How Lana del Rey's Use Of 'Lolita' In Her Music Is Misused | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

How Lana del Rey's Use Of 'Lolita' In Her Music Is Misused

"Light of my life, fire of my loins, give me them gold coins, give me them coins."

17201
How Lana del Rey's Use Of 'Lolita' In Her Music Is Misused

Lana del Rey is a very well known American singer, songwriter, and model. Her image is a combination of innocence and sex appeal, like many of the themes of her songs. Particularly her album "Born To Die" focuses on the subject of young girls' exiting childhood, and being introduced to adult themes such as drinking and having a sexual interest in older men. Another source of context that focuses on young girls and sexual relations with older men is Vladimir Nabokov's infamous novel Lolita. Lana uses this book as a point of reference in many of her songs in "Born To Die." Here's a list of five songs off the album that uses the same themes that I've listen to and I've summed up what each song is about (Songs is linked for your own listening pleasure).

"This Is What Makes Us Girls"

(Young girls who are partying too hard)

"Cola"

(Young girl who has a relationship with an older, married man)

"Gods and Monsters"

(Young girl losing her innocence)

Lolita

(Young girl exiting childhood too early)

"Off to The Races"

(Entire song references the novel of Lolita)

Lana's own youth, around the age of 16, was filled with drinking and older men, which she has discussed in interviews. It seems that Lana is comparing herself to the character of Lolita. Which, to anyone who has ever read the novel, is completely twisted and wrong. These songs are incredible and are just a fantastic example of Lana's talent, but is misinterpreting the themes behind "Lolita" completely. Lana is not the only one to be blamed for the misuse of the story though. Stanley Kubrick's 1962 version, and Adrian Lyne's 1997 version, depict the character of Lolita in a similar way.


(1962, 1997)

Both these movies show Lolita as someone that Lana herself can relate to, a seductive and misunderstood 16 year old girl. Both girls that portray Lolita look older and have this tempting nature to them that the protagonist in the stories, Humbert Humbert, cannot resist. In both movies they tease and seduce him, and we as an audience see this and view Humbert as the victim, because the set up is that this young woman is making him think these perverse thoughts about her. Just as a critique to the movies and the viewers as well, she's 16 in both the movies, which still on legal terms statutory rape. However the directors have her displayed in such a manner, that the audience forgets her age, but only see her as a sexual object. That in itself is wrong, but the themes within the novel are worse.

In pop culture, we hear the name "Lolita," and think we are referencing a young seductress who is interested in older men. For someone who hasn't read the book, that is an easy assumption to make, but you'd think Kubrick, Lyne, or Lana would have read the book. You'd think these three people who have arguably been the main contributors to bringing a novel written in 1955, into mainstream culture, would know the story. In all of their interpretations they have decided that Lolita the character is around the age of 16, when they are in fact wrong. Throughout the novel is is between the ages of 12 to 14. She is a child in the story, a mere preteen, who enters a toxic relationship with her stepfather after the death of her mother. In the story, Lolita, like any child going through puberty, is highly interested in sex, and Humbert, the 40 something year old adult, takes advantage of that with his perverse mind and actions toward her. The novel is not about a 16 year old that seduces her mother's husband, it's about a confused child that is corrupted (Humbert acts as a father and a lover to her throughout the novel) and lied to (After the death of her mother, Humbert takes Lolita on an exciting road trip without telling her what had happened until later on). Only when she begins to realize the situations she has been placed into, at 14, she tries to escape Humbert with literally no where else to turn to. So most of her sexual relationship with Humbert occurs when she is 12 to 13. One of the reason's I find this novel so interesting is it is told from the perspective of Humbert, so the reader is forced to see things through his perspective with the knowledge of how sick his mindset is. Apparently not everyone got that message.

So despite the image of Lolita herself being twisted, Lana depicts her as a rebellious teenager, and the directors use her as a seductress; the main issue here is the representation of her age. If the directors had casted someone who looked to be the proper age of Lolita in the novel, there would be a very different perception of the character. As much as someone wants to describe Lolita as all the things that these famous figures have, it's most important to remember that the character is 12. Not even a teenager within the novel when she experiences all these events, but still a child. As a reader you should hold on to this fact when you hear the name "Lolita," and begin to think anything sexual.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl
Pexels

In case you're unaware, "resting bitch face" is the term used to describe when a person's natural, expressionless face makes it look like they are mad at the world. Whether they are walking down the street or simply spacing out thinking about what to eat for dinner, it's very easy for others to assume that this person is either upset or mad at them. Because of this, those of us with Resting Bitch Face (RBF), and especially us women, have all experienced many of the same situations and conversations, including:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

The Stages Of A Crush As Told By The Cast of "Bob's Burgers"

We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

1122
my heart just pooped its pants
Google

We've all had a crush before. Whether it leads to something or nothing, the process has all been the same. The awkward feelings, the stalking, and the stress of trying to keep this huge secret. The feeling of becoming a total spazz is something that cannot be avoided, and the most spazzy family that can relate to this feeling is the Belcher's.

Keep Reading...Show less
you didnt come this far to only come this far lighted text
Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash

At the tender age of 18, we are bestowed with the title of “adult.” For 17 years, we live under the rules and guidelines of our parents, school, and government, and to stray from any of those rules or guidelines marks us as a rebel. At 18, though, we must choose which college we want to go to or what career we want. We are allowed and encouraged to vote. We can buy lottery tickets and cigarettes. We can drop out of school, leave our household, and do other "adult" things. At 18, we start down a path of thinking for ourselves, when for the entirety of our lives other institutions have been mandated to think and do for us.

Keep Reading...Show less
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1963
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments