not communicating well. I’m not trying to say that any of these covers are overly sexual (though the Nichole Nordeman one gets a bit close to the line in my opinion). But there are ways that advertisers and photographers position the human body to communicate certain things. Maybe sex appeal isn’t even the correct word…perhaps that is the problem.
My simple point is this. Find me album covers of guys posed in similar ways. I don’t believe you will. It seems to me (and I could be wrong) that female artists have to do a little bit more than male artists in this pictures. Guys can get away with standing on a dock and staring off into the middle distance…female artists don’t. That’s my point…and I’m trying to say that I believe this standard is demeaning to female artists as if their music isn’t enough. That’s it.