Blog #1: Gender
Sarah Cohn
Prompt 1: Identify a cultural artifact that is a representation of gender – that is, what it means to be a woman, man, a transgender individual, or a person who exists outside of the gender binary. Describe your cultural artifact. Post an image, or provide a link to the cultural artifact. (3 points)
The cultural artifact that I chose to represent gender in our society is the music video for "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. Released in 2013, this music video and song caused a lot of controversy because of its sexist and misogynistic imagery. This video is a representation of gender because it shows the expectations and stereotypes for each gender in our modern patriarchal society, where men still are seen as superior and dominant to women.
https://youtu.be/yyDUC1LUXSU
Prompt 2: What does your chosen cultural artifact say about gender and gender expression? How does it reinforce traditional ideas of masculinity and/or femininity? Does it attempt to challenge or push back against traditional ideas about gender and gender expression, and if so, how? (3 points)
As mentioned above, this music video enforces gender stereotypes that have been present in our society for decades. Ultimately, it portrays the idea that men are superior and dominant to women and this is shown both in the images in the video, as well as the lyrics. To fulfill these gender stereotypes, the men in the video are portrayed as ultra masculine, wearing suits, shiny clothes, and sunglasses, as well as portraying the idea that they're wealthy by pouring expensive alcohol to drink. This enforces the idea that because they're wealthy, that they have power, and that in return, they believe that they can have whatever woman that they want. The women in the video on the other hand, are portrayed as submissive and feminine. In order to help show the male dominance, the females are dressed in basically their underwear and are shown being submissive to the men throughout the video. This is seen when T.I. brushes the hair of one woman and when all the women dance in front of their respective male singers while they just gaze. This video does not push back against traditional ideas at all and does the exact opposite by reinforcing the idea that a women's body is just for men and that they "know she wants it" and that she's "a good girl".
Prompt 3: Do you feel that this specific representation of gender in pop culture has impacted the way you think about your own gender identity and expression? If so, how? If not, why not? (2 points)
I personally do feel that this has impacted the way I think about gender identity and expression because I would identify as a feminist or someone who sees men and women as complete equals in society and this video had a big impact on reminding me that not everyone agrees with the way that I see the world. The representation that is portrayed in this video is not uncommon at all for someone to agree with in this day and age and that's a really scary thing to think about as a young woman in this world. While women have a lot more rights now then we've had in the past, there's now doubting the fact that a lot of men still see themselves as the dominant gender in society and that's something that I disagree with wholeheartedly.
Prompt 4: Examine your chosen cultural artifact using Wendy Griswold’s cultural diamond. What is the cultural object (the cultural artifact that you identified in Prompt 1)? What is the social world in which the cultural object exists and acts? Who may be the creators (producers) of the cultural object? And who are their intended audience (receivers)? (4 points)
The cultural object is the music video for "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and T.I. The social world that it exists in is the music industry and pop culture in the year 2013. The creators of the cultural object are Robin Thicke, Pharrell, T.I. and Star Trak LLC that produced the record. The intended audience I would assume is everyone, but specifically men who agree with the views that they are expressing. The audience could be everyone because the controversy that this music video caused might've been on purpose to give the video more sales, views, etc. even if some of those are negative.
I completely agree! The video and lyrics to this song completely conform to the stereotypes that women are fragile and will literally dance around a powerful rich man. The video implies that these men have complete control over the women. It is clear that it is common for wealthy men to feel some kind of entitlement to women.
ReplyDeleteI think the same! The message that this sends across is that women are a sexual and submissive object. Unfortunately, this message is common in todays media. We are constantly getting reminders that men are dominant and women are sexual. I also noticed in the video that the men are all just standing. The women are the ones that are dancing and moving around. It gives the idea that women have to work for the man's attention.
ReplyDeleteI always heard of people having a problem with the music video, I in the other hand never seen it till now and to be quit honest I only listen to the song and I did like it, not because of the lyrics but because of the sound. And this shows how in this society we are so misguided and don't see the actually meaning of things anymore, we are so consumed by other nonsense especially when it comes to music. There's a possibility that the artist knew what he wanted to portray in this video and maybe he though that society wouldn't say a word about it because we're a society of sound over lyrics. And this is where the media can do this sort of thing and in a way get a hall pass because we won't notice.
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