The document provides analyses of music videos based on their portrayal of gender roles, race, sexuality, materialism, and violence. It examines these themes through analyzing lyrics, depicted actions, dress, messaging, and more for songs like "Who Run the World" by Beyonce, "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" by The Offspring, "Make it Nasty" by Tyga, "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore, and "Violent" by 2Pac. The analyses consider how each music video represents or comments on its given theme through the lens of the questions provided.
1. Music Video Analysis
Gender Roles
Song Title: ______Who Run the World________________________________
Artist: ______Beyonce________________________________
Directions: As you closely watch the music video, answer the following questions with as
much detail as possible.
1. What are the men/women doing? (Dancing, sitting, swimming, etc.) Men are dancing
behind Beyonce
2. How are the men/women dressed? How much skin is revealed?Beyonce is dressed in a black
2 piece outfit and the guys are wearing a slave outfits
3. Are there more, fewer, or the same number of men as women?More women than men
4. Describe the body language of the men/women: are they sitting, standing, gyrating,
mugging, etc.? They are dancing
5. Do the men/women have power? How do you know? The women have power because the
song is based on women running the world
6. What³s the message of the song? Girls run the world and have more power than the guys
that think they do.
7. What type of music is the song?Pop
Music Video Analysis
Race
Song Title: Pretty Fly for a White Guy
Artist: The Offspring
Directions: As you closely watch the music video, answer the following questions with as
much detail as possible.
1. What races do you see represented? Black, White, and Latino
2. Are there any dark skinned women shown? How many? Yes, 15 or more
2. 3. What is the race of the person at the focus of the video? A white male is the primary subject
of the video
4. What are the black/Latino/Asian/white/Native American/Pacific Islander people doing?
Watching the white male flash gang signs to the Blacks, and watch him “pump” his ride while
the Latinos are riding bikes.
5. What³s the message of the song? That a white guy can be as “fly” or can act like a Black’s or
Hispanic’s stereotypes.
6. What type of music is the song? 90’s punk
Music Video Analysis
Sexuality
Song Title: _____Make it Nasty_________________________________
Artist: _______Tyga_______________________________
Directions: As you closely watch the music video, answer the following questions with as
much detail as possible.
1. Describe any sexually explicit body language: Women in this video are in their underwear
and bra and gradually progresses to being basically naked. There is lots of kissing and
inappropriate touching.
2. Who is more sexualized • men or women? Both? Women are more sexualized and there is
only one male in the video who is portrayed to have power.
3. Are there sexually explicit lyrics or messages? The entire song is sexually explicit and the
message is only about sex.
4. How are subjects of the music video dressed? The women are dressed in their underwear
and bras. They basically have almost no clothes on.
5. Describe the relationships between the men and women: Are they long or short term?
Casual or serious? There are short term, casual relationships between men and women that
are similar to a one night stand.
6. What³s the message of the song? Women are portrayed as sex objects and the sole
message of the song is to “Make it Nasty.”
7. What type of music is the song? The song is rap music.
3. Music Video Analysis
Materialism
Song Title: Thrift Shop
Artist: Macklemore
Directions: As you closely watch the music video, answer the following questions with as
much detail as possible.
1. Describe the products that are highlighted in the video: (cars, jewelry, clothes, etc.)
The products highlighted in this video are mainly clothes, specifically clothes bought at a
thrift shop rather than from expensive brand names.
2. Are any brand names shown?
Clothes in this video are usually brandless and could come from anywhere.
3. How is wealth defined in the video?
Wealth is valued, but mainly by saving money by not spending it on useless crap that
looks cool but doesn’t do anything. Basically money isn’t thrown around like everyone
in the world has an infinite supply.
4. Are products mentioned in the song lyrics?
Gucci and Louie Vatton are mentioned in the song’s lyrics, but it’s mainly for poking fun
at other Hip Hop songs that overuse these brand names to describe the artist’s endless
wealth and expensive fashion.
5. What³s the message of the song?
Expensive brand-name clothes are a waste of money, and you’d be much better off
spending your money on stuff that you can actually use.
6. What type of music is the song?
This is a hip-hop song with a fun, catchy saxophone-based hook and a danceable beat.
The song sounds like a party anthem musically but without the usual lyrical themes. It
sounds a lot different than the other slow, lazy-sounding brag raps that came out last year.
4. Music Video Analysis
Violence
Song Title: ____Violent__________________________________
Artist: _____2Pac_________________________________
Directions: As you closely watch the music video, answer the following questions with as
much detail as possible.
1. Describe any violent lyrics in the song: Talks about showing no mercy and when they need
someone to handle a job he’s the one they get to do the fighting. Talks about fighting cops.
2. Describe any violent body language: Fighting people and running from the cops.
Aggressive behavior in the jail cells.
3. Describe any violent actions or weapons that are shown: Punching people and fighting cops
4. Describe any self-mutilation or violence: Kicking and punching walls.
5. What³s the message of the song? He’s not afraid to take action by hurting others.
6. What type of music is the song? Rap