7. Laura Mulvey Essay

Laura Mulvey’s theory applies to the music videos “Dirty” and “Do it Like a Dude” because both videos invite the audience to view the artists as objects of desire.  This is done through the camera shots and angles used, the fact the video is presented in a voyeuristic way to the audience, and the way the artist interacts with others in the video.

In Christina Aguilera’s video of “Dirty” the use of the camera invites sexual gaze by making the point of interest of the video on her at all times, for example in the video at 1:52 she is in front of everyone else wearing very little clothing with a light on her to make her stand out from the rest and be the point of interest throughout the video for sexual gaze and male attention. In my opinion this is Christina’s way to get looked at as a sexual point of view and be the main sexual object in the video. 

The audience views this video in a voyeuristic way because they see Christina as the main role in the music video and they look at her dancing and grinding on men in a very sexual way, this is to get male attention as men look at this video and see it as something they shouldn’t be watching and they get pleasure from watching the video because they wouldn’t usually see Christina dancing half naked and grinding on men. 

The actors interact in a way that results in the female being looked at as an object of desire. This occurs when Christina is dancing around men and grinding on them in a very sexual manner to make her look more appealing and almost say ‘Look what I’m doing, don’t you wish you was me’ to make Christina look more desirable to all the male’s watching the video.


The target audience for these two artists is young females.  However, the way they represent themselves as sexual objects does not appeal to young girls, it appeals more to men.  I believe Christina Aguilera and Jesse J choose to represent themselves like this because it will attract the male audience.

Representation Homework - Wed 2nd October

Hip hop presents a very rigid and narrow version of manhood - one that suggests that to be a "real man" you must be strong and tough, you must have a lot of women and money, you must always be in control, and you must always dominate women and other men. If you do not live up to these ideals, you will be ridiculed for not being man enough. You will be called names like "soft, weak and wimp". This need to conform to the narrow definition of manhood in hip hop is a trap for men, boxing them into a restricted, unhealthy style of manhood and masculinity I agree that Hip hop presents a very narrow version of manhood. I think the way you see manhood portrayed in hip hop is deeply entrenched in American culture,. The way you see manhood portrayed in cowboy, gangster and action films is similar but what distinguishes hip hop from the rest of the culture is that hip hop is so blatant. Also, with hip hop there are a lot of young men who have come from poor backgrounds that seems to make their desire for hyper-masculinity seem much more important. Byron Hurt, a New York filmmaker, writer and activist, has explored those images in hip-hop culture and in society, and the definitions of masculinity those images foster. Hurt says “The powerful image that we see resonates because it looks powerful,” Hurt says “It looks powerful, it feels powerful. That kind of masculinity gives some young boys and some older men a false sense of manhood.” “Men should not allow themselves to be defined by the tough, always in control, swinger/player images the videos project”, he said. “That’s a very narrow view of hip-hop and very stereotypical”. I agree with Hurt’s comments. In media, hip hop shows that men have to be tough and that they use women. I disagree with this because young men are encouraged to behave like this or else they get called names and are bullied. It seems like boys are encouraged to think only about themselves and not to respect other people. It’s all about peer pressure. If the group of friends you hang around with act in a certain way, then you have to copy them so you’re a part of the group. Of course, not everyone behaves like this. But you have to be a strong character to act differently and still be respected by others. The video clips show women that appear to want to do anything for the men. They show the men are in control. I believe that everyone should be treated with respect and that men shouldn’t be the ones in control. The world is made up of so many different people and personalities. If we were all the same, life would be dull. I think that young men should be able to show their emotions and act respectfully towards others. The world shouldn’t be about who has the most power and who has the most money. Power, influence and respect should be earned through people’s actions. Unfortunately, the media continues to have a big influence on how we all act.

Music Video Stereotypes

Why media produces stereotypes? 

• To appeal to a wide target audience (e.g. Christina Angular appealing to men ... not her target audience.) 
• so the audience can identify with the artist from the social group/behavior they are displaying. 
• so the audience can link appearance of artists to stereotypical personality traits. this means the audience can easily identify with the audience 
• Artist or there status can be seen as aspirational/role model (not necessarily a positive thing)  

Video analysis

Are the music videos reinforcing stereotypes?

1.What are the men/women doing?

2.How are the men/women dressed?

3.Describe the body language of the men/women: are they sitting, standing?

4.Where is the video taking place?

5.What is the message of the song?

6.What is the story of the video?

7.What objects are shown in the video? (cars, jewellery)

8.What is the general atmosphere?

Summarise: do videos help to establish a stereotype of a pop star?

Logo

Waterloo Road Case Study

Logo Evaluation task

Photoshop Homework 19th September

what i learnt in photoshop

-Magnetic lasso tool 

• Hold click over the lasso tool 
• drag curser over the magnetic lasso tool (bottom one) 
• then click around the image you want to extract a part from 
• then slowly move mouse around the object 
• Once this is done find the start point and click it to make selection   

Homework 4th September

Friday
- In the morning I woke up to my alarm clock on my Ipad  as it is a quick and simple way to set an alarm.
- I then checked the bus times on my smartphone as it is a useful way to know what time the bus will arrive at my stop so I can get to school on time.
- After school I used Skype as it is a easy way to communicate with friends and it is easy to use.
- I watched Rustle Howard's Good News at 11:30 on BBC I player as it is a good source of entertainment.

Saturday
- In the morning once I wake up I go on Photoshop and Cinema 4D and designed a logo for people who requested me to so so on Skype.
- I checked the bus times on my smartphone to go into Bromley to meet my friends this is useful as i know what time my bus will arrive.
- I used my smartphone to text my friends as it is a good form of communication.
- I used my smartphone to check the bus times again so I knew what time i would be home.

Sunday
- I went on my computer and played Grand Theft Auto IV as it is a good form of entertainment.
- I went on Skype with my friends so I could talk to them this is useful as it allow you to have group conversations.
- I set an alarm on my smartphone for the morning.

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