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REPRESENTATION ESSAYS
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What is Representation?
Representation refers to the construction in any medium (especially the mass media) of aspects of ‘reality’ such as people, places, objects, events, cultural identities and other abstract concepts. Such representations may be in speech or writing as well as still or moving pictures.
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What is Representation?
Representation describes the signs that stand in for and take the place of something else. It is through representation people know and understand the world and reality through the act of naming it Signs are manipulated in order to make sense of the world.
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Representation VS Reality
NORMAL PEOPLE IN THE ‘REAL’ WORLD Different media producers ‘pick up’ aspects of ‘REALITY’ society AND reshapes them to suit current trends in society that will foster profit-money making for the medium they occur in or for the product they are going to sell. In doing this, media producers use STEREOTYPES as they are a quick, if distorted way, of conveying information because they are easily recognised by audiences.
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Reality TO Representation in music videos
THIS THIS
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How did this happen? Using Stereotypes from the ‘real’ world.
the music video producers of today represent girls by ‘borrowing’ an old Stereotype from the Showgirls of the silent film era in the 1920s and Burlesque girls from even earlier.
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Stereotype 1– an old image: The Burlesque Girl
1899 Burlesque girls THIS TO THIS 1920s Burlesque girls
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Characteristics of the ‘Burlesque Girl’ Stereotype
Corsets Feather boas Fishnet Stockings Top Hats or ‘show’ hats Accessories like canes or microphone used as a cane Elbow length gloves
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From Burlesque to Music video 2000s
THIS TO THIS Lady Gaga ‘Bad Romance’
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Stereotype 2– The Stripper
THIS TO Real Stripper in a nightclub TO THIS Candy Girls Music video Beyonce THIS
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Characteristics of the ‘Stripper’ Stereotype in music videos
The ‘open’ crouch Using actual poles or walls like poles Bra and G-Strings The bum shot – wiggle Stripper shoes Glitter on clothing/body; strobe lights
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Stereotype 3– The Gansta Hoe
THIS TO THIS Gangsta girl in the ‘real’ world-America 50 cent music video stills
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Characteristics of the ‘Gangsta Hoe’ Stereotype in music videos
Afro-American women and girls Bikini Tops and torn shorts – 95% skin exposure The backward cap The ‘Krumping’ moves Simulated sexual positions The use of water/oil on bodies The ‘Bling’ Tattoos and blatant body jewellery/piercings
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Gangsta Hoe meets the Stripper in the music video
Top rap music videos female artists 2010
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Representation Now
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Representation Now
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Representation Now
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Representation Now
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The effect of the Representation on girls in the ‘real’ world
Gangsta Babies for sale 10 year olds going to a party - America
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The effect of the Representation on girls in the ‘real’ world
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The effect of the Representation on girls in the ‘real’ world
Pole Dancing Doll Toy
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Messages of Representation
The objectification of women and girls Women and girls are disposable and interchangeable Women’s own sexuality only exists in relation to men Women and girls are passive and acted upon - there to be watched (The Male Gaze) Women and girls only have ascribed meaning in relation to men (either directly or implied)
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Values of Representation
Women and girls are ‘cheap’ and ‘easy’ Women and girls are their bodies Women and girls are powerless Women get rewarded for sexual behaviour (either through money or through ‘fame’) Women are commodities on the open market Women who don’t fit the stereotype are not women
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How does this representation FIT with this Post- Feminist age?
Largely educated female population in Western World Independent and disposable income Sexual freedom from pregnancy ‘Gansta’ represents only a small proportion of selected areas of the USA-but influence of American media organisations is worldwide. E.g. MTV; Sky; Cable and Digital TV delivery The legitimisation of prostitution- legal in NZ since 2003; parts of Africa; Asia; Europe; South America and Australia – any link?
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Representation in the Future in music videos?
Where could this representation go? What kind of music videos will we see? What kind of music videos will your children see?
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