Rihanna CD Digi Pack Reinforces Gender and Music Genre Stereotypes
1. Rihanna CD Digi Pack – Loud
Characters
ThisDigi pack onlyhas Rihannarepresentingthe female gender.Thismusicartistisbeing
representedinthe stereotypical mannerof the ‘Pop’genre.The frontcoverof thisDigi pack showsa
heavilymade upRihanna,whichisanegative stereotype of the female genderdue tothe viewson
womenusingmake upto attemptto become more attractive tomales.The use of bodylanguage
alsocreatesa stereotype byhavingthe artistlookingdownwardsinsteadof addressingthe camera.
Thiscouldbe seenasunflatteringasitsuggeststhatwomenare inferiortomenina relationship,
reinforcingthisstereotypeasnegative.Thiscouldalsolinkto the genre of musicasmost songsare
abouta buildingrelationshipor‘heartbreak,’whichimpliesthatmalesare able todo more,damage
or are strongerthanfemales.
Narrative – The Digipackappearstohave a little amountof narrative withinit.However, what
couldbe said aboutthispack isthat any narrative wouldmostprobablybe relatedtothe feelingof
love,the un-reciprocationof these emotionsora break-up.Thissupportsthe stereotype of the pop
genre as mostartistsusuallyfocusaroundthese areasas theyare currentlythe mostpopular
amongstthe target markets.
Setting
The settingonthisdigipackiswhat appearsto be a stage.Thisis supportingthe stereotype of the
Popgenre as most artistswithinthisareaspendtheircareerperforming onstage.Thisstereotypeis
presentedbythe use of a woodenfloorandcurtains.These are the mostcommonassociationsfora
stage,mainlydue tothe layoutand presentationintheatres.There isalsoanamericanflaginthe
background,whichsuggeststhatthe artistis proudof the countrytheyoriginate from, orhintsthat
the topicsstoredwithinthe digipacktookplace withinthatparticularcountry.
Iconography
The use of the AmericanFlagsymbolisesthe ideaof patriotism,orartistsbeinginfluencedbytheir
location,whichcanbe a commontheme withinthe popgenre.Thisispossiblydue tomostartists
themestobe singingabouttheirownproblems,life orrelationships.
Style
2. CameraUse - Long shotshowsthe artistsclothingandsettings.Alsoshowsthe bodyposture and
supportsstereotype of the female genderbeingpresentedinaprovocative mannerwithinthe
genre.Close up,presentsartistinaprovocative way,andshowsthe colourof her hairand lipswhile
makingherappearsubmissive byshowinghereyesaspointingdownwards.
Lighting- High key,supportsstereotype of popgenre beingbright,alsohelpstopresentthe artistin
a provocative mannerbyhighlightingthe colourof herhairand the clothing.