Throughout the twentieth century, music videos have influenced various perceptions on the images of women. Male artists use women in their videos as an accessory, to make the video more appealing to a larger audience, specifically male. Combined with the songs" melodies and lyrics, music videos along with the images of artists in pop culture today are powerful tools that can tattoo human minds and shape the attitudes of many. With this in mind, this paper will analyze the potential affects that the rap video, "Beautiful" can have on society. (Used to illustrate the song lyrics of Snoop Dogg, a rapper whose lyrics are usually sexually explicit and violent). In order to prove that music videos can have a negative affect on society, the cultivation and desensitization theories will be used.
Cultivation Theory.
Television plays a significant role in shaping viewers' social realities. This reality is cultivated and maintained by on-going television viewing and consumption of various types of media. The influence of media on its" viewers is demonstrated through the cultivation theory created by George Gerbner. The cultivation theory has expanded to describe "the relationship of long-term television viewing to the indication of various concepts, values, and beliefs on the part of audiences." (Bryant & Thompson, 101) Researchers feel that television viewers perceive aspects of the world by what they see on television. To support this claim, the concept, mainstreaming is used. .
The concept of mainstreaming assumes that long-term exposure to television causes people who would be different to actually be similar. (Lecture Notes) In addition to cultures sharing dominant beliefs, television programming creates patterns regarding outcomes to various situations. These patterns result in a "mainstream" set of attitudes, beliefs, and values that are constantly portrayed on television. .
According to Bryant and Thompson, all television programs from entertaining action programs to news programs create ideologies that influence viewer's perceptions of the world.
Women are the sex symbols of music. ... The music industry has completely exploited her in her new music and videos. ... Double standards of women persist in today's music not only lyrically but also in music videos. Most male musicians have exposed women dancing in a sexualized way in their music videos. ... The way females are portrayed in music videos and lyrics represents our cultural taste. ...
Popular music videos portray women in a very negative way. Music videos fling messages to young women that say that it is "cool- to dress provocatively and be promiscuous. Women are rarely ever showed in a decent and good-natured manner in today's music videos, not to mention fully clothed. ... Christina Aguilera's music video for the song "Dirrty- sends a message to adolescent girls that it's okay for women to be provocative. ... The music video is chock full of scantily clad women, grinding with other men on the dance floor. ...
Women In Music Videos Music videos have been a part of the music scene after the creation of Mtv. ... Sometimes the artists have their hands tied in the way the music is promoted. ... They utilize the same women, the same cars (Bentley or a Ferrari is a must, of course), the yachts, and the same locations. ... The difference between Ludacris and Jay-Z is that Jay-Z has been around for a long time, and as a result doesn't have to be talking (or rapping) about women in inappropriate ways or about cars. ... It is a real shame, because I can remember those days in which Queen Latifa or Run...
The beginning of this great relationship between the music video and rap artist dates back to as early as the Sugar Hill Gang's Rapper's Delight. ... That said, the point of this piece is analyzing music video with hopes of gaining some empirical, useable knowledge concerning HipHop by using music videos as a tool to mark the history of music and a culture. ... There were also a lot of women present in the video, however in contrast to modern day music videos they are portrayed in a respectful manner, and are high profile, fully dressed women of stature. ... The women in this ...
This year's Video Music Award's was just one example of many which shows that for women in the music industry, being a sex symbol seems to be one of the only ways to get ahead. ... "Music videos have broken through TV's most hallowed boundaries. ... It is no surprise that music videos resemble commercials. ... Music videos are short, catchy, and fun. ... Considering music videos to basically be ads, their portrayal of women affects the viewing audience in a similar manner as television ads. ...
Since almost all music videos are directed by men, the music videos today depict their so-called "sexual dreamland"." ... In majority of the music videos today, women greatly outnumber men and serve them willingly. ... Regardless of the main focus in the music video, women always seem to be undressing and dressing again, as if they are always ready for sex. ... Additional roles that women many hold in music videos appeal to sexual fantasies held by many men. ... In music videos, women are posed primarily for the gaze of a male audience. ...
MUSIC VIDEOS We are stepping into the Music Television (MTV) generation. ... Women are seen as sexual objects in music videos. Inappropriate behaviour and general disrespect towards women in these music videos, make it seem as it is normal. Music videos may "encourage unrealistic expectations regarding women, leading to a certain type of sexist attitudes and behaviors" [8]. This indicates that sexism can be promoted through music videos and youths might develop a negative attitude towards women and sex. ...
But does the genre of the music really determine the style of the video? Can all music videos be sorted into groups? This essay is going to be discussing this in response to several music videos. ... Whereas the rap bands such as "Ja Rule" are shown prancing around with skimpily dressed women in flashing bright lights. ... I enjoyed making this video as it gave me a bit of an insight into how music videos are made. ...
Music videos are infamous for negatively portraying women, particularly rock and rap music videos. ... In music videos, the primary focus is usually not on the woman's face, but rather on her body. ... The use of women in music videos, makes them appear as objects that can be used by men at anytime. ... In addition to the music videos that portray women negatively, there are also many that bring out the best in women. The music videos of many country and R&B female singers, show how courageous and independent women can be. ...
