Representation of Women in the music video “Miss Nothing” by The Pretty

RecklessBy Sorrel Grundy

The Pretty Reckless

• The Pretty Reckless are an American rock band from New York City.

• The current members are Taylor Momsen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass) and Jamie Perkins (drums).

• Their debut album was released August 27th 2010 and was called “Light Me Up”.

• They were nominated for best group and best new comers at the Virgin Media Music Awards in 2010 but were unsuccessful. They were nominated for Song of the year with “Kill Me” at the Revolver awards. Also Taylor Momsen won the Hottest Female award at the Kerrang Awards 2014.

Mulvey’s Theory

• According to Mulvey, mainstream Hollywood film "coded the erotic into the language of the dominant patriarchal order".

• Mulvey implies that this coding is, in essence, the establishment of the "male gaze."

• Narrowly construed, the male gaze refers to the act of looking upon women as objects, of adopting the role of spectator; but metaphorically, it refers to a way of thinking about and acting within society.

• Mulvey succinctly states her organizing principle: "In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female"

“Miss Nothing”

From the off this music video uses and challenges the representation of women in music videos. The title of the song implies that the women in the music video has no identity, this is followed by the images of a wedding dinner. The singer of the song is the main performer in this music video. Her costume is representational of a wedding dress but is significantly shorter so much so that you can see her stockings. This costume objectifies the performer and her sexuality. This also adds to the idea of the loss of identity as traditionally women where known by the man that they married they would not have a separate identity to their husbands, they would be known as for example Mrs John Smith rather than Mrs Jane Smith.

Male Gaze & Voyeurism

The use of the male gaze and voyeurism is clear throughout this music video. The costume is sparse and revealing with emphasis on the performers legs, face and breasts. The make up used in this music video is also voyeuristic as the performer has bright red lips and dark black eyes which are both eye catching and suggestive. The sexual nature of this music video is both from the artist and the preconceived idea of what female artist should look and act like.