Representation
In “Make it rain” there are various different people being represented. Although I will be focusing on the representation of women, I will be looking into how men are represented in counter and how this affects the way women are seen. Women are being represented as sex objects and in a very derogatory manor. The male characters in this music video are shown to be very powerful. This contrast between the statuses of each sex has the affect on the audience that the men are further heightened in status and the women are further degrading. In retrospect it is unfair to suggest that women are all subject to the male gaze and that they are purely sex objects. Times have changed and women have progressively become more equal, especially in recent years. I believe that women are represented in this way to appeal to the male audience. As the hip hop industry is predominantly male, it is in a certain way a marketing tactic to increase the popularity of the record, therefore discarding the female controversy. However, there is some evidence of a male being degraded. In a shot of Fat Joe rapping, he has a member of his entourage holding an umbrella over his head. This job is associated with a low position, such as being a butler and therefore can be seen as quite degrading.
Media language
As you can imagine this video showcases a lot of fast paced editing. Therefore a range of shots are on display. Many high angle slow motion shots are used to look down on the women. There are many women who are dressed very scarcely and these women are generally shown under a high angle shot. Thus looking down on them, making them look inferior to the predominantly male audience. Low angle shots are used for the rappers themselves who are male to make them seem powerful. As well as this many close ups are used on both genders. However, in the case of the females, it is usually close ups of sexual body parts and for the males; it is usually of expensive possessions and there faces. The texts connotations run parallel to the message of the song, the chorus goes as follows “make it rain on these hoes”…through the use of the degrading address of women the audience can now understand on a literal sense why there are shots of half dressed women with money raining down on them, an idea usually associated with strippers and whores. Another point of discussion is the non verbal structures of meaning, many of the women seem to have a sexually aroused expression on their face, as well as this some seem to have seductive looks on their faces, as well as this their dancing is seems as a form of flaunting as much skin as they possibly can and finally the money raining down on them. All these factors combine to create a strong communication to the audience about how females are represented. These factors combine to make women seem inferior and as objects rather than people.
Narrative
In this video there doesn’t seem to be much as far as narrative is concerned. It just seems as if this video was an opportunity to represent the rappers in a flashy way and women as their lower counterparts. The audience through the use of camera angles have a feeling that they are part of the music video and they are in the position to be looking down on the women. However, even as there is a lack of narrative involved, it doesn’t interfere with the communication of messages that women are lower than men.
Genre
This text has in a way over a certain number of years become its own genre. It is indeed a music video but nonetheless due to the fact that it belongs to the hip hop industry it can be said that it has created its own sub genre. In recent years you can argue that videos of this nature are highly conventional. The changing roles of women in society and how women are represented in hip hop music videos seem to be moving in opposite directions. Typically speaking, the new hip hop music genre entails loads of indecently dressed women and a lot of showcasing of possessions of high expense. Women in these videos are as a rule portrayed to be passive sex objects who give in to the male demand. In this sense this music is highly stereotypical. The main rapper, Fat Joe, has some what a notorious status for producing controversial videos, with much sex and luxurious lifestyle on display.
Sunday 23 September 2007
WHAT I PROPOSE TO DO MY STUDY ABOUT...
Summary of my study
My study will focus on the representation of women in the hip hop music industry. My study will particularly examine how females are represented through music videos. I will be analysing all different aspects of these music videos in order to fully understand how a particular representation is created and why this is so. I will be focusing on many different music videos in order to get an idea of the broader picture of this topic, however, I will be looking more closely at R-Kelly’s “I’m a flirt” and Fat Joe’s “Make it rain”. I believe by more closely focusing on certain texts I can create a solid argument.
I believe that my study will show that women are represented as being inferior to men and also that females are heavily objectified. I believe that women will be subject to Laura Maulvey’s theory of the ‘male gaze’.
There are many aspects to a music video one must consider when analysing how a certain representation is created, one of which is media language. I will look closely at the cinematography, costumes, lighting, editing etc. and hopefully conclude on how a certain representation of women is created. I will also look into how this affects the audience and how the audience affects the content of the music video. The audience is a vital aspect of this case study as the soul purpose of a music video is to sell the record and through this study I will be able to accurately examine how this is done. As well as this, some feminist groups may have problems with how females are represented and therefore may have an affect on the content of videos in some cases. It is also interesting to look into different institutions and directors of music videos, such as the record label ‘Rocafella’ and the music video director ‘Hype Williams’ and what messages as very influential figures in the industry portray to their audience.
The Social, Historical, Economical and Political aspects must also be considered in order to understand why the content is appropriate for its time and how the industry has evolved to become like this. When considering the social aspect, it is important in my study to understand what women are seen as in society and whether inferiority still exists. It is also good to consider influential groups such as the feminists who have an effect on what is correct or not. Other media content in different genres may also be looked into when looking at the social aspect. When looking into history, I must definitely consider the feminist movement as this was groundbreaking in the changing representation of women. As well as this I will look into traditional norms and values in which society more so based itself upon in previous decades. The political state will also affect what is portrayed in these texts. The idea that American texts such as the ones that I am studying can be made like this because of the right wing government is one definite possibility.
My study will focus on the representation of women in the hip hop music industry. My study will particularly examine how females are represented through music videos. I will be analysing all different aspects of these music videos in order to fully understand how a particular representation is created and why this is so. I will be focusing on many different music videos in order to get an idea of the broader picture of this topic, however, I will be looking more closely at R-Kelly’s “I’m a flirt” and Fat Joe’s “Make it rain”. I believe by more closely focusing on certain texts I can create a solid argument.
I believe that my study will show that women are represented as being inferior to men and also that females are heavily objectified. I believe that women will be subject to Laura Maulvey’s theory of the ‘male gaze’.
There are many aspects to a music video one must consider when analysing how a certain representation is created, one of which is media language. I will look closely at the cinematography, costumes, lighting, editing etc. and hopefully conclude on how a certain representation of women is created. I will also look into how this affects the audience and how the audience affects the content of the music video. The audience is a vital aspect of this case study as the soul purpose of a music video is to sell the record and through this study I will be able to accurately examine how this is done. As well as this, some feminist groups may have problems with how females are represented and therefore may have an affect on the content of videos in some cases. It is also interesting to look into different institutions and directors of music videos, such as the record label ‘Rocafella’ and the music video director ‘Hype Williams’ and what messages as very influential figures in the industry portray to their audience.
The Social, Historical, Economical and Political aspects must also be considered in order to understand why the content is appropriate for its time and how the industry has evolved to become like this. When considering the social aspect, it is important in my study to understand what women are seen as in society and whether inferiority still exists. It is also good to consider influential groups such as the feminists who have an effect on what is correct or not. Other media content in different genres may also be looked into when looking at the social aspect. When looking into history, I must definitely consider the feminist movement as this was groundbreaking in the changing representation of women. As well as this I will look into traditional norms and values in which society more so based itself upon in previous decades. The political state will also affect what is portrayed in these texts. The idea that American texts such as the ones that I am studying can be made like this because of the right wing government is one definite possibility.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)