http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHkFW2NR_W0
http://www.powells.com/review/2007_05_06.html
http://calitreview.com/225
Friday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzEcMek6SuY
Media Language
Close up shots of cash, women and jewellery emphasising their wealth. Slow panning shots of women with little clothing who are often posing next to rappers in a lustful way which has connotations of sex and wealth. A few low angle shots of the rappers which represents them as powerful. Alcohol is present in the mise-en-scene alongside premiscuous women which promotes an innapropriate message to its audience of youngsters.
Institution
2008 The Island Def Jam Music Group Def Jam's main purpose is to generate profit, therefore it is in their interest to attract as large an audience as possible.
Genre
Rap/Hip Hop Music video which follows the stereotypical conventions of masculinity, exploition of women, and power.
Representation
The mise en schene contains many seductive women, money, alcohol, and partying. However, are there a lack of moral values here? The women are represented in a way which is degrading, often just posing for the camera in lustful positions, wearing revealing clothing which portray them as being sexual accessories for the men in the video in order to make them seem powerful. Sadly, the audience of prodominantly teenage boys tend to believe that this is reality rather than fantasy and therefore emulate the way in which the protagonist (Camron) behaves. This link between women, money and power becomes more consistant and apparent within the genre of rap videos which provides more evidence to support my hypothesis.
Audience
This type of rap is typically marketed at teenage boys. Adolescent boys are heavily influenced by music and the media today. The effect that creating a link between promiscuous women and power in mainstream hip hop can be very negative on the young audience.. By putting pressure on teenagers through this type of marketing the hip hop industry along with it's rappers are immorally leading the youth to believe that they can live a make believe life.
Ideologies & Values
The presence of provocotive females portrayed as sex objects who's job it is to please Camron in this video can be seen as very degrading towards women. Sexism is heavily present in this video, as is the emphasis on materialistic items such as money, jewellery and sexual favours from women. The two aspects of this video (women and money) when combined together with a popular rap icon can come across as being very morally incorrect. Camron is a very influencial figure in hip hop and he fits within the criterea of a stereotypical black rapper.
Narrative
The emphasis in this video is on women giving sexual favours to men. Camron is seen to constantly be surrounded by promiscuously behaving women and materialistic objects. Camron is best known for this.
Media Language
Close up shots of cash, women and jewellery emphasising their wealth. Slow panning shots of women with little clothing who are often posing next to rappers in a lustful way which has connotations of sex and wealth. A few low angle shots of the rappers which represents them as powerful. Alcohol is present in the mise-en-scene alongside premiscuous women which promotes an innapropriate message to its audience of youngsters.
Institution
2008 The Island Def Jam Music Group Def Jam's main purpose is to generate profit, therefore it is in their interest to attract as large an audience as possible.
Genre
Rap/Hip Hop Music video which follows the stereotypical conventions of masculinity, exploition of women, and power.
Representation
The mise en schene contains many seductive women, money, alcohol, and partying. However, are there a lack of moral values here? The women are represented in a way which is degrading, often just posing for the camera in lustful positions, wearing revealing clothing which portray them as being sexual accessories for the men in the video in order to make them seem powerful. Sadly, the audience of prodominantly teenage boys tend to believe that this is reality rather than fantasy and therefore emulate the way in which the protagonist (Camron) behaves. This link between women, money and power becomes more consistant and apparent within the genre of rap videos which provides more evidence to support my hypothesis.
Audience
This type of rap is typically marketed at teenage boys. Adolescent boys are heavily influenced by music and the media today. The effect that creating a link between promiscuous women and power in mainstream hip hop can be very negative on the young audience.. By putting pressure on teenagers through this type of marketing the hip hop industry along with it's rappers are immorally leading the youth to believe that they can live a make believe life.
Ideologies & Values
The presence of provocotive females portrayed as sex objects who's job it is to please Camron in this video can be seen as very degrading towards women. Sexism is heavily present in this video, as is the emphasis on materialistic items such as money, jewellery and sexual favours from women. The two aspects of this video (women and money) when combined together with a popular rap icon can come across as being very morally incorrect. Camron is a very influencial figure in hip hop and he fits within the criterea of a stereotypical black rapper.
Narrative
The emphasis in this video is on women giving sexual favours to men. Camron is seen to constantly be surrounded by promiscuously behaving women and materialistic objects. Camron is best known for this.
Tuesday
OBJECTIVE TARGETS
AO1- Develop key concepts with focus on Media Language, Ideologies, Representations and Audience.
AO5- Carry our research on Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory, find books specificaly related to representation and exploitation of black women. Investigate how the exploitation of black women has changed throughout time and produce a timeline dating back from 1810 to the current day.
A02- Develop ideas and find out a range of opinions on the social, historical, economical and political aspects of the representations and history of black women.
AO5- Carry our research on Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory, find books specificaly related to representation and exploitation of black women. Investigate how the exploitation of black women has changed throughout time and produce a timeline dating back from 1810 to the current day.
A02- Develop ideas and find out a range of opinions on the social, historical, economical and political aspects of the representations and history of black women.
Friday
Groupies and mistreatment of women have been a part of the white rock and roll world since the 60s. So what is different about the world of hip hop?
Although groupies in the 60's were all mainly white while today they are very multiracial, they function in hip hop in exactly the same way as they did in the rock era- they are women who provide sexual services. Though there were groupies within the jazz, blues and rock genre's, they were not as noticeable or outrageous. The reason for this is that singers did not blatently portray them or refer to them in a negative light, whereas Hip Hop does the complete opposite by disrespecting and degrading women both in their lyrics and music videos. What makes the whole issue even more shocking is that women are reacting in a way as if they are supporting these ideologies imposed by the hip hop artists.
PIMPS UP HO'S DOWN
Pimps Up Ho's Down addresses the contraversial issues surrounding young black women and hip hop culture. Sharpley-Whiting interrogates the idea of young black women's engagement with a culture that is masculinist and misogynistic.Beyond their portrayal in rap lyrics, the representation of black women in music videos, television, film, fashion, and on the Internet is crucial to the mass media engineered appeal of hip hop culture, the author argues. She goes on to talk about how the portrayal of woman in hip hop as sex objects through marketing techniqhes has made them appear normal, acceptable, and entertaining.
Sharpley-Whiting questions the impacts of hip hop's increasing alliance with the sex industry, the rise of groupie culture in the hip hop world and the growing exploitation of women.
This book features interviews with exotic dancers, black hip hop groupies, and hip hop generation members Jacklyn "Diva" Bush, female rapper Trina, and filmmaker Aishah Simmons, and also the opinons of many "everyday" young women.
Monday
Independant Study Proposal
Hypothesis:
Has the exploitation of women and materialistic values in music videos become a requirement for black hip hop artists in order to gain a sense of identity, image and power?
Below is an example of a migraine analysis of just one of the many music videos I will be studying:
Media Language
Many close up shots of cash and jewellery emphasising their wealth. Slow panning shots of women with little clothing who are often holding rappers money in a lustful way which has connotations of sex and wealth. A few low angle shots of the rappers which represents them as powerful. Money seen to be flying around the mise-en-scene and also a shot of the rapper standing on a carpet of money as if it is nothing, this glorifies having huge ammounts of cash.
Institution
Universal/Motown
Genre
Rap/Hip Hop Music Video
Representation
The lyrics 'I make it rain on them hoes' repeated throughout the chorus has negative and degrading connotations for women. They are being referred to as 'hoes'which suggests that they are promiscuous sex objects. Women are exposing their bodies and dancing in a sexual way while they hold the rappers money which almost portrays them as the rappers property as they are satisfying the male protagonist in exchange for his money. This portrayal of an unequal relationship between men and women is being forced upon teenagers who are easily influenced by what they see on TV and in music videos.
Audience
This genre of hip hop music videos have rapidly become mainstream and are aimed to heavily target a teenage, male audience who are drawn to materialistic objects and female exploitation (male gaze, Laura Mulvey). This audience of adolescent boys are typically easily influenced and are therefore targeted by the hip hop genre.
Ideology
Women are seen to be holding rappers money and shaking their bodies in a seductive way which encourages young people who watch these music videos to believe that they must exploit women, money and themselves in order to gain an identity. Materialistic values are very strong in this particular video with the amount of emphasis placed on cash, jewellery and flash cars in most shots.
Theories/theorists:
I will be making reference to some theorists that I am already familiar with such as Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze’. Also I will be looking for new theories that relate to my topic.
Where and what to research
Books about the representation of women, internet websites about exploitation of women in hip hop and music videos, materialism in music videos, and masculinity in hip hop videos. I will also carry on watching and analysing many hip hop music videos so I familiarise myself with the characteristics and conventions as this will help me to build my argument up. I will also research necessary theories.
Has the exploitation of women and materialistic values in music videos become a requirement for black hip hop artists in order to gain a sense of identity, image and power?
Below is an example of a migraine analysis of just one of the many music videos I will be studying:
Media Language
Many close up shots of cash and jewellery emphasising their wealth. Slow panning shots of women with little clothing who are often holding rappers money in a lustful way which has connotations of sex and wealth. A few low angle shots of the rappers which represents them as powerful. Money seen to be flying around the mise-en-scene and also a shot of the rapper standing on a carpet of money as if it is nothing, this glorifies having huge ammounts of cash.
Institution
Universal/Motown
Genre
Rap/Hip Hop Music Video
Representation
The lyrics 'I make it rain on them hoes' repeated throughout the chorus has negative and degrading connotations for women. They are being referred to as 'hoes'which suggests that they are promiscuous sex objects. Women are exposing their bodies and dancing in a sexual way while they hold the rappers money which almost portrays them as the rappers property as they are satisfying the male protagonist in exchange for his money. This portrayal of an unequal relationship between men and women is being forced upon teenagers who are easily influenced by what they see on TV and in music videos.
Audience
This genre of hip hop music videos have rapidly become mainstream and are aimed to heavily target a teenage, male audience who are drawn to materialistic objects and female exploitation (male gaze, Laura Mulvey). This audience of adolescent boys are typically easily influenced and are therefore targeted by the hip hop genre.
Ideology
Women are seen to be holding rappers money and shaking their bodies in a seductive way which encourages young people who watch these music videos to believe that they must exploit women, money and themselves in order to gain an identity. Materialistic values are very strong in this particular video with the amount of emphasis placed on cash, jewellery and flash cars in most shots.
Theories/theorists:
I will be making reference to some theorists that I am already familiar with such as Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze’. Also I will be looking for new theories that relate to my topic.
Where and what to research
Books about the representation of women, internet websites about exploitation of women in hip hop and music videos, materialism in music videos, and masculinity in hip hop videos. I will also carry on watching and analysing many hip hop music videos so I familiarise myself with the characteristics and conventions as this will help me to build my argument up. I will also research necessary theories.
Institution
2008 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Def Jam's main purpose is to generate profit, therefore it is in their interest to attract as large an audience as possible.
Def Jam's main purpose is to generate profit, therefore it is in their interest to attract as large an audience as possible.
Genre of Rick Ross's 'This Is The Life'
Rap/Hip Hop Music video which follows the stereotypical conventions of masculinity, exploition of women, and power.
Representation in Rick Ross's 'This Is The Life'
There is clearly no lack of promiscuous women, money, alcohol, smoking and partying involved in this video, as is also clear in most of Ross's video's. However, is there a lack of moral values here? The women are represented in a way which is degrading, often just posing for the camera in lustful positions, wearing revealing clothing which portray them as being sexual accessories for the men in the video in order to make them seem powerful. Sadly, the audience of prodominantly teenage boys tend to believe that this is reality rather than fantasy and therefore emulate the way in which the protagonist (Ross) behaves. This link between women, money and power becomes more consistant and apparent within the genre of rap videos which provides more evidence to support my hypothesis.
Media Audience for Rick Ross's 'This Is The Life'
Ross's audience generally consists of teenage boys. It is a known fact that teenage boys are heavily influenced by music and video's in the media today. The effect that creating a link between promiscuous women and power in mainstream hip hop can be very negative on the young audience that artists such as Ross appeals to. By consciously focussing marketing efforts on attracting young teenage boys to aspire to have promiscuous women by their side and tonnes of money, the hip hop industry along with it's rappers are immorally leading the youth to believe that they can lead a life that is simply pretend.
Ideologies & Values in Rick Ross's 'This Is The Life'
The constant presence of provocotive females portrayed as sex objects who's job it is to please Ross in any way possible can be seen as very degrading towards women. Sexism is heavily present in this video, as is the emphasis on materialistic items such as money, jewellery and rs. The two aspects of this video (women and money) when combined together with a popular rap star who decides to name the song 'This Is The Life' can convey a troublesome message to the millions of easily influenced youngsters who listen to rappers like Ross. Ross most definately fits within the criterea of a stereotypical black rapper.
Narrative in Rick Ross's 'This Is The Life'
There is no clear cut narrative in this video. Rapper Rick Ross is seen to constantly be surrounded by promiscuously behaving women and materialistic objects. Ross is currently one of the industries most successful and powerful rappers, however I feel that it is highly unlikely his popularity is down to talent, but more so to the female presence in his videos and his flashy posessions.
Brief Summary Of My Investigation
The youth of today are under an enormous amount of pressure due to negative and irresponsible marketing from the hip hop/rap industry. Particularly black rap artists have chosen to portray their work through a very narrow-minded representation, compared to those of ethnic backgrounds who tend to create a more diverse and individual image of themselves. It is this common representation of black rap artists that has resulted in the many negative conceptions and stereotypes that exist in hip hop music today. These stereotypes have helped to generate huge ammounts of cash for rappers and added great market value, however, they have not helped at all in terms of the artform.
I feel that rap/hip hop cannot be held responsible for sexism, as sexism has existed in western society for thousands of years. However, it is very noticable and important to realise that hip hop as become a highly sexually influanced industry, to the point where it is almost a requirement for black rap artists to exploit women in order to gain success. It is this particular issue in the hip hop genre which has interested me and it is for that reason i will be developing in in depth investigation around the topic.
I feel that rap/hip hop cannot be held responsible for sexism, as sexism has existed in western society for thousands of years. However, it is very noticable and important to realise that hip hop as become a highly sexually influanced industry, to the point where it is almost a requirement for black rap artists to exploit women in order to gain success. It is this particular issue in the hip hop genre which has interested me and it is for that reason i will be developing in in depth investigation around the topic.
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