Comments on: Yoko Ono: A Feminist Analysis (Addendum: Just Like Starting Over)

By: Jim Magary

Jim Magary — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:16:40 +0000

Great writing on Yoko. I’ve been defending her for years. People get angry with me when I try to tell them that by the time John died, Yoko’s music was actually cooler and more cutting edge than his. “Every Man has a Woman” is just brilliant.

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:28:42 +0000

I realize that I’ve come upon this nearly a year after you completed it, but I needed to post a comment nonetheless. This series was absolutely incredible. Although I’ve never carried the degree of hatred toward Yoko that you’ve described throughout this series (the Facebook page you mentioned is vulgar, hideous and disgusting), I admit that I often sit on the fence in my opinions about her. I’m not a first gen Beatles fan. I became a fan in 1979, and I am so grateful that I was able to be aware of John and love him (he’s been my favorite Beatle from almost the start, once I stopped being terrified of him, typical of a 13-year-old girl, I suppose, since he was the most…unsettling of the four) and know that he was a part of this world at the same time that I was.

I learned about Yoko after reading Cynthia’s first book, the first Beatles book I EVER read. I hadn’t even known of her existence until then, and I certainly had no knowledge of how vilified she had been for such a long while, and how the other Beatles reacted to her presence in their friend’s life. I reserved judgment, even at 13 unwilling to simply “take the public’s word” on her. Over the years I’ve admittedly been confused and angered by some of her actions and decisions, but at the same time, I respect her a great deal, even if I don’t always “like what she’s doing.” She is a complex, contradictory person, just as her husband was, and that’s one of the reasons why I adore him the way that I do. She’s flawed, imperfect, just as her husband was, and he has been revered for being so confessional about his flaws and imperfections.

I still believe that her two biggest transgressions are her treatment of Julian and how she often deliberately downplays the Beatles in John’s musical history, something that I simply don’t understand and likely never will. But we are all on the outside, and even though we hear a great deal via the media, there is no way that we will ever be privileged to the full story, just as no one who isn’t living my life would never be aware of the full story, the subtleties, no matter how much I might share with those close to me.

This is long overdue. And I think it’s essential reading for any fan of John’s. Even though I have always approached Yoko with an open mind, I learned things from this series that are making me stop and think, and making me re-examine my own perception of Yoko, a perception that has hardly been negative and derogatory.

Bravo, Cara. Thank you so much.

By: DaisyDeadhead

DaisyDeadhead — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:46:46 +0000

trackback- What I feel, I can't say, but my love is there for you anytime of day...

By: Yasmin

Yasmin — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:56:31 +0000

I had no idea Yoko was such an interesting, fascinating person. I learned a lot. Thanks, Cara.

By: Cara

Cara — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:48:24 +0000

Probably the same reason that you can’t hold John accountable for his, Todd.

If Yoko “interjected herself into John’s work,” as I already made clear in the series which I bet you didn’t read, it was because he invited her. If anyone is to blame for the fact that Yoko was there, and if you really do believe that Yoko’s presence broke up the band? It’s because of John.

But I know. It’s John Fucking Lennon! Can’t hold him accountable. Better blame Yoko.

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:42:38 +0000

Maybe it wasn’t that she was a woman. Maybe, JUST MAYBE, people disliked her because she made random noises and called it art. Maybe they dislike her because she interjected herself into John’s work, where she wasn’t invited by the band. Why can’t we hold her accountable for her actions?

By: Cara

Cara — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:18:00 +0000

Thanks, Kaja! After a really stressful week, that just made my night :)

By: Kaja

Kaja — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:00:05 +0000

I came across this post rather late, it seems, but I wanted to thank you for writing such an insightful and brilliant takedown–and for introducing me to an amazing artist. Until I read this series, I’d been thinking of Yoko entirely in terms of her relationship to John/The Beatles (though not hating her), and you’ve pushed me to go and take a look at her own body of work. Thanks for the reminder to look beyond the relationship and see a powerful woman on her own terms.

By: Liz Henry

Liz Henry — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:50:23 +0000

I agree with you that Yoko is fucking awesome for her weird performance art!

By: Morgaine

Morgaine — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:31:26 +0000

I just wanted to say that I loved this series. I never understood the Yoko hatred. I always thought she was a beautiful striking woman and that she made John Lennon happy. I didn’t know a lot of the things you brought up in this series, either. It was a fascinating read. Thank you!

BTW, did you know that you can report Facebook groups for defamation? I went and reported a few of the Yoko hating ones after reading this series.