TASK #6

This critical investigation is on ‘Why do music videos construct certain narratives around female artists? And To what extent is this being challenged by contemporary female artists?’I chose to do this investigation on this topic as this gender shows how the roles of female artists have changed over the year in the music industry as it covers exciting development in contemporary music videos showcased by artists such as Lady Gaga and Pink....

TASK #5

Essay points/Plan:

Introduction- Firstly I need to talk about the different types of narrative that are constructed around female artists in music videos such as ‘call on me’ or ‘bed rock’ very briefly, for example discuss how female artists are sexually objectified & why, how they are stereotyped into different roles in society.

-Patriarchal society

-Laura Maulvey’s ‘Male Gaze’

- Gender division between men and women. (male dominated industry)
And then I need to talk about how they appeal to the audience, what is the purpose of those narratives.

1st paragraph – I need to talk about the typical representations of female artists in the music industry and then introduce the genre of Pop.

- Talk about how men are seen as active and women as passive and compare the different between them and talk about social division between them.

2nd paragraphs - then I need to talk about the effect on the audience and how and why they affect society: I also need to include theorises that related to my topic.

1. David Gauntlett- Gender identity, lifestyle
2. Gaye Tuchman- symbolic anhilation of women
3. Laura Mulvey- Visual pleasure and narrative cinema
4. Antoinio- Gramsci-Hegemony
5.Judith Butler- Gender as performance
3rd paragraph- I need to talk about my historical text : Madonna ‘express yourself’ and how she become a role model to other female artists.

4th paragraph- How has this been challenged by contemporary female artists, then I need to introduce Lady Gaga & Pink as my contemporary artists and how they also challenged those stereotypes.

5th paragraph- I need to talk about the types of changes that had been occurred by those artists and how it has changed audience’s views and also discuss if there has been any issues and debates surrounding the changes or artists.

6th paragraph- then I will be able to discuss the success of women (female artists) in today’s society and how women are become more dominant and in control of their sexuality and their music.

- I need to talk about the types of achievement that has been made and consider whether it’s negative or positive.

Conclusion- give a summary of the main points made and link the final point back to the main question.

Overall I need to give Quotes and theory that’s link to my critical investigation.

TASK #4

Additional web research:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00x1wz7/Music_Money_and_Hip_Hop_Honeys/

BBC Documentary: Nel Hedayat explores the controversial world of music videos and meets the girls who dream of being in them. Nel uncovers the dark side of the industry in the UK and in America. (GAGA)

http://web2.airmail.net/ktrig246/out_of_cave/mf.html

''Masculinity-Femininity:
Society's Difference Dividend''


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_hegemony

'Cultural Hegemony'

TASK #3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsVcUzP_O_8

The link above is to Madonna's 'Express Yourself' Music Video. Madonna is famously a confident and assertive sexual icon of all time back in the 1980's and 1990's. The portrayal of Madonna has been very strong over the years as she is considered as a great role model in 'challenging the stereotypes' when the action heroes such as 'Lara Croft' counter the idea of 'feminine' women,and the idea that 'only' men can fill tough leading roles,However through the use of music such as 'Express Yourself' Madonna has challenged those stereotypes by challenging traditional assumptions about female sexuality.

This is done because women were and are considered to be given stereotype job roles such as the 'loving house wive' or sexually objectified whereas men are considered to be more masculine and tough.

Madonna changed those assumptions by creating a strong and masculine image of herself which reinforces that fact she can do what man are stereotypically known to do by taken on a man's role and challenging those ideologies constructed around female artists.

Madonna's body images is represented as 'in your face', dominant and powerful figure in this video. She has become a role model to other contemporary female artists such as 'Lady Gaga'.Madonna has sold over 140 million albums worldwide which signifies her importance society. She challenged a patriarchal society as her portrayal in the music video revers 'Fiske' debate as she has been able to sale so many millions of her album because of her individual icon in the 80's and 90's and the ability to connect to the audiences. For audiences the interpretation of Madonna's music had an' individual' and 'unique' meaning which audiences can relate to. According to 'Fiske' Madonna is

''an exemplary popular text because she is so full of contradictions-she contains the patriarchal meaning of feminine sexuality, and the resisting ones that her sexuality is 'hers' to use as she wishes in ways that do not require masculine approval...Far from being an adequate text in herself,she is a provoker of meaning whose cultural effects can be studied only in her multiple and often contradictory circulation''(1989a:124)

This proves that Madonna does not need anyone but herself which signifies her dominant attitude and the powerful meaning in her music which disputes the patriarchal society. She uses feminine sexuality and does not need any man to give their approval as she is portrayed to be her own person.

This factor is reinforced in this music video when she sings ''Second best is never enough, you'll do much better baby on your own'' reinforcing the fact that women can be independent without men and they will be better off without them.

This allows her audience and fans access to semiotic and social power, 'Madonna is a cultural resource of everyday life'.

This implies that her individual fans can related and add meanings or pleasures to their existence by allowing to express themselves.

Following the French theorist 'Michel De Certeau' (1984), Fiske talks about the 'guerrilla tactics', this means that everyday media users snatch aspects of the mass-produced media but then re-interpret them to suit their own preferred readying. This suggests that viewers 'activates meanings' to make sense of their material existence (1988c:58)

The powerful message of Express yourself as allowed girls and young women to become more independent and have developed their own language for dealing with sexual inequality's ''To [many] young women official feminism is something that belongs to their mother's generation''.

Furthermore this shows that Madonna has given women the ability to speak out about how they feel and allow them to express themselves by demanding more respect from men and that they don't need a man as they can to be active and tough. The video contains many sexual scene which is also seem in Lady Gaga's Video (e.g the bed scene) & there are also evidenced that feisty and aggressiveness alongside male inspired clothing is also present in this video just like Pink's 'So What' video (e.g the leather outfit) which implies that even in contemporary music videos those masculine behaviours can be identified within female music videos. Men and women are shown to be sexually objectified in both music videos as the men appear topless and working work showing off their masculine figure, whereas the women are shown in their underwear and bra to show off their petit frame. This historical text alongside the two contemporary text suggest that even though the narratives constructed around female artists consist of sexual objectification and powerful status but also that women are starting to become more dominant and less subordinated by men compared to before.

The audience can identify the similarity and difference between historical and contemporary text as this shows the changes in society are slowly taken shape as audiences interpret each text and their meanings to suit their needs and expectations. However men still hold more power compared to women which may suggest that even though we see changes in the music industry but there are still clear division between men and women as we still live in a patriarchal society.

TASK #2

Books:

1) Feminism, femininity, and popular culture By: Hollows, Joanne. Manchester University Press (2000)

The ‘image of women’ debate:

• The media (‘effect’) message which presented stereotypical image of women, it claimed, not only socialised children into ‘traditional sex roles’ but also taught them that they ‘should direct their hearts towards heart and home’ (PP.21-24)

This suggests that this gender fix is constructed between male and female from a young age.
Women as image: women’s genre: text and audiences

• If ‘man’ and ‘masculinity’ signify activity, then ‘women’ and ‘femininity’ can only signify its absence, passivity. (Cook and Johnston,1988,27-8)

This quotes shows that men are represented as active whereas women are portrayed as passive. This has been shown throughout history.

• Mulvey’s ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’: women are an object of visual pleasure for the men spectator. The erotic pleasure in ‘looking at another person as an object’. She argues, it is a woman who is coded as an erotic object for a male gaze.

Mulvey’s theory suggests that women are being objected in music videos or any another media text in order to appeal to the male gaze and the male audience. Women are constructed to in this way to appeal to the man audience.

• Mulvey: ‘in a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female’ (PP.43-50)

This implies that there is not an equal division between men and women as man are still dominant and women are subordinated by them.

Fashion and beauty practice: (PP. 138-139) chap 7:

• ‘black and white women are objectified differently’

This quote signifies that women of different race or ethnicity are represented in different ways such as black women as aggressive and violent whereas white women are inviting the sexual gaze.

Youth cultures and popular music: (PP.162-167) chap 8:

• According to Sarah Thornton’s ‘club cultures’ – subcultural capitalism had a large increase amongst women: - subcultural capital is ‘objectified’ or embodied’ in having the right look, the right record collection. ‘’ girls are not actually one of the boys’.

This suggests that women are not considered to be as one of the men even though they construct their image and looks in certain ways.

Love songs and teen bop: (PP.174-181)

• Mavis Bayton commented that pop music is important in women’s live. She argues that ‘rock is serious’ music- ‘there are some sort of ‘natural’ sexuality which rock expresses’- this allows women to become more dominant as it ‘allows for direct physical and psychological expressions of sexuality.

Bayton quote signifies the idea that women can express their feelings, sexuality and become more dominant through the use of ‘rock music’ which is more aggressive and powerful.

• The spice girls have, in turn, spawed their own female fans, and their slogan’ girl power’- (popular feminism) identified by the British media.

This means that through the use of popular feminism girls gain more power and created more dominant girl group in music such as the spice girls, pussycat doll or girls aloud.

2) Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, cultural and media studies: the key concepts (3. edition.). London, Routledge.

'Stereotype has entered public life as a term that is used to describe how fixed qualities or traits may be attributed to groups in the way they are represented in various media'

This quote suggests that different stereotypes are shown through various media text which allows audiences make different interpretation of each text or image.

3) A message for the media, young women talk- Jane Waghorn (editor) (P.49)

'The media are helping to perpetuate the divisions between men and women'

This means that the media is allowing the division between men and women to take help as this often divides them into different groups and classes.

4) Johnson, Allan G. “Patriarchy, The System: An It, Not a He, a Them, or an Us.” The Gender Knot: Unraveling Our Patriarchal Legacy. Temple University Press, (1997) (P. 94)

“From the expression of emotion to economics to the natural environment, gaining and exercising control is a continuing goal of great importance [in a patriarchal culture]”

This quote suggests that man have to feel the need to be needed, in control and masculine as this is how they are able to express their emotions.

5) David Gauntlett- Media, Gender and Identity (1995)
‘Masculinity crisis- women show that they can do everything that men can, this provider role becomes diminished’

Gauntlett suggests that men were more likely to be aggressive, whereas women were likely to be passive. This means that women are considered to be weak whilst ineffectual, victimised, and supportive. men are represented more active and strong,adventurous and victorious.

6) Gaye Tuchman-symbolic annihilation

‘Madonna’s erotica album blurred gender confusions, fluidity of sexuality, and transgression of masculine and feminine stereotypes’

This suggests that Madonna was a sexual icon in 1980-90s challenging traditional assumptions about female sexuality which made her a great role model for women and a pop icon.

Books STILL TO READ:
1))Gender,Race & Class in Media -by: Gail Dines & Jean M.Humez (editors)
2))Media Studies Therapies Approadies-by Dan Laughey(2009)

TASK #1

Q: Why do music videos construct certain narratives around female artists?

& To what extent is this being challenged by contemporary female artists?

Women are traditionally represented negatively in music videos such as : Satisfaction by Benny Benassi or Call on me by Eric Prydz ect.

As women are shown to be sexually objectified in order to appeal to the 'Male Gaze' (Mulvey 1975). For example in the videos of 'Satisfaction' the women are shown to be dressed in shorts,skimpy clothing,sweaty bodies,orgasmic facial expression and performing in a ''sexually'' charged manner which appeal to the male audience and as it contains sexually assertive female this can also appeal to the male 'fantasy'. Women are portrayed as passive unlike men who are represented as active and more dominant.

Even in 'male' videos women are shown to be just for a purpose of display rather than narrative function as the voyeuristic treatment of the female body in 'male' videos are shown as adornments to the male ego and erotic pleasure. As for the videos of 'call on me' women are also represented in the same way and sexually objectified as the use of graphic sexual poses and sexually suggestive 'thrusts' emphasise sexual treatment of the female body.

The emphasise of the female body parts can reinforce the theory of (Goffman 1972) who suggests that codes and conventions such as Dismemberment, domination and superiority can be observed in music videos.For example in both music videos the dismemberment of the female body parts are shown such as the chest, legs, lips which shows women are physically portrayed in sexual or reclining poses yet again to appeal to the male audience and to please the male dominated culture. A culture that is rich in misogyny and sexism as these negative representation reinforces the patriarchal society. This is a society where men have power and control whereas women are disadvantaged, lower in class and status. Theses patriarchal ideologies will stay in place when industries (Media/music) constantly reproduce the same images which become 'norms' to society.

Other examples of music videos which signifies the ideologies that women are represented in a negative light are shown below:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha80ZaecGkQ
  Young Money - Bed Rock
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCLxJd1d84s
  The Pussycat Dolls - Buttons ft. Snoop Dogg
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-qN6TCY85c
  Nelly - Hot In Here
  

For my main text i will be looking at Lady Gaga & Pink, this is because those two female artists like many other have chose to challenge the stereotypical representation of women in music videos and that they are also contemporary. However the scene i have chosen to look at from the music video of 'Alejandro' By Lady Gaga & 'So what' By: Pink can be questioned on whether the female artist are being objectified or its self objectifying in order to show that they are powerful,independent artists who are sexually provocative and 'in control' or 'inviting' a sexualised gaze yet in power and portrayed as dominant female artists. The narrative of those videos signifies the changes of stereotypes surround female artists. I will also briefly be talking about the changing face of Madonna in the way she is represented back in the 80/90's compared to now.

Lady GaGa Alejandro (Official Music Video)

The opening scene of this video consists of a dark nature and the idea of sadness (e.g the funeral scene) which is complimented by Slow violin music alongside the dramatic slow-motion shots with the Gothic mise-en-scene when someone is carrying a heart on a black velvet pillow, which makes Gaga look like shes starving or sexual . Lady Gaga challenges the representation on men and women as this video symbolises the 'Gay' culture as through out the video Gaga referees back to the challenges 'Gay ' and 'homosexuals' had to endure back in history (e.g the Nazis who mass murdered homosexuals,represented by the men dressed as Nazis or Catholicism which oppress and still continues too do so against homosexuals, represented by Gaga's nun outfit with rosary).

Back in history men were always stereotyped as masculine,strong and active where as in this video men are shown in high heels and fishnet stockings which challenges the stereotypical representation on men .On the other hand women were and even today are shown to by stereotyped and sexually objectified which signifies that we still live in a patriarchal society, however through the use of this video Gaga shows that women can also be as strong,masculine and active as men ( e.g when gaga is wearing the leather clothes and leading the men) in which it also referees back to the Queen of Pop 'Madonna' and her representation which changed over the many year as a result it changed the audiences views back in the 80's/90's. We've seen all this imagery of the Catholic figure before with Madonna and various other artist, but now that we are seeing it more, we as viewers become desensitized to the real meanings of those texts however according to (Fiske 1982) audiences can interpreted certain meanings of a media text in different ways in particular to specific culture.

Lady Gaga challenges those representation and stereotypes of women are as is portrayed as a strong individual and in power when leading the group of men while dancing around.

This can also suggest that she is in 'control' as she uses the men as decorations on the background, whereas stereotypically women are being objectified and used as a objects in 'male' music videos to help to raise the male status and power. Gaga is portrayed as the ring leader and a symbolic figure, this signifies that women can also be active. its arguable to suggest either that Gaga her self is still being objectified, when she is shown to be wearing very little clothes (e.g bra,pants and stockings) or during the bed scene as Gaga is shown to be on top of the man on the bed while her hands are tied to the rope onto the bed, this images also signifies the power of Gaga and the control over men, whereas before women were seeing less powerful and dominant. Women were often consider to be as lower class than men.

This also appeals to (Mulveys) 'male gaze'. However according to (Gammon and Marshment 1988) which criticise Mulveys theory and suggest that women are not passive but also active. Gaga's representation can be controversial as through out the videos Gaga is shown in a new light when she is represented as an 'Biblical' object when shes dressed as a nun in a red latex habit, swallowing rosary beads which symbolises the "desire to take in the Holy''.

This is also done to show that the portrayal of Gaga as a nun is accepting the 'Gay' men around her, however before this was not accepted by the Catholic religion. Viewers become more desensitized to such issues and debates.

Just like Madonna, Gaga mixes overt sexuality with religion, and in so doing symbolically acknowledge her eternal damnation, this is shown when Gaga is rolling around on a bed as she's getting ready to eat some rosary beads.

In Madonna's videos, she is both feminine and powerful and we can also identify this great combination in Gaga's music videos. Gaga is often criticises for 'copying' Madonna work,however Gaga succeeds by reproducing the work by successfully offering new and contemporary interpretations which appeals to the audiences.

The similarity's between Gaga and Madonna are endless as they are both seen as great iconic figures and both women demonstrate that they are in charge of their sexualities and have their own Independence's as contemporary female artistes who challenge the stereotypical representation of women regardless of whether they are playing a submissive role or the dominatrix.

In this videos Gaga introduces her audiences to representations of queer identities just like Madonna. This is shown when they convey feminine desire, sexuality, and pleasure through the use of their backing dancers who identities are articulated. The men in fishnet stockings and high heel dancing around in tiny pants are not the stereotypical representation of men and this is been challenged through the use of Gaga's work. As a female artist she shows strong domination in the pop music industry. This also signifies that fact that in contemporary society the rise of 'girl power' is more accepted and female artists are showing to be more dominance.independence and control of the sexualised gaze and the media.

During an interview with The Times (online) Lady Gaga explains that this music video was inspired her love for her 'Gay' friends and admiration of gay love. In the article she explains that this music video is about the:

''purity of my friendships with my gay friends. And how I’ve been unable to find that with a straight man in my life. It’s a celebration and an admiration of gay love – it confesses my envy of the courage and bravery they require to be together. In the video I’m pining for the love of my gay friends – but they just don’t want me.''

Almost everything in the video covers that statement as it shows the "courage'' & ''bravery'' the queer required in order to be together. Gaga also shows that women are not subordinated.

Web link: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7129672.ece

Pink - So What (Not Full Music Video)



I was not ablt to embed the full musiv vidoes of Pink: So What, but the link to the full vidoe is shown -->: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUvYR2ZYjVY (Full)

From the opening scene of this video, we as an audience can identify that 'Pink' is claiming her independence as an individual female that is no longer with her husband as she has found new ways of leading with it and gaining her own independence. The title 'so what' suggests that she does not care as this music video challenges the stereotypical representation of men and women alongside their roles in society. Pink’s music video signifies the ideologies constructed around different genders and the representation of masculinity and femininity in relation to hegemony.

Pink is shown to be showcasing the different values of masculinity and femininity as she takes on the role of what a patriarchal society would consider to be a 'man’s' role and plays around with the ideologies constructed or expected of a certain gender for example a man should be strong and masculine whereas the women is more feminine and often linked to the stereotypical job roles such as house work and family life.

we see this role being challenged from the start of the video where pink is getting another tattoo on top of her other collection and this challenged the role as this is often linked to be masculinity and men.

This video also suggests that men and women behave in different ways due to hegemonic 'norms' which are expected in society. In this videos Pink portrays some of these behaviors and actions by portraying a man’s role as the representation of masculinity and femininity is shown. Even though Pink is portrayed as masculine and loud, at the start of the video pink's ''husband'' is covering her eyes to show that man seem to be in control and in a position of power over the women as pink signs: “I guess I just lost my husband/ I don’t know where he went”.This can also conveys that she in need of her husband and she cant find him suggesting that women need man and can't be independent as through out history men were and still are representation more dominant than women.

We can also see another hegemonic representation of masculinity when pink is singing to her husband and he has his back turn to her, yawning and clearly showing that he is not listening to her. Pink challenges the stereotypical representation of womanly qualities when she decides to start a fight in a guitar shop and get in trouble, this type of action is considered to be masculine as men are represented as aggressive and more dominant. According to the patriarchal culture pink supposed to be passive because she is a women whereas men seem to be considered as active. however this is challenged when she take on a man's role.

She posses womanly qualities and challenges this by fighting physically and punches the man in the face to her new dominant characteristic. Other disputes of hegemony Pink represents in this video is when she is holding a drink or a bear can in her hand on the road and causing a scene by being aggressive,out of control and rowdy which is not considered to be a femininan behaviour in society however in doing so she is going against the patricachal society.

The desire of independencey is shown through out the video for example when Pink is cutting down the tree with her and her husbands name on it with a chainsaw which siginifes that she no longer needs him and this idea is reinforced when she says: ''i dont want you tonight' and this suggests that she is more dominant and independent as a women by cutting the the tree herself.

Through out the vidoe Pink illustrates the different in gendre roles and how they are portrayed in soicety and the media. Through out the video Pink pokes fun out of masculinlty and fimininity by switching roles and behaviour of different gender roles for exmaple then she crys while cutting the tree shows that women are emotional but at the same times shows that she is going to be ok without a man when saying 'it ok i'm fine'. Pink also shows that women are not subordinanted by men. This video contains very little sexucal objectifiton of women, when Jessica Simpson walks in the bar wearing sterotypical clothes such as mini skirts and heels which are considerd to be objectifying the femal body or when Pink flashes hery body naked on the red carpet for the cameras showing that she does not care while dancing around and having 'fun' and not pleasing the 'male gaze' or inviting them.

Through out the video pink shows her ability to take on a man's role and show that represenation of men and women alongside sterotypes considered in partichal society can be 'fixed' if society allows the change to happen.

Powrpoint:

Critical Investigation:


Why do music videos construct certain narratives around female artists?
&
To what extent is this being challenged by contemporary female artists?

Critical investigation!

View more presentations from kareenaa.

Critical investigation: Essay points:

Critical Investigation Question:

Why do music videos construct certain narratives around female artists?
&
To what extent is this being challenged by contemporary female artists?

1) Discuses of the different narratives constructed around female artists in music videos:
•WHY are they constructed this way: I need to consider the following points:
Appeal to audience/ Laura Maulvey 'Male Gaze'/patriarchal society/male dominated industry

2) Effects on audience: How and Why?
• Relevant theory’s that relate to the topic:
1. David Gauntlett- Gender identity, lifestyle
2. Gaye Tuchman- symbolic anhilation of women
3. Laura Mulvey- Visual pleasure and narrative cinema
4. Antoinio- Gramsci-Hegemony
5.Judith Butler- Gender as performance

3) How has this been challenged by contemporary female artists (Lady Gaga and Pink)?

4) What type of changes has been made and does it have any issues and debates surrounding the changes or artists.

5) Discuss the success of women (female artists) in today’s society.
• What has been achieved and consider whether it’s negative or positive.

6) Link the final point back to the main question.

_______________________________________

Short proposal to the linked practical production:

• A short advert (moving image)
• A magazine cover (photo shoot)

I am not sure what will my linked practical production to this question would be!. The only two possible ideas I have is a short advert promoting female artists in a much dominant position or a magazine cover (photo shoot) showing the new found ‘girl power’ surrounding female artists. However I am not sure if those ideas will be possible or suitable and this may change through the process of the critical investigation.

Music Video!

Lady Gaga -Alejandro video - challenging the roles of female artists in contemporary music videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVhcpxT37BU

Pink- so what video- challenging the sterotypical represent of women-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XKZh3vWeGc

Madonna - Express Yourself : style and music icon- historical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okFF0pgFyiI

Articles AND Web links:

MADONNA thinks Lady GaGa is a great big copy cat!
http://www.showbizspy.com/article/206290/madonna-thinks-lady-gaga-is-a-copy-cat.html

Lady GaGa-'The next Madonna'
http://www.squidoo.com/madonna-and-lady-gaga

five issues/debates/theories

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha80ZaecGkQ
Young Money - Bed Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCLxJd1d84s
The Pussycat Dolls - Buttons ft. Snoop Dogg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-qN6TCY85c
Nelly - Hot In Here

The example's listed above are music video which shows how women are portrayed through the media and how they music videos have a certain narrative which involves women shown to be sexually objectified, as usually these women are dressed in short,light,skimpy clothing's as they are often referred to as 'bitches', 'Hoes' and much more. Theses women are represented that way as they are shown to perform in sexual manner as the behaviours of theses women often reflect the artists lyrics,style and status. Debates such as misogyny and sexism are constructed through this culture of women viewed as 'object' often their to satisfy the man needs.

Stills From the music video of 'Young Money' - Bed Rock and 'Nelly'-Hot In Here:

Issues:
• Representation and stereotyping
• Media effects
• Ownership and control
• Regulation and censorship
•The effect of globalisation on the media

Theories
• Postmodernism and its critiques
• Gender and ethnicity
• Marxism and hegemony
• Audience theories
• Genre theories

The list above shows the possible issues and debates surrounding female artists in music videos and the ideologies constructed around them, issues such as sexism, stereotyping and copycatting are some of the issues that creates debates and issues surrounding the representation of women and how they are seen through the eyes of the media.

The Portrayal of women in General:

The list of links below shows the Portrayal of women in society. It shows the positive and negative representation of them, however according to the articles it shows that women are overpowered by men in society and how they are considered to be less dominant and powerful,the positive representation of women is overshadowed by stereotypical representation of their gender roles and the mediation surrounding women and stereotypical roles are affecting how they are portrayed.

Positive representation of women:
http://womensissues.about.com/od/positiverolemodels/Postive_Depictions_of_Women_Media_Role_Models.htm

Positive Depictions of Women - Media Role Models

http://loveyourbody.nowfoundation.org/positiveads.html

Love you Body: positive ad on/about women

Negative representation of women:

http://atdpweb.soe.berkeley.edu/quest/Mind&Body/Portrayl.html
The Negative Portrayal of Women

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/
Media Portrayals of Girls and Women

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm
Beauty and Body Image in the Media

http://www.suite101.com/content/media-portrayal-of-women-a189870
Media Portrayal of Women

Female Stereotypes in the Media (Negative and Positive stereotypes)

Article:

''Is Lady Gaga A Good Role Model For Her Younger Sister?''
http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2010/01/lillys-blog-why-lady-gaga-is-a-role-model-for-girls/

''Lady Gaga Can Challenge superstar but not so in New York City Politics''
http://blogs.forbes.com/meghabahree/2010/09/15/lady-gaga-can-challenge-superstars-but-not-so-in-new-york-city-politics/

''Lady Gaga A Fame Monster''/ ''The Illuminati Puppet''
http://thy-weapon-of-war.blogspot.com/2009/08/lady-gaga-illuminati-puppet.html
http://thy-weapon-of-war.blogspot.com/2009/08/lady-gaga-illuminati-puppet.html


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW9GncMSGRU

Lady Gaga, A Role Model?



The type of theorists that would apply to the issues, gender roles,debates and other representations constructed around female artists are:

• David Gauntlett- Gender,identity,lifestyle
• Gaye Tuchman- Symbolic annihilation of women
• Judith Butler- Gender as performance
• Laura Mulvey-Visual pleasure and narrative cinema
• Antonio Gramsci-Hegemony

Pink: Shes her own man!

So what: Pink (not full length)

The videos above challenges the stereotypical role of a female artist in music videos, as the 'So what' video by Pink signifies power and dominant. However pink's music can often be referred to as 'bad influence' on young teenagers and the target audience, but even so, Pink continues to challenge the stereotypical role of women to society and it shows that she is in control of her own music as it allows her to express her feelings and though, as this video was done when she broke up with her husband, female artist often base their music around their own liefs and experiences, the audience can identity with the issues constructed in their music.

Unlike other female artists Pink is not sexually objectified in her music that often but at the same time her style of music can appeal to the male and female audience, she's can be referred to as a 'Rock Chick' as she takes on a manly and more dominant role in her music videos.

Lady Gaga In Power Of Fashion/Music

Articel: Gaga In the Headlines Once again!!

Five interpretations of Lady Gaga's meat dress
By Denise Winterman and Jon Kelly BBC News Magazine



Beach wear as you've never seen it before - Gaga's meat bikini

Plates of meat... literally

Pop star Lady Gaga has made the headlines again for wearing a dress made of slabs of meat to the MTV Video Music Awards in LA. So what is she trying to say with her latest creation?

It could be art, it could be fashion, it might even be just an attention-grabbing stunt.

When pop star Lady Gaga turned up to the MTV Music Video Awards ceremony wearing a dress apparently made of meat - with matching bag, fascinator and shoes - millions were left baffled and intrigued in equal measure.

The dress has invoked the fury of animal rights group Peta, as well as accusations that it could not surely have been made of real meat (Gaga insists it was).

But the garment has also provoked a flurry of head-scratching from pundits attempting to work out what it means. Is it a defiant feminist gesture? An artistic statement? A commentary on the fashion world? All of these, or none of them?

Speaking after the awards, Gaga said the dress was open to "many interpretations" - including, she said, a statement about the US military's attitude to homosexuals. Here, a range of experts offer their thoughts. "It's anti-fashion," says Andrew Groves, course director of the BA in fashion design at the University of Westminster.

"What she's doing is quite subversive - it's a commentary on the fashion and the music industries and I think it's very clever. It's like when Bjork turned up to the Oscars in a swan dress designed by Marjan Pejoski. What Lady Gaga is really saying is: 'I'm above all this, but I'll accept your award.'" She is also subverting the whole idea of wearing a red dress on a red carpet to get noticed, he says.

"Lady Gaga takes fashion very seriously, she has her own stylist and she understands that she has to keep evolving and updating her image.

"I think it's also a commentary on the music industry - no-one buys music anymore, everyone downloads these days, so the only thing about her that has any value is her appearance and what she's wearing.

"She's very, very smart. She understands that it's possible to be popular but not populist. Lots of people really, really, dislike her, but lots love her as well - the dress taps into that because she'll get lots of flak for it, but plenty of praise too."

And of course, it's about getting noticed, which is massively important for any pop star.
"It's Lady Gaga's dress we're talking about, not anyone else's," says Mr Grove.

A feminist statement:
This is a women in control of her own image and turning the tables on society, says Laurie Penny, a feminist writer and blogger. As Gaga herself said at the awards: "If we don't stand up for our rights soon we're going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones. And I am not a piece of meat."

“Start Quote''
It taps into the artistic tradition of the memento mori or the still life”
End Quote Dr Richard Noble Head of art, Goldsmiths College
• Gaga defends VMA 'meat dress'

"It's a clever play on women being viewed as chunks of flesh, as pieces of meat, as things to be consumed," says Ms Penny.

"It's a sly wink at that aspect of society and the joke is on us. Just take her quip about asking Cher to hold her meat purse. She is the one laughing."

It's a bold statement, but definitely not a silly stunt, says Ms Penny. The dress has been very carefully made and is not just slabs of meat thrown together - it is like a "beautiful couture dress". This attention to detail shows it is something Gaga has thought through.

"People will say it's mad or crazy and, of course, there is a shock factor to it. But it is all very cleverly done and very calculated. This is a women in control of herself and her image. I think it's brilliant."

A commentary on ageing and decay
"I think it's very clever," says Dr Richard Noble, head of art department, Goldsmiths College, University of London. "She appears to be referencing the Canadian artist Jana Sterbak, who exhibited a 'flesh dress' made of meat.

"It taps into the artistic tradition of the memento mori or the still life. The still life, after all, is a meditation on mortality and the state of decay. You have the flowers and the vegetables, but all the corrupting elements as well."

Sterbak's dress was presented as sculpture, he says. When it was exhibited, it was pre-salted to mimic the ageing of the body. When it was in an exhibition space for six weeks or so, it didn't decay as such but it hardened.

"So it was also a commentary on vanity, which I suppose is quite relevant for Lady Gaga. If Lady Gaga really is referencing Sterbak then it's quite a smart thing to do.

"I don't know whether she knew about Sterbak beforehand. I suppose she could have come across the dress, but she's got a big staff who would have alerted her.

"But I have to admit I was quite surprised when I saw it on the front of the newspaper."
Our hypocritical attitude to meat Animal rights campaigners were quick to criticise Gaga's decision to appear on the cover of Vogue wearing a meat bikini earlier this month. Her latest outfit has angered them all over again.

But could she actually be making a bold statement about something animal rights campaigners themselves often argue - society's often hypocritical attitude to meat. The same people who are horrified by a raw-meat dress, may be wearing leather shoes which are themselves the product of dead flesh.

Chef Fergus Henderson, author of Nose To Tail Eating and someone who is noted for his use of offal and all cuts of meat, sees a similar hypocrisy in attitudes to eating meat.
"People often don't want meat to look like meat. They want to neatly wrapped in plastic from a supermarket."

There is nothing pretty about Gaga's dress, only the diamond accessories add some glamour. But love the outfit or loathe it, it's what raw meat really looks like.
So what does Henderson think when he looks at it? Is she a new recruit to his way of thinking?
"I look at the pictures and think it would have been better if that meat had been cooked lovingly and eaten with a nice glass of red wine," he says.
It doesn't mean anything

Lady Gaga is one female pop singer among many thousands - it's not her music that is distinctive so much as her iconoclastic attitude to style. It's an approach which has earned her as much exposure in magazines, on TV and on news websites, as on the radio.

As someone who has sported a lobster on her head and sunglasses framed by cigarettes, Gaga has become a fashion icon of the surreal - a Salvador Dali to Kate Moss's Toulouse Lautrec.
"I'm just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time," Gaga once said.

It could all add up to the most disturbing theory of all - that the joke is on us; her meat ensemble means nothing at all. It is fashion for fashion's sake. End of!

Web link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11297832

New critical investigation Question:

Question:

WHY do music videos construct certain narratives around female artists?
&
To what extent is this being challenged by contemporary female artists?

introduction to my critical investigation:

I have chosen to carry out my critical investigation on music videos and in what why are female artists are portrayed through the media in to days contemporary society.I will be covering the many types of is issue and stereotypical role's women are given in certain music videos and how they differs from historical representation of women as this will allow me to explore the ideas constructed around female artists.

Over the years things have seem to be changing as female artists such as Lady Gaga and Pink seem to be challenging the stereotypical female role, as they seem to be more dominant and in control in their music videos, However women are still being placed in their stereotypical role's and sexually objectified in music videos in order to appeal to Mulveys 'male gaze' as men seem to still own theirs status symbol signifying the status of power and male dominant over women.

Pink and Lady Gaga are a great example of 'Girl power' in to days contemporary music video as gender role are more complex in this day and age and that is reflected through the media. According to theorist David Gaunltlett the raise of 'girl power' in the media is formed though identities constructed by music artists. This is why i have chosen to explore the ideas,issues and debate surrounding female artists in music videos.

(Lady Gaga) & (Pink)

Role Models Film Trailer: (2008)

Synopsis:
A pair of irresponsible energy drink salesmen realize that serving a month of hard time is nothing compared to spending 150 hours in a community mentorship program after they trash the company truck and find themselves at the mercy of the court in this comedy starring Seann William Scott and Paul Rudd. Wheeler (Scott) and Danny (Rudd) wouldn't necessarily be the first people a parent would turn to when seeking out a babysitter, in fact, they probably wouldn't even make the list in the first place.

After slamming a few too many Minotaur energy drinks and crashing the company truck, however, the two loose-living pals narrowly avert jail when the court decides to let them become mentors to a group of young misfits. But how is the recently dumped Danny supposed to help bashful, role-playing geek Augie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) become a man when all he can offer the boy is bitter sarcasm, and is beer-chugging man-child Wheeler really the best choice to help foul-mouthed fifth-grader Ronnie (Bobb'e J. Thompson) develop more respect for his elders? Probably not, but they'll have to do their best anyway when the center's ex-con director (Jane Lynch) confronts them with a harsh ultimatum. Now, if Wheeler and Danny can just make it through the rest of their probation without getting tossed in jail, maybe there's hope for the boys and Danny's relationship with his fed-up girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) after all.

This film is almost like a 'mock' or a 'parody' of an great example of a role model and how their actions have consequences which effects those who aspire to be like them.

Celebrity influence on audince

The following articles below are shown to be related to my possible question for my critical investigation: as the articles raise issues about how celebrity influences their audience, what are the impacts on today’s contemporary society.

In a society we as the audience or the consumer are obsesses about entertainment and celebrity culture. We often turn to the latest celebrity magazine or TV for updated about our celebrity ideals. Celebrities can have a powerful impact on a person's life for example from fashion trends to political views. The media glamorises the attractiveness of a celebrity's lifestyle which can influence the audience’s beliefs, opinions, interests and behaviours. This obsession with celebrity culture often starts at an early age as many children and teens are infatuated with young, pop-culture icons such are Miley Cyrus or Zac Efron as they often think of celebrities as role models and someone to look up too. However they are often represented in a negative way rather than positive and this effect what people think about celebrity and how much should we rely and 'trust' the celebrity life style or the 'media'.

There are many debates and issues to consider which can affect and influence the audience such as: Fashion, body image, body language, policies and the environment. Celebrity are often portrayed as a bad influence by the media, however the media control’s and manipulates the celebrity’s as so does the celebrity in order to 'gain fame' and 'popularity'. The way celebrities are represented in the media often reinforces the issues and ideology's surrounding, however we are too hooked onto the celebrity culture rather than reflecting back to our own lives.

They are related to my question ‘Why'/'How' do celebrities influence their audience?’, For the critical investigation I need to consider all the issues and problems that are related to my question and investigate the ‘HOW’ and ‘WHY' do celebrities action impact on audiences and the effect on society.

Article 3

The link to this article is shown below, it covers the issues of the changing face of Heidi montage. she talks about how she felt before and after going under the knife and how having 16 surgery's in less than a day caused so much controversy between the media and her fans.

http://amygrindhouse.com/heidi-montags-face-surgery.html

Article 2

Celebrity... Role Model
How Does Celebrity Behaviour Influence Us?
Dec 22, 2009 Libby Wilson

Sporting Role Models - woodleywonderworksCelebrity gossip gains much media coverage. This article examines the effect on the public, and whether celebrities are considered role models.
It is hard to avoid news of celebrity antics, whether or not one is interested. Celebrities are generally thrust into the public eye because of a particular talent but, once they are in the public eye, every aspect of their behaviour is under scrutiny. With so much exposure to celebrities, the public could well be influenced by their behaviour... or misbehaviour!

Why Celebrities are Likely to be Imitated ?

According to Bandura’s social learning theory (1986), humans learn about the world through observing the behaviour of others. By watching the effects of certain behaviours, and examining personal responses, people decide on their own values about behaviour. Logically, people are likely to imitate the behaviour which they associate with success, or successful people. A British study conducted by Dr Charlotte De Backer found that celebrities are seen as being "higher status or more successful others" which means that people are more likely to "mimic [their] overall behavior pattern".

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Why Celebrities Influence Young People?

"There's simply no escaping the mass marketing of today's celebrities", says Common Sense Media's Jim Steyer in Kids & Celebrity. This is especially true for generation Y. According to Rob Frankel, who wrote The Revenge of Brand X (2000), this generation is “way more tuned into media” simply because so much media is available to them. Therefore, young people are most likely to be observing celebrity behaviour, and at a time in their life when they are still forming their values.

In 2004, Alan Bush, Victoria Bush, and Craig Martin published findings from an investigation into the effect which celebrity athletes have on the consumer behaviour of Generation Y. From their literature review, they surmised that athletes can have a particularly strong influence on young people in terms of their desired career or their studies, and how they see themselves. They also found that young people “look up to [celebrity athletes] for what’s “cool” in products and brands”. A study by Dr Mary Thornton and Dr Patricia Bricheno found that, for boys’ role models, “footballers” were a close second to fathers. Celebrities and the Generations Before Generation Y.Most research seems to focus on celebrity influence on young people, but results from Dr De Backer’s study showed that older generations were interested in celebrity gossip because it made it easier to “form social networks” with others.

Should Celebrities be Role Models?

Because of their perceived success, the behavior of celebrities, particularly sporting celebrities, has a significant effect on the public, especially the younger generation. However, these people are examples of success in a specific role, and may not be the best choice for instilling moral values. 'Lord Voldemort, a 15-year-old contributor to the Common Sense Media discussion on 'Role Models gone Bad', describes it as follows: "What has the world come to when parents can't be role models for their own kids? When they instead let random celebrities do it…"

Read more at Suite101: Celebrity... Role Model: How Does Celebrity Behaviour Influence Us? http://www.suite101.com/content/celebrity-role-model-a185493#ixzz12HH1cdxI

Article 1

Influence: Celebrities with surgically enhanced breasts, such as Chantelle Houghton and Katie Price, have been blamed for the huge surge in teenagers going under the knife
Teenagers are rushing to have breast enlargement surgery in an attempt to copy their celebrity idols.

The number of girls having the procedure has more than doubled in one year.
But experts warn that young people are putting themselves at mental and physical risk, because in many cases their bodies have not finished developing.

Figures from the country's largest three cosmetic surgery chains show that almost 600 teenagers had their breasts enlarged last year.

One company has reported a fivefold increase on the year before.
Transform has a chain of 22 clinics and offers surgery on interest-free credit.

Last year it performed 169 breast enlargements on girls aged 18 and 19, up from only 31 the year before.

Spokesman Shami Choudhry said credit deals made the procedure, which costs up to £5,000, more attractive to teenagers.

She said many were copying celebrities such as Chantelle Houghton, 24, who won Celebrity Big

Brother in 2006, whom they read about in magazines such as Heat and Closer.

"Young women read in magazines about personalities, like Chantelle, who have had breast augmentations and have a great influence on teenagers," she said.
"Eighteen and 19-year-olds are big consumers of weekly celebrity chat titles.
"Every edition contains something about cosmetic surgery, and women who read these magazines often buy two or three of them a week."

The Hospital Group, which has 14 clinics, has also seen a surge in demand.
It carried out 203 breast enlargements on girls of 18 and 19 last year, more than twice as many as the year before.

And the Harley Medical Group, with 19 clinics, performed 180 operations compared to 90 the year before.

Kafeh Mokbel, a consultant breast surgeon at St George's and the Princess Grace hospitals, both in London, carried out a breast augmentation on a 19-year- old last week.

He said: "This young woman wanted the procedure to enhance her confidence about her body image when going on beach holidays. Her parents funded the procedure."

Most British cosmetic surgery clinics do not operate on women under the age of 18.
One company, SurgiCare, turns away those aged 18 and 19, and urges them to come back when they are 20.

Mark Bury, chief executive of SurgiCare, said: "In some cases these women have not finished developing.

"Even if they have, surgery may be a knee-jerk reaction or a result of peer pressure."
Eileen Bradbury, a Harley Street consultant psychologist who counsels patients considering surgery, said having an operation too young could affect a girl's mental state.

"If you have surgery for the first time when you are 18, then you face a lot of surgery

throughout your life to replace the implants, with the possibility of something going wrong every time," she said.

Breast enlargement is the most popular form of cosmetic surgery for women in the UK, followed by eyelid surgery, face lifts and liposuction.

The fifth most common procedure is breast reduction. Among men, growing numbers are having operations to reduce the size of their "man boobs" or "moobs".

There was a 27 per cent rise of these last year to 224

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-542730/Teenagers-copying-surgically-enhanced-celebrities-DOUBLE-number-breast-enlargements-year.html#ixzz12H4CqLgg