Danielle Ramos

[daniellemarieramos]

November 4, 2014

I really enjoyed blogging this semester. The blog did end up being a lot of work, but it helped me to advance my writing. The blog forced me to think about topics in a way different than my own. I think that was one of the most helpful results of the blog. In actuality, I think that the blog helped with class discussion because it helped to grow my analytical skills. The beginning of the semester was challanging because I found it hard to really analyze the videos and get at the point of our discussions; the blog posts gave me an outlet to work on how I analyze media and to figure out what I thought that the videos meant. I think the least productive part of the blog posts were the responses. It was good to read other peoples reactions and ideas, but I’ve always disliked responding to what people write. I have to say in general the blog was a great part of class, and I love that all my writing is archived together on it.

[daniellemarieramos]

Research Blog Post: Sex & Music

As the music industry has progressed, sex has become a more common place topic for songs and videos. In today’s landscape, sex has become a central theme. It is written about today more than any other topic, and it radiates throughout all genres. If a song isn’t about sex, then the video that accompany’s it is hyper-sexualized. We live in a culture where sex is everywhere, and everything is much more sexualized, but this begs the question are we really more sexual now than in the past? Are the themes that we see present today the same as those from the past? Are we more sexual today, or are we more open with our sexual practices? This paper encompasses hyper-sexualization of songs, the change of the sex image from the past to present, and the use of men and women as sex symbols. The most helpful sources will be articles that present a case about changing sexual frontiers and sexual boundaries. In addition to these primary sources, music videos that illustrate the obvious change in public acceptance of riské videos and songs will help to show visually the change in overall presentation of sexual images and ideas. These together will help paint the picture that todays musical landscape pushes more sexual boundaries today than ever before.   

Annotated Bibliography

Denham, Jess. "Maroon 5 new video 'Animals' criticised for promoting

sexual violence." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/maroon-5-animals-music-video-attacked-for-promoting-sexual-violence-against-women-9770094.html>. This source looks at the hyper-sexualisation of music videos in often tasteless ways. It raises questions about the worth of content like Maroon 5's "Animal" and whether music videos should be rated like movies. This is relevant to the topic because it is the main anchor for establishing that todays content is becoming extremely explicit in nature. This article outlines the major flaws in the expression of modern artists ideas. 

Yahr, Emily. "Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line and the evolution of sex

songs in country music." Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/10/06/jason-aldean-florida-georgia-line-and-the-evolution-of-sex-songs-in-country-music/>.  This source gives an overview of sex in country music. Yahr demonstrates how country music has evolved to match the openness of modern social standards. It is a relevant source because it proves that sex is becoming a large theme in multiple genres, even those that seem above those ideals.

The Lonely Island. “I Just Had Sex.” Turtleneck & Chain. Universal

Republic, 2011. Music Video. Dir. Akiva Schaffer. YouTube. 17 Oct. 2014. Web. This source is a music video created by the artist The Lonely Island. It satires modern music and helps lend insight into modern cultures sexual encounters. It is relevant because it comedically illustrates, in the most low of terms, how sex is viewed by musicians and people. By reducing the song to satire, "I Just Had Sex" plainly shows the crude nature of sex themed songs. 

Marvin Gaye. “Let’s Get it On.” Let’s Get it On. Tamla Records, 1973.

MP3. This source is a song created by the artist Marvin Gaye. It provides a comparison of sexual stigma of the late 20th centuth to that of the modern age. It is relevant because the lyrics open a window into the past appropriateness of sex in music. The song allows for discourse on the changing playing field that the music scene often is.

Jason Aldean. “Burning’ It Down.” Old Boots, New Dirt. Broken Bow

Records, 2014. Music Video. Dir. Wes Edwards. YouTube. 17 Oct. 2014. Web. This source is a music video created by the artist Jason Aldean. It shows a glimpse of alternative genres representation of sex. It is relevant because it is one of the songs mentioned in the Yahr article. This means that the video can be a visual representation of the themes discussed in the article.

Maroon 5. “Animals.” V. Interscope, 2014. Music Video. Dir. Samuel

Bayer. YouTube. 17 Oct. 2014. Web. This source is a music video created by the artist Maroon 5. It illustrates how the music industry desensitizes the public to acts of sensationalism. This source is relevant because it is the focus of the Denham article. This video shows the violent images that Denham directly references making it a good reference material for the paper.

[daniellemarieramos]

October 3, 2014

Dr. Melissa Sexton takes the standpoint that women are still viewed as subservient to men. She argues that women don’t have control over their body image, that they can truly only be the victim, and that they are acted upon, they are not actors. Sexton comments on the bias of those three ideals and what it means for gender equality. She believes that female celebrities are held to an impossible standard. They must be modest and innocent while concurrently remaining sexual beings for men. They are viewed in a very narrow lens where men can objectify and use women's bodies without consequence, while women themselves cannot do the same thing. This double standard fuels the fire of antifeminism and ingrains negative stereotypes into the minds of tomorrow’s youth. Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” takes the negative stereotypes and breaks them. She takes the power of her body from men by remaining a dominant, free woman in the video. Everything that we see is a product of Nicki and she asserts her total control. The song is hers; the album is hers; the video is hers. She controls every aspect in order to get across the message that she can do anything. This ties in to the passage because it goes completely against the constructs that Sexton outlines. She talks about the lack of control women have over their body image, and in “Anaconda” Nicki Minaj takes back control of her body. Nicki goes in with a mindset that no one can limit what she displays and what she does, so she empowers herself. Nicki asserts her “independent existence;” she rises to the occasion and proves that men cannot control the female physique. She takes all the ideals that Sexton talks about and shows that a woman can have complete control. By breaking the constructs of the acceptable female figure, Nicki Minaj questions authority and asserts her womanhood the way she wants to, which is all any girl wants to do.

[daniellemarieramos]

Responses

andrew-j-wallace:

I very much agree what you have to say about the the lack of a real message in todays rap culture. Rappers today are in deed not attempting to improve the image or stereotypes of the ghetto image. What do you think it would take for the vicious cycle to end?

I think it has a lot to do with equality. The executives that are running the music industry aren't as diversified as the artists that they represent. We need more multicultural people running the game, and we need more people that were part of it. I think it shouldn't be handed down as a legacy, the executive-ships should be earned. In addition, the general population needs to drop stereotypes that are often put on the shoulders of non-white races. All the stereotypes do is stop social change, which is what we need in music and in life.   

riastorm:

Your argument that Hobson believes Jay Z got to where he is due to his race is very interesting, you mind going a bit more into detail about it?

What I got from Hobson was that Jay Z was marketed for his "authentic blackness." She mentions that a few times, and I think that was the main idea for the article. That being said I don't think he originally started out because of his race. I think that he began much like other rappers, he garnered fame because he spoke to his audience. Somewhere along the way he went from being more underground to mainstream. Once he became mainstream I think a lot of the appeal of Jay Z is his "authentic blackness," he markets it to non-blacks. You can relate to him, and I think that's really important for him reaching the mainstream audience.

[jkspark-blog-deactivated2022112]

After watching the music video for Picasso Baby by Jay Z, the first thing that came to mind was how awkward initially this setup would be for both the artist and the audience. Bringing Jay Z’s music to the MOMA didn’t primarily seem appropriate for his style and feel. However Jay Z is such a...

[daniellemarieramos]

I find it interesting that you say MoMA wasn't the appropriate location for this show. I thought that it was initially awkward between artist and audience, but I felt like Jay Z fit into the scene there. In  todays art scene, minimalism is a large part of modern art and Jay Z embodies that with the white room, white clothes, and lack of stage. I think that in the minimalism he's making a statement about what is rich, and decadent. You focus on him, and that's a really interesting point that the video made.

[jleff6]

Hobson is arguing that Jay-Z is trying to make himself more cultured and something recognized in the same way as a Basquiat or Picasso painting, but he does not necessarily be recognized in this way. Jay-Z rapped his song Picasso Baby in MoMA, a Holy Grail museum for modern art. Hobson is...

[daniellemarieramos]

I love that you called MoMA a holy grail. I think it's great that you linked the album title to what you were talking about. I agree with your statement that his celebrity takes away from his authenticity. In my opinion, once someone reaches the celebrity of Jay Z they authenticity becomes replaced with the desire to sell units and make money. Artists will sacrifice the realness of their music in order to make a good profit, and that's a problem in todays industry. I have to ask, can you really compare the complexity in a Picasso painting to the complexity of a rap?

[daniellemarieramos]

BLOG POST 3

jacobengl1101:

Hobson argues that Jay Z’s performance – his commentary on what defines performance art ...

It was really powerful when you said, “Hobson argues that even though Jay Z shows otherwise, most people see black celebrities only as entertainers and don’t think a mostly black genre like hip hop could express intellectual thought or cultural critique.” I think that’s the main problem with how people view rap, and why there’s such a negative stigma behind rappers. I have to say that I really enjoyed what you had to say about “Picasso Baby,” but one question arised while I was reading: If artists identify via background and not Culturn, then how do you explain artists like Iggy Azalea who are influenced by culture more than their background?

[daniellemarieramos]

September 26, 2014

Hobson is arguing that “Picasso Baby” isn’t being seen for the reasons Jay Z intended. Jay Z is commenting on how the art and music industry see the people within it. He now has enough sway and money to access the luxurious things in life, but he can’t relate with anyone in the same sphere as him. He’s an extremely powerful black man in a world dominated by whites. She’s saying that Jay Z got to where he was because of something outside of his control - his race. He’s novel because of his “authentic blackness;” he’s managed to surpass the social constraints that are often put of black males and come out one of the most successful business men in the world. He has a powerful reach and he’s commenting on how there should be more like him who transcend race lines to become major players in the art industry. Jay Z is a rapper; his art form is often seen as something people in poverty do, but yet in “Picasso Baby” he performs in the gallery space. Gallery’s are often some of the most expensive and upperclass establishments. By performing there, he imitates his lyrics in real life. Jay Z is Picasso and he is doing art. He performs in front of the audience and shows that his “authentic blackness” isn’t what makes him a good performer, it’s the fact that he excels in performance skills and lyrically ability.

[daniellemarieramos]

September 26, 2014

The legacy of gangsta rap has been lost in recent years. It’s not at all like it used to be. Sure, there are rappers coming out today that embody what people like Biggie and Tupac were doing in the 90s, but they’re underground. Rap now-a-days is extremely mainstream. Rappers want to have the largest audience possible and by targeting such a broad spectrum of people, they’ve stopped talking about the problems people are facing and started talking about what the mainstream thinks rappers lives are about. Tupac and Biggie rapped about things that mattered; they said something. Rap today is only ever about drugs, women, and money it doesn’t have any real backbone or deeper message. That reinforces Coates’ assessment. The rappers that are out now aren’t doing anything to help the image of the ghetto or gangsta life. They sensationalize stories that put fear into the minds of white and oppress the non-white. The stereotypes are reinforcing white supremacy. The white men who run the music industry are banking off the struggle of young black males and using said struggle to keep the white man in power. It’s a vicious cycle that was started when 50 cent came on the scene and it hasn’t ended since.

[daniellemarieramos]

September 12, 2014

Click HERE   for my shot list of XO by Beyoncé (1:13 - 1:38)

My Thesis:

The lyrics in XO paint a clear picture of the way Beyoncé sees the world and the values she holds in life, this in addition to the quick transitions and fast movements show that life is a gift to be appreciated.  

[daniellemarieramos]

September 5, 2014

Towards the end of Gaga’s “Paparazzi” when the pair of Gaga and Skarsgård are sitting together reading, Gaga puts down a paper to reveal a “new it girl.” The cuts between the magazine and her actions create a very direct narrative that illustrates that Gaga needs to be number one. She’s showing that the only thing the paparazzi and media want are sensational stories that top one another. The close up shots of Gaga’s actions during the scene mixed with the long shots of her body and of Skarsgård make everything she does seem almost okay. The body language of both characters is that of indifference; Skarsgård is reading the newspaper and not paying attention while Gaga doesn’t show any hesitation in her actions, and it’s very clear that all she wants is to be the center of attention once again. The video starts with decadence and fame on her part, and after the initial conflict she falls out of the spotlight. During her recovery, Gaga is out of the spotlight and unable to do the sensational acts that kept her on the covers of numerous magazines and newspapers. The ending of the video brings her back to where she started. After she kills Skarsgård, Gaga is shot back into the limelight. The scene is important because it sets a new tone and mood to the video through both editing and mise en scene. One where she’ll do what she needs to, to be back in the spotlight. Everything works together to make a point that the paparazzi do nothing but bring the worst out in people, and that the average person will do anything for fame. 

[daniellemarieramos]

[daniellemarieramos]

andrew-j-wallace:

I very much agree with your thoughts about Jackson in the opening scenes of Smooth Criminal, particularly about his angelic and goodnatured appearance. What I found particularly interesting was your aspect of the “doorway” effect and how by entering into the speakeasy the prior 30 seconds of the video is forgotten, replaced by an seemingly good natured man.

I thought that was a really important aspect of the video because in addition to the lighting and color changes, the doorway signals the ending of the pure narrative and introduction of the music. I think the director used the door as a cool transition method.

theycallmedanny:

I like how you used the kids to emphasize MJ’s “goodness” throughout the storyline. The kids bring into light how much Michael mean to those surrounding him.

The kids keep the disney feel to the video. Since there is such a huge contrast between the first thirty seconds and the rest of the video the kids bridge the gap. The appear both before and after the doorway so they add continuity to the video and as you said emphasize his goodness because they never see him as anything other than a good person. 

[riastorm]

The opening sequence of Michael Jackson’s video for Beat It immediately sets the tone for how the rest of the video will play out by introducing the viewer to the story at hand. As there is no music in the opening sequence, the viewer focuses purely on diegetic noise and the...

[daniellemarieramos]

I love your analysis! I think it's really interesting that instead of focusing on the costuming, you focused heavily on the social cues and actions of the man sitting at the bar. Your idea that he is the most important because the camera follows him out of the room is really smart, and cinematically makes a lot of sense. In reference to your last lines, who do you think they are and what are they up to?

[andrew-j-wallace-deactivated201]

The introduction to Smooth Criminal frames Michael Jackson as a hero among villains, a lone protagonist entering into a secluded hangout of criminals resulting in a very tense sequence. ...

[daniellemarieramos]

I’m intrigued by your view that Jackson is a hero among villains. In my interpretation I thought that once he entered the building that Jackson was on the same level as all the other people. I also found your comments on color very insightful. The coloring was obviously used to do exactly what you said, and I think that it added to the feel of the video that Jackson transcended the villains in the building.

[ksmith383]

Bad

The opening sequence of Bad uses the setting to set up the story and mood for the video through colors, camera angles, and conversations with other actors. ...

[daniellemarieramos]

Your paragraph makes some really great points but what I liked the most was your last line, "... you realize Darrel is proud of his education and is worried to go back home, afraid of what his friends with think of him." Reflecting with that idea in mind, I can see how you came to the conclusion. The first time I watched the video I didn't pay very much attention to that detail, but retrospectively I think that is what's going on.

[ramblinbuzzer]

As I watched the first 30 seconds of “Smooth Criminal” I was automatically captured by the “mise en scene”. ...

[daniellemarieramos]

I like what you added about the suit. I almost exclusively noticed the the light and the door and ignored what his fashion could mean. The section with the suit, door, and lighting add to the air that he is "superior or even invincible" 

[inzawetrust]

Beat It

In Michael Jackson’s Beat it video, the open scene hooks your mind, grabs your attention and makes you want to watch the rest of it. ...

[daniellemarieramos]

I loved how your interpretation of the man coming out of the sewer. When I watched the video I thought that moment was more setting the scene for the gang violence, but your idea of "growing up in the gutter" is really interesting. Aside from that I interpreted the video very similarily to you, and I think that perhaps the most important part of the video is the use of lighting. 

PS - I love the gifs!