Single Stories: The Modern Music Video and it's Influence

Source:http://images.complex.com/complex/images/c_limit,w_680/fl_lossy,pg_1,q_auto/v7dusrv6gqc7xtme0snn/migos-bad-and-boujee-video

I decided to analyze the Migos "Bad and Boujee" video. It had a different feel then some of the other videos that were listed, and I had never heard of the artist before. I actually liked the lead vocalist's voice. I can see why Migos is so popular. The video was more visually appealing as well, unlike Jason Derulo's video that was exhausting to watch. Even though it might have had a slightly more eclectic quality it sill reinforced many of the same tired stereotypes and that took away from it's creativity. 

I watched this video both with the sound on and then again with it off. I noticed more the second time around without the music to influence my perception. The men in the video are front and center, definitely inhabiting the spotlight while the women are "hanging out" with them at various locales. The opening line of the song is: "You know young rich Niggas. You know so we ain't never had no old money. We got a whole lotta new money though." The theme of the video demonstrates this idea of coming from having nothing to having an exorbitant amount of money. The Migos and their lady friends are shown walking around in a part of town that doesn't reflect how much money they have. In contrast to this both the women and men are dressed in designer clothes and are shown eating in a diner but drinking expensive champagne. They are also eating KFC and Cup O' Noodles. There is definitely an understanding that even though they are rich they have no intention of leaving the atmosphere they are comfortable in. I believe the music video does tell the story of female sexuality. The men are shown as tough and strong, and the women are shown as passive and compliant, there to meet the needs of a male should they arise. One female with gold hoops is shown taking a "crotch selfie" in the back of a cab, and it's implied that the picture is intended for a man.The female's representation in this video tell a "single story of a woman's body," as Sut Jhally discusses in the Dreamworld documentary. The only interesting thing the women are doing in the video is riding around on dirt bikes with bandannas on their faces. 

Some people might argue that the video is demonstrating a realistic representation of young black men's experiences. While this might be the case for the members of Migos, it was reinforcing negative stereotypes. Not just of race but of gender. The men in the video were part of a gang, they were shown getting high and the lyrics talked about "Cookin' up dope in the crockpot." It is very disappointing when black men in videos are shown doing little else then getting drunk, high, threatening violence, and treating women as objects. This attitude does a disservice to the black community and to the young men and women that watch these videos. This video along with it's lyrical content tells it's young viewer that there are specific ways of being in one's body and one's gender. 

Interesting article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caitlin-constantine/body-image-womens-bodies_b_1349960.html

Rollout the Toxic Masculinity

Source: https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/underwire/2013/10/Screen-shot-2013-10-01-at-10.14.42-PM.png

This week's documentary we watched in class was particularly shocking to me, the images of pornography made my stomach turn. I don't consume pornography, I have trouble understanding the appeal even though I do "get it." Naturally it was hard for me to understand that images of women being humiliated appealed to an audience large enough to make any money. With all the media content out there that reinforces negative gender stereotypes, it's easy to see why most of it passes without any outrage. In Generation M, Prof. Thomas Keith explains this lack of outrage by using Eminem's music as an example. Some of his songs contain violent, misogynistic lyrics, yet he is still widely popular. Keith argues that if he changed the target of his violence from women to the black community, that his career would have been ruined. But he isn't the only artist who makes women out to be objects in their music videos and lyrical content. Many rap, hip hop, and R&B artists are notorious for sexist and violent themes in their songs. Take Robin Thicke's song "Blurred Lines" for example, that somehow, despite being super rapey as well as a rip off of Marvin Gaye's music, got a lot of radio play. Seriously, the worst fucking song to ever be produced.  

Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1364425679_Ludacris-WordOfMouf-music-album.jpg

In 2001 rap artist Ludacris released a song called "Rollout." Personally, I enjoy his music, I didn't think about the lyrics too much. I had a mindset that I think a lot of consumer's have: that listening to sexist content in certain types of music "comes with the territory." It's unfortunate how complacent Iv'e been, but I'm starting to notice things more. "Rollout" is not a terribly unique song. Ludacris seems to be alluding to the idea that the media is hounding him and people are jealous of him because he has a bunch of money and diamonds, and a kick-ass car. The lyrics are also sexist. When women are mentioned they are mentioned in a sexual way, they exist for the pleasure of men. The women mentioned in this song, are on par with any of the other "objects" Ludacris owns:

Winning, drilling and killing the feeling
Now who's that bucked-naked cook fixin three-course meals?
Getting goosebumps when her body tap the six inch heels
What in the world is in that ROOM, what you got in that ROOM?
A couple a gats, a couple a knives, a couple of rats, a couple of wives
Now it's time to choose

 These types of lyrics don't just do a disservice to women, however, they send messages to men that their place in this world should be one of power over others, that they are worth more when they possess expensive things and beautiful women. Men are far more complex then these toxic messages suggest, with purposes far greater then "winning, drilling, and killing the feeling." The video is mainly centered around Ludacris and how cool he is but his friends get in on the action too. The first few seconds of the video made me think that perhaps the video wouldn't be as sexist as the song but it most certainly redeems itself. All the men in the video are surrounded by beautiful, thin women with very little clothing on. The men have a confident posture while the women in the video look like they're aroused but not present. At one point Ludacris encounters reporters at the gates of his mansion. He grabs the microphone from the only female in the video portrayed in a non-sexual way. In fact it looks as if he's grabbing her wrist at the same time. That scene in the video was interesting to me, as if intelligent women were intimidating to him.