Intro to representation

1. Theories of
Representation
Gender
Representations
in Music Videos

2. Representation
of Women in
Music Videos
• Women are often sexualised in
the media however we could
argue in music videos there
seems to be a hyper-
sexualisation that occurs.
• Women are seen dancing
provocatively.
• This creates a huge debate –
Two schools of thought;
• Women asserting their
femininity and expressing
themselves sexually
• This is damaging and
problematic as if males did this
it would be seen as offensive.

3. Laura Mulvey
• She suggested that
women are objectified
and connoted “to-be-
looked-at-ness” in films.
• They become an object
of desire and are
positioned for the
pleasure of the male
viewer.
• They are positioned for
the ‘male gaze’
• https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=yyDUC1LUX
SU

4. Challenging
Representations
• Some female artists
challenge the stereotypes
and are rarely sexualised
e.g. Adele, Meghan
Trainor and More recently
Lorde.
• These artists subvert
expectations offering
empowering lyrics and
stunning vocals.
• https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk

5. • The more closely that a man conforms to expected and what we have all
come to accepts as traditional characteristics of masculinity, the closer he is
to being a “real man.”
• Despite masculinity undergoing drastic changes in recent times, evidence
indicates little change in hegemonic masculinity and strong representation
of the four themes of the male sex role (stoic, aggressive, dependable and
not feminine).
Masculinity

6. Hegemonic
masculinity
• Hegemonic masculinity is
competitive and reflects a
tendency for males to seek
to dominate other males
and subordinate females
• Characteristics such as
drive, ambition, claims to
self-reliance,
heterosexuality
,misogynistic, and being
aggressive
• Is this evident in
contemporary music? Is it
genre specific?

7. Homo-Eroticism
• Sexual attraction between
members of the same sex,
either male–male or female–
female. The concept differs
from the concept of
homosexuality: it refers
specifically to the desire itself,
which can be temporary,
whereas "homosexuality"
implies a more permanent
state of identity or sexual
orientation
• https://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=FuwTgZOKcf8