Representation of gender in music videos

Representation of womenRepresentation of men

Laura Mulvey- Male Gaze theoryDavid Gauntlett

FeminismPost- Feminism

Representation of gender

What is representation?

The description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.

Media representations are the ways in which the media portrays particular groups, communities, experiences, ideas, or topics from a particular ideological or value perspective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU Robin Thicke- Blurred Lines

• Female stars are glamorous and attractive but considered as objects and subservient

Call on Me- Eric Prydzhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_fCqg92qks

50 Cent- Put your hands uphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWmsYVk0A-c

Natasha Bedingfield (I wanna have your Babies)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMpE1jgfEg

Examples of videos that show dominant gender imagery

Can you apply the Male Gaze to the following videos?

David Gauntlett argues that in contemporary society, gender roles are more complex and that the media reflects this.

Female role models are often glamorous and successful.

This is due to the rise of ‘girl power’ in the media (eg Destiny’s Child: Bills Bills Bills)

Our expectations of gender are flexible and culturally dependent and therefore will continue to change.

David Gauntlett

Destiny’s Child (Bills Bills Bills) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiF6-0UTqtc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeIJmciN8mo Nicki Minaj- Starships

Maddie and Tai (Girl in a Country song)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MOavH-Eivw

John Legend (You and I)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi3bc9lS3rg

Apex Twin (WindowLicker)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBS4Gi1y_nc

Music videos that challenge traditional gender stereotypes

Representations of men in music videos

• Often represented as powerful, dominant and masculine. Less attention on their appearance than women. More about their role in society.

• Although this does depend on genre…

• The above is often seen in RAP and ROCK videos• POP and RNB often show the man as being more caring and

sensitive. Their attention is on female character.

• Can also be sexualised (eg in POP) ‘Female Gaze’

Justin Bieber- One Less Lonely Girlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXUSaVw3Mvk

Taylor Swift- Blank Spacehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg

The Lox- Money, Power, Respecthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuBvSE_CGKw

How do the following videos represent MEN??

What gender roles do the characters in your music video play?

Do you conform to or challenge stereotypes?

Your music video