What norms does this text rely on or contest? (Lull, PowerPoint)
Does this representation function to reinforce oppression, to imagine new possibilities of identity expression, or both (Mayne)? Justify your answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skhxizRYxps
As said by Lull, “Hegemony is the power or dominance that one social group holds over another” (61). In this video, it is unmistakable that heterosexual males hold power over the women. The women are completely objectified and viewed solely as sexual objects there for the entertainment of men. The men assert their power by ordering the women to “lose their pants while [the men] throw money” demeaning women’s worth to dollar bills. This should come as a shock to society but really it is viewed as a social norm. This norm pronounces that women are inferior to men, especially rich, accomplished men, and that they are allowed to be viewed as sex objects. This norm is heavily shown throughout the video as well as the lyrics.
Within the first thirty seconds of the video there is a shot of women’s bodies from the neck down only proving the idea that women’s worth is tied to the body. This brings up the idea of hegemonic femininity. These women are what society considers to be ideal, perfect, and sexy but not necessarily the type of woman a man would want to settle down with. These women are shown as sex driven bodies willing to do whatever it takes to get with one of the few men present even if it means sharing. This is made evident when the artist says, “I’m trying to hit the hotel with two girls...” while surrounded by willing women.
Mayne expresses that women are desired in two different extreme senses; the Madonna or the whore. “[T]he Madonna/whore distinction relies on race as well as gender, by identifying African American womanhood exclusively in relationship with sexuality (the Jezebel stereotype)” (Mayne 162). This is exactly what is occurring in this video; the black women are being presented in a sexual nature to grasp male attention. This representation absolutely reinforces oppression of women and especially that of black women. Mayne’s “Madonna/whore” theory is demonstrated in this video of course but almost in every area of the media as well. Very rarely is there actually an average woman presented. These invented women are either innocent and in need of a man to take over sexually or are established as a sex fiend in need of the next man. Both of these representations revolve around sex and men. This makes sense given that men are the audience that the producer is clearly trying to appeal to.
This is a music video played on MTV and available on the internet via YouTube which means it is readily available to be seen by young girls. Mayne states that female film viewers discovered that media “…had provided them with lessons… in how to dress and how to catch a man” (163). So therefore, this representation of “sexy, sought-after” women in the video is being examined by these young girls and making them believe that this is what they need to act and look like in order to be wanted by a man. This, in my eyes, creates a never ending cycle of oppression for women.
This is a music video played on MTV and available on the internet via YouTube which means it is readily available to be seen by young girls. Mayne states that female film viewers discovered that media “…had provided them with lessons… in how to dress and how to catch a man” (163). So therefore, this representation of “sexy, sought-after” women in the video is being examined by these young girls and making them believe that this is what they need to act and look like in order to be wanted by a man. This, in my eyes, creates a never ending cycle of oppression for women.
Lastly, the representation of men, particularly black men, also reinforces oppression. The artists repeat over and over again, “all I want to do is sit back and watch you move and I’ll proceed to throw this cash.” This infers that they are at a strip club (even though the video does not show evidence of this) which is a stereotype society puts on black men already. This stereotype was presented to the class in 30 Rock as well. This representation of men consequently does not allow the imagining of new possibilities of identity expression. These rappers and the producers of the music video for that matter are just reinforcing stereotypes and misrepresenting black men.
I have never heard this song or viewed this video before but the first thing I noticed in this video is all of the women wearing hardly anything and dancing around. This tells me that men view women’s bodies as objects to pleasure them. This view seems to be coming more clearer in the media.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the male dominance over women is shown very clearly by the camera angles and the way it shows the bodies of these women in the video. This technique reminds me of the Dreamworlds 3 piece that we viewed in class. I remember that a lot of emphasis was put on the camera and the different techniques it uses to film women’s bodies as a sexual object in a lot of music videos. I think it is sending a norm to society that girls need to be super thin and beautiful to get a man’s attention which is not the case so teenage viewers are being sent a negative message.