
As of Feb. 26, the popular documentary Framing Britney Spears is available in Canada.ย
Iโd been ignorant to the realities of Spears’ personal and political life behind the scenes. She sang mildly catchy pop songs 20 years ago; thatโs all I needed to know.
However, unbeknownst to the majority of casual fans, the last 12 years of Spearsโ life have been anything but ordinary.
Britney Spears remains trapped under the conservatorship of her father, Jamie Spears. For the past 12 years of her life, she has been at the will of her father and those he decides to employ.
A conservatorship is typically appointed for those either physically or mentally incapable of managing their own finances and propertyโwhich is exactly what makes the Spearsโ case so baffling.
After watching the documentary, it becomes even more evident than already assumed that Spears is a highly-functioning human being, and one that by no means should qualify as a conservatee.
The film shines a light on the mismanagement of her career, along with the sheer abuse Spears was subjected to during the apex of her fame. She really didnโt have one minute alone.
It all changed once her children came along. A once bubbly and friendly face to local paparazzi quickly turned to a mother who simplyโand understandablyโwanted her space and privacy.
Throughout the movie, Spears is portrayed as a talented and intelligent pop star. Sheโs described as โapproachableโ by paparazzi and is even accounted driving around her hometown handing out $100 bills.
The first movie I immediately compared this to was Paris Hiltonโs This is Paris. Why I took the time to view both of these films at my own leisure, I cannot sayโbut it quickly becomes apparent which of the two is a more genuine, honest film.
Hiltonโs film is self-promotional. Of course I feel for the pain and trauma she went through as a child, but the intent of this YouTube Original documentary is glaringly obvious. Sheโs a DJ, everyone.
The documentary regarding Spears instead serves as an informative piece on how our once beloved pop star has fallen into such a dangerous conservatorship under her father.
Youโre made to feel empathetic, suddenly understanding exactly why Spears would willingly shave her head. โI donโt want anyone touching me,โ she said, in this regard. Itโs got nothing to do with lunacy;in fact, it might have been the sanest thing to do at the time.
Sheโd been smothered by paparazzi for years and would eventually lose her children over it. Itโs a symbol of cleansing, of a new person. Sheโs not that teeny-bopping popstar anymore, so leave her alone.
Spears was driven to her commonly-stated state of โinsanityโ by the aforementioned paparazzi. Eventually, she fought back, attacking a reporterโs truck with an umbrella. Soon after, she would check herself into rehab.
There was an evident downfall, we can see that, but it didnโt take long for Spears to pick herself up again.
The real question remains: โWhy is Britney Spears still under this conservatorship?โ Sheโs functioning, productive, successful and a hell of a lot more intelligent than people give her credit for.
Yet, her appeals have been denied. โIโm sad,โ said Spears in one of her brief and increasingly rare mentions of the conservatorship.
But I encourage you to make your own opinion. Does Spears still belong under said conservatorship? Was she driven to breaking the status quo or had she simply lost her mind?
I was pleasantly surprised by the pride and dignity Spears portrays throughout herโgranted, briefโexposures to todayโs media. Some say sheโs controlled by her father and his employees, others say sheโs free to do as she wishes.
The important thing is sheโs fighting, not only for her name, money and freedom; sheโs fighting for her independence. This fight is evident throughout the film, and however frightful it may be, itโs just as commendable.
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