Representation: Feminist theory

Media Magazine reading

Read Playing With The Past: Post-feminism and the Media (MM40, page 64 - our Media Magazine archive is here).

1) What are the two texts the article focuses on?


Pan Am and Beyonce's 'Why Don't You Love Me'

2) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?

The idea of a male gaze, which is the idea of sexualized madia pieces that are use to entertain male audience.

3) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

I feel like these texts show a different type of feminism, but they definitely don't show that there's no need of feminism anymore.


4) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Male Gaze- the way that the movies are made for male visual pleasure.
Post-feminism- the time where feminism won't be needed anymore because the genders will be equal.
Feminism- movement that fight for the equality of genders


Music video analysis

Watch the Beyonce video for ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’: 

 

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

The video shows a stereotypical view of a woman in 60s or so and as Butler suggested (humans are typically divided into two distinct categories: men and women and that everything is for a social performance) what the idea of a woman and how it has changed over the years.

2) Does this video reinforce or challenge the view that women should perform certain roles in society?

I feel like it loughs at the stereotypes, because they were created as an over exaggeration or as an example of a perfect woman. Well, in this video it seems to show that no metter how 'perfect' you are, you still have flaws.

3) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

Beyonce is a perfect representation of a strong female character, although in the video she's representing herself as more of a stereotypical model, Beyonce is viewed as a role model.

4) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?

I feel like the representation of a male gaze in this video had definitely a purpose to show women around the world that stereotype is something that women feel that they should be, which is defnitely not true.

Watch Will Jay's video for ‘Gangsta’:

 


1) How does the video suggest representations of masculinity have changed in recent years?

Just like feminists fighting for women rights, nowadays there are a lot of people that want men to show their emotions and just like women; want to express themselves and not be judged.

2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?

Gauntlett suggests that the view of masculanity is changing, and it's not so much a bad thing.

3) What is YOUR view on the representation of men and masculinity? Are young men still under pressure from the media to act or behave in a certain way?

I feel like young man have a lot more pressure when it comes to being relatable and accepted by the public. Being masculan and practically emotionless is what a lot of men think about when they think about 'real man'. Just like the the famous phraze 'real man don't cry' we can tell that masculinity comes not only from the physical appearence but also emotional. 
That representation is far from acceptable, but it'll surely still stick around for a little longer until men will finally realise what accually makes then 'real'.