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Revision of Blog Post 3 "Anaconda and Stereotypes"

Dr. Sexton’s argument is that women and men are not regarded as equal in society. Dr. Sexton argues that “Women’s bodies can become symbols of the power and desire of men, but they can never have an independent existence.” For instance, if a man poses with his shirt off, he is thought of as attractive and typically people will not think of him as a sellout. An example of this is the photo of Vladimir Putin riding a bear shirtless. A meme was even created of Putin promoting how he is a “badass”.

People pay more attention to how cool he is and pay less attention to how attractive he is. If a woman were to pose like this, it would generate a completely different reaction and people would pay more attention to her body. When a boy pins up a poster of a woman, it is not typically because he respects her, but because he fanaticizes about her. Her body is regarded as a sexual object to be sought after.

Nicki Minaj expresses through Anaconda that she should not be regarded simply as a sexual object. Minaj dances sexually building the sexual tension, but right when it is at its peak, she does specific things to kill the sexual mood of the video. The two most obvious devices to kill the sexual mood are Minaj ending Drake’s lap dance when he tries to touch her, and Minaj slicing the banana (which represented a phallus). Instead of a boy fanaticizing about a banana in Minaj’s mouth, they will picture her slicing the banana in half with a knife. Minaj seemed to set out to break the stereotype about women and how they are regarded. Minaj proved that women are able to reveal their bodies and not be viewed as sexual objects.

Original Post:

http://jleff6.tumblr.com/post/99083875656/anaconda-and-stereotypes

Blog Reflecting

This class was the first time I had ever blogged. Previously, I had only used blogs to look up people’s opinions on sound systems or other consumer technology. This class taught me how to format my blog posts and how to interact to other people’s blog posts. I thought it was interesting and helpful seeing other people’s opinions on topics and their analysis. In a traditional English class, students are unable to see what other people thought about the same topics, but with a blog, all our posts are visible to our peers. It is a learning process when our classmates respond to our posts. Because of this, I found myself more often responding to people’s blog posts with the same topic as mine. This allowed me to learn more about my topic. For instance, I learned more about the opening scene of Smooth Criminal by reading others posts, like how the mist and kids watching Michael Jackson enter the bar represented a fairytale.

The least helpful thing about the blog posts was when we wouldn’t look at other people’s blogs. As I conveyed earlier, I got the most out of comparing and sharing opinions on the blogs.

Blog Post: Music and Emotion

Music is one of the most available art forms in the world. Everyone is able to experience it and many even have expressed it alone in the car, or at a sports game. Introducing music into a situation can fill awkward silences and create an atmosphere around us. It has existed since the beginning of humanity in many different forms. Music has the special ability of being able to directly affect our emotions. It can make one feel happy or sad by allowing us to connect with the artist and others around us. Music also has the ability to intensify feelings we have and to even trigger memories.

Primary:

I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy & Faith

Combs, Sean. I'll Be Missing You. Puff Daddy, Faith, 112. Puff Daddy, Stevie J, 1997. YouTube. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fesv7_fXvs&spfreload=10 Message: JSON Parse error: Unexpected EOF (url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fesv7_fXvs)>.

This song was written shortly after Biggie Smalls’ death. It is about Sean Combs talking about how he misses his friend Biggie Smalls and that he is reminiscing about him. Faith (Biggie’s wife) is featured in the song as well. This source relates to my topic because it brings about a sense of sadness when listening to it. While it is not stated explicitly that it is about the loss of a loved one, the music portrays the emotions linked to this.

For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield

Stills, Stephen. Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth 1967. Buffalo Springfield. Rec. 5 Dec. 1966. Atco, 1967. YouTube. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY>.

This song was written about an unfair law, which caused a lot of protest. For example, one of the lyrics are “There’s a man with a gun over there telling me that I got to beware.” This song created so much emotion and people began associating it to the confusion of the Vietnam War. This song supports my thesis because while it does not state sadness anywhere in the lyrics, it still triggers a strong emotional response from many.

Secondary:

Mohana, Malini. "Music & How It Impacts Your Brain, Emotions." Psych Central.com. PsychCentral.com, 27 July 2013. Web. 16 Oct. 2014. <http://psychcentral.com/lib/music-how-it-impacts-your-brain-emotions/00017356>.

This article talks about how our brains perceive music as part of the primitive structure that perceives spoken language. It also talks about how the emotional centers and memory centers of the brain are connected. This article shows that music is interpreted in the brain and is linked to memory and emotions. This helps me because my topic is how music affects emotions.

Feiles, Nathan. "How Music Impacts, Helps Our Emotions." Psych Central.com. PsychCentral.com, 24 June 2012. Web. 14 Oct. 2014. <http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/06/26/how-music-impacts-helps-our-emotions/>.

This article talks about music’s impact on our emotions and showed examples of people who used music in therapy to trigger repressed feelings. This article is helpful because it shows music has therapeutic abilities. Peoples emotions were triggered and able to be treated because the music brought upon these feelings.

Tickle, Louise. "Music Festivals: The Sound of Escapism." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 18 July 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Feducation%2F2011%2Fjul%2F18%2Fmusic-festivals-research>.

This article was about how people use music as a form of escapism, enjoying the positive emotional effects of it. 98 people were interviewed at music festivals and the census was that they went to the festival because the music and environment made them feel free. This is useful for my topic because it shows how people enjoy the effects of music and it allows them to let go of any emotions in the real world. Many people use these festivals to cope with their stresses and emotions.

Morris, Jon D. and Boone, Mary A. (1998) ,"The Effects of Music on Emotional Response, Brand Attitude, and Purchase Intent in an Emotional Advertising Condition", in NA - Advances in Consumer Research Volume 25, eds. Joseph W. Alba & J. Wesley Hutchinson, Provo, UT : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 518-526.

This was a report written about an experiment to test for physical evidence on music’s emotional response through heart rate sensors and skin response, two physiologic manifestations of emotional response. Samples of commercials with only cognitive meaning and commercials using music (major and minor) with affective meaning were played. This helps my topic because it provides scientific backing to my thesis of how emotions are affected by music.

Light Bridge Music. "The Power of Music." The Power of Music. Light Bridge Music, 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2014. <http://www.lightbridgemusic.com/power.htm>.

This article talked about how music can relax us or pump us up, but more importantly talked about how music is used in movies to do things like create suspense in a horror movie. This is useful to my topic because it directly shows how the human mind reacts to music through the example of a film score. This allows us to be more emotionally involved in the movie, making it more enjoyable. I will us this as one of my points.

Anaconda and Stereotypes

Dr. Sexton’s argument is that women and men are not regarded as equal in society. Dr. Sexton argues that “Women’s bodies can become symbols of the power and desire of men, but they can never have an independent existence.” A man’s body and a woman’s body are not regarded the same in society. For instance, if a man poses with his shirt off, he is thought of as attractive and typically people will think of him as a sellout. An example of this is the photo of Vladimir Putin riding a horse shirtless. A meme was even created of Putin promoting how he is a “badass”. The attention generated is less about his looks and more about how he is cool. If a woman does this same thing, it would generate a completely different reaction. When a boy pins up a poster of a woman, it is not typically because he respects her, but because he fanaticizes about her. This does give women power, but it is her body that generates the power and not about her as a person.

Nicki Minaj expresses though Anaconda that she should not be regarded simply as a sexual object. While she dances very sexually and reveals her body in the video, she does specific things to kill the sexual mood created by her dancing in the video. The two most obvious devices to end the sexual mood are Minaj ending Drakes lap dance when he tries to touch her, and Minaj cutting the banana. Instead of a boy fanaticizing about his banana in Minaj’s mouth, he will picture her slicing his banana in half with a knife. Minaj seemed to set out to break stereotype about women and how they are regarded. Minaj proved that women are able to reveal their bodies and not be viewed as sexual objects.

jschutz3

In Jay-Z’s song “Picasso Baby” Jay makes his claim as the most prominent and influential artist in just rap, but art in general. Janell Hobson argues that Jay-Z does embody the qualities and work of a high caliber performance artist. Even though she recognizes that most of his audience won’t see...

jleff6

I completely agree with you. to me Jay-Z is almost cocky when he compares himself to Pablo Picasso. While I enjoy rap, it isn't complex enough to be compared to a Picasso.

Picasso Baby

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 arguing that while he is famous enough to be an exhibit there for a day, he may not be taken as seriously as he hopes.

Jay-Z started life as a thug. Many sometimes do not take rap seriously because it is so commonly chauvinistic and about violence, sex, and money. Jay-Z does rap about deeper things, but it doesn’t feel as real as it should, since he made it and lives a very extravagant life now. He has become more of a celebrity now, which takes away from his authenticity and artistic meaning. I did not agree with him comparing himself to an artist such as Picasso. While he may be as recognized as Picasso, I don’t think his music has the same complexity as a Picasso painting.

Vibe of Tupac vs. Biggie

When comparing the two covers, there is a very obvious difference. The cover on the left constructs Tupac as a martyr and someone who is fighting for a cause. The quote and words about Tupac take up more space than his face, suggesting that his quote/cause is more important than he is. He is also wearing glasses, which makes him look more intelligent and more than just a rapper who has made it. He is usually pictured with a bandana. The image he is portraying is similar to that of Gandhi, another equality activist. The cover on the right constructs Biggie as rich and famous. It is more of a celebrity gossip cover than the cover of Tupac. It isn’t as “real” as Tupac’s cover. That being said, his lifestyle looks very desirable to others. Biggies style is part of this. He is wearing all black and a gold necklace, which pops against the black. It is a very clean and fresh look. Biggie has also always rapped about a respect for women, such as in Juicy or Big Poppa. He talks about taking care of women and we can see that Faith looks very safe.

Shot List Run the World

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16mFLG9cN4zzcijNiS2DBqtHHy1IGnTo8Hxb0d5d1RoE/edit?usp=sharing

Paparazzi

The music video for Paparazzi starts by introducing the viewers to a villa in France with we presume to be her lover. He then shows her off the balcony. The video uses a collection of images to show us the scene, similar to the style used in the Thriller intro.

Throughout the video, Lady Gaga shows a story of her getting revenge on her lover. The shots I used to analyze were of, her being thrown off the balcony, her dancing with crutches, and her getting revenge by killing her lover. The message conveyed with these shots is that the paparazzi will stop at no ends to get an incriminating photo that can ruin a famous persons life. Lady Gaga has been corrupted by all the paparazzi. Her private life and public persona have blended together. She says, “Ill follow you until you love me,” and it is not clear whether a paparazzi is saying this or Lady Gaga is saying this about her boyfriend. Pop stars are entitled to some privacy. The video makes it unclear whether she actually kills her boyfriend or it is just a fantasy of hers. The metaphor of throwing her off the balcony injuring her so she has to walk with crutches is used to show this.

penguinsflyin

Smooth Criminal

The opening sequence of Smooth Criminal combines minimal (dark) lighting and an obscure atmosphere that draw the viewer’s attention to an intriguing setting. Through the establishing shot, we can see that the empty streets are occupied with Michael Jackson alone. The dark...

jleff6

I agree with how the dark alleys and shadowy atmosphere is intriguing. Michael Jackson seemed to enjoy being an almost supernatural character in his videos. This is evident when the children are looking at him over the fence like he is E.T. I also agree with you on how he enters a different world when he walks through the door. I wonder if that was the actual purpose of the intense windy fog and bright light, since the bar is not bright inside.

wwatson9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFvENQBc-F8

In the opening sequence of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”, the blurred motion of Michael Jackson’s moves, shadowy lighting and gangster apparel create a spooky and underground atmosphere that sets up the message of this music video:...

jleff6

I thought it was interesting how you chose to do the epic, intense, magical scene before he enters the bar. Most people did the scene once he enters the bar. I agree with how it makes Jackson seem ghostly and magical. I thought it was interesting how when he opens the door, the light is coming from inside, yet when he steps inside, the bar is dark.

brianl743

In the opening shots of Smooth Criminal, the selection of colors and the use of specific actor directions instill a mysterious tone and forces the audience to put their complete focus on Michael. The entire supporting cast wears colors that are lifeless and dull such as black and brown,...

jleff6

I agree with how Michael Jackson stops everything. I even wondered if everyone in the bar stopped what they were doing because they feared him, respected him, or both. I liked your analysis on how the club was set up to make Jackson look out of place. Jackson definitely did give off the feeling that something will happen in the club.

jschutz3

The video for Smooth Criminal combines a bar setting, with standard gangster outfits, to create a cool, tough, and sexually charged video. The instant Michael Jackson walks into the bar, the silence takes over, and suddenly everyone directs their attention to the “King of Pop”. Michael is...

jleff6

I liked how you made the comparison to Michael Jackson as a sheriff entering a bar. That was a perfect way to describe the atmosphere of the bar. You touched on the color of his attire making him seem like he was a good guy. This makes sense since he fast draws a coin for music, rather than a gun. I also thought that the way he was wearing his fedora tilted down hiding his face created a dangerous but quiet demeanor.

wildthornberry34

All Alone in a World full of People

Although it may not seem like it, the first thirty seconds of any video, event, or movie are very defining moments. The scene is set, the main character or characters are introduced, but your brain has barely given you enough time to recognize that the main character is not who you think he is! Within the first critical seconds of Michael Jackson’s music video “Bad”, so much has already been established. You unknowingly are aboard the plot train as it is hurdling down the tracks but you are in the back thinking, “Oh! This is a black and white film!” The scene is set using a black and white film stock and jumping shots around a pristine campus; perhaps it is a boarding school. This private school notion is then verified with a quick jump to a stone sign reading, “The Duxston School.” Eerie, uncanny, almost ghostly music is playing while the camera slowly goes from shot to shot of empty hallways and stairwells. Then, all of a sudden, a face consumes the frame. This close-up of Michael Jackson’s character, Darryl, displays his unsmiling face rising up to meet the camera. At this moment, the camera is angled slightly, looking down upon him. This angle, combined with the mise en scene actions of this stone-cold face create the effect or idea that Darryl is powerful. After this defining moment, the camera swiftly jumps to a stairwell filled with rambunctious boys yelling and screaming as they run down the stairs. The dead silence and eerie music seconds before creates a strong juxtaposition with the din of the boys in the stairwell, informing the viewer that Darryl is all alone in this seemingly filled building.

jleff6

I agree with you on the affect of the intro in the stairwell. I felt exactly that way as I watched the video! Nice job! He is isolated and is differentiated by the camera with a look on his face that he doesn't feel he belongs. Reading your post after watching the video made this very clear to me and I enjoyed your descriptive writing style which kept me engaged. Do you think he even felt that he didn't quite belong in either of the worlds he is a part of?

Smooth Criminal

In Smooth Criminal, the setting of the video sets the tone by showing how Michael Jackson is feared and different from everyone else in the bar. When he enters the bar, he is in focus and under a spotlight, while the other people around him are out of focus and in the dark. Everyone stops what they are doing and looks at him. The camera angles are also used to isolate Jackson from everyone else in the bar. They do this with a combination of close up shots and framing shots. The shots are all focused on him, but never show a clear shot of his face. The close-up shots of his face are shadowed, which gives off a mysterious vibe, and his mannerisms of moving quickly and smoothly show how he is in control of the crowd. When he pushes his jacket aside to reach for a coin, everyone reaches for their guns, making it obvious that he is feared. Jackson is dressed in all white and uses styling cues, such as the armband and shoes to set himself apart. These things show that Jackson is fashionable. They also make it obvious that he is the protagonist in the video, since no one else is dressed as well or as uniquely. He is wearing a tailored suit, which gives off the vibe of Jackson being stylish and smooth. The fedora he is wearing also sets the mood. It is always tipped down which is suspicious since it hides his face. Even before any lyrics are said, it is established that Michael Jackson is smooth and potentially a criminal.

Thriller

Costuming and makeup setup the characters’ states of being, such as dead or undead or werewolf. They are important since Michael Jackson is himself throughout the video but the girl is afraid of him as a zombie and werewolf. The framing sets up whether he is in a group or in a more personal setting. When he is dancing with the zombies, it is less personal than when he is framed in a close up with the girl. The close up shows the intimacy and emotions of his character. Costume breaks him out as a man. The shoulder pads make him look bigger and more intimidating.

The form of the video is almost like a short movie in the beginning. It sets up the story in the video before the dancing starts. If it started just when the music started, the ending wouldn’t be as interesting and tell a story.

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