Feminist Theory blogs

Media Magazine reading-MM40,PAGE 64

1) The article focuses on two texts, these are: Pan Am and Beyoncé.

2) Pan Am- They also have a magazine cover which is heavily mediated which has a purpose to be visually enjoyed by men. There is also a scene at the end where there is a close up of the 4 women's legs. This causes the men to turn around and stare, which suggests that they enjoy and get pleasure out of seeing the females walk, their appearance and generally their bodies.

Beyoncé- She playfully gazes at the camera providing the audience with knowing winks in the 'sexy outfits'. Also, at one point she is openly rubbing her chest and body, whilst playfully looking down the camera, clearly submitting herself to sexual objectification and openly acknowledging the 'male gaze'. However, she is controlling the gaze which empowers her.

3) I believe sexism still exists because women everyday are being measured against the stereotypes- attractive, dependent, inferior etc. This is because both Pan Am and Beyoncé sexualise themselves, however Beyoncé is able to have control of the gaze which empowers her, she also mocks the typical stereotypes, e.g. cooking, cleaning etc.

4)

• Post-feminism- An ideology in culture and society that the society is somehow past needing feminism and that the attitudes and arguments of feminism are no longer needed.
• Patriarchy- An ideology that places men in a dominant position over women.
• Nostalgia- A sentimental longing for the past, often only remembering the positives of the time.

Music video analysis


Beyonce- Why Don't You Love Me

1) This contributes to Butler's idea of gender roles as a 'performance' because she is the constructed stereotype of the 50s/60s society of being a typical housewife, who is meant to cook and clean.

2) This video has two different interpretations. One is that she empowers women, by challenging the stereotype. This is because she is deliberately failing the tasks a housewife would do and crying out "Why don't you love me" at the same time. This implies that she is mocking the whole idea of women performing certain roles because it could be seen as a joke. However, the fact that she reinforces the idea of needing a man may offend women because she is somewhat showing how she is useless without a man and can't perform these certain roles women should. Also, the fact that she cooks, cleans and turn herself into a sex object is also offending.

3) I think that McRobbie would view Beyoncé as an empowering role model for women because Beyoncé is mocking the whole idea of having specific role, she is also glamourous and has control of the situation, like the gaze, which empowersher. However, McRobbie may not see her as a fit role model for empowering women as she could also portray how she is incapable without a man as she cry's out "Why don't you love me", which suggests that she is dependent on him.

4)I believe that Beyoncé empowers women because she is goes against the traditional values of society by mocking the certain roles women do and its seen as a joke. Also, her lyrics empower women because she claims that she is "smart"and "has an ass" which shows how she is capable without a man and doesn't need him. Additionally, the fact that she hascontrol over the gaze gives her more domination. However, she can be seen as reinforcing the gaze due to making herself a sex object.

Will Jay- Gangsta

 

1) This video suggests that representations of masculinity have changed in recent years as Will Jay is portraying an alternative representation of a 'man'. He is mocking traditional stereotypes of men and saying how he is none of them, yet he is still a man, so it's okay to be emotional, committed, sensitive etc. Through his gestures, e.g. he struggles to do press ups, he is showing people that he can still be a. Representations of masculinity are becoming more fluid, so it's fine to be emotional, be respectful to women, not good at sports.

2) David Gauntlett suggests that masculinity is not in crisis and is in fact having a positive impact on men. He states that 'Men can find a place for themselves in the modern world' which is a positive thing as it gives them a choice to be and act in a certain way. They are active and are conscious about what they want to do. Representations of men mean different things to different people, traditionally it was being strong, heroic, but now it's okay to be metrosexual, gay, effeminate.

3) In my opinion, representations of men and masculinity have changed over the years. I don't thing it's a bad thing as if presentations of women have changed, it's inevitable that the view of men will change to as time has progressed. There is still the dominant stereotype of men having to act strong, independent etc. However, the rise of new/digital media means that men have a safe place online to act in a certain way.- Manospere. 
In my opinion, I think men are still under pressure to a certain extent as the media still portrays dominant ideology's of masculinity. Also, other factors such as peer pressure mean that young men have a standard they have to live up to.