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Blogging: A Reflection

Blogging this semester was a great learning experience as it taught me to write in a succinct manner with examples to back up my claims. I think the most helpful blog posts were the shot list and the research post, even though these were also the most time consuming and tedious. They both helped start bigger assignments and helped break down the parts of those assignments into easier to manage parts opposed to an intimidating multistep paper. The other blog posts on Michael Jackson and Anaconda were definitely learning experiences as well in that they helped me learn to write in a more concise manner with meaning behind each sentence and specific examples to back up my arguments. They were also fun to write! I don’t think any of the blog posts can be described as least helpful as they all were relevant to what we were studying in class at the time such as the close reading on mise en scene or analyzing Nicki’s Anaconda during women in hip-hop week. I think learning to write these quick but meaningful blog posts is very relevant in today’s multimedia world and will come in handy often in the rest of my life.

Blog Post #3

Dr. Sexton argues that the recent exposure of celebrities’ nude photos by male hackers juxtaposed with the outrage against Nicki Minaj’s album cover displays a double standard in the objectification of women in American society. Sexton argues that women can only be categorized as either the victim—like with the exposure of the celerity nude photo leak—or a whore for exposing herself like in Minaj’s situation. Men, on the other hand, are not at fault for showing women’s bodies on their album covers or sharing nude photos. In fact, this behavior is accepted as the norm. Ultimately, Sexton argues that women cannot be the proud owners of their bodies like Nicki Minaj, unless it is for the consumption of men. Dr. Sexton exposes this ridiculousness in how men hold the power over the female body.

Nicki Minaj fights against society’s norm as she has the power over her body and owns her sexiness for none other than herself in her video “Anaconda.” Minaj shakes her booty and admires other women in a jungle paradise of only women. She celebrates her body for herself, not the male gaze, as only one man, Drake, is shown in her video and she clearly has the power over him. In addition, she talks about using her beautiful body to get luxuries out of the men mesmerized by her physique. She plays the man as a fool and walks away with her “Alexander McQueen.” Later in the video, Minaj toys with the male fantasy of a hot maid cooking in the kitchen. She ridiculously showers herself with whip cream and plays with fruits that are obviously phallic symbols. She concludes her tantalization when she chops up a banana and throws it aside, a clear blow to the male power and the stereotype of women in the kitchen. Nicki Minaj totally throws out the power dynamic Dr. Sexton argues about. She completely owns her body and celebrates her beauty. Minaj clearly emphasizes and embodies the notion that women can act and present their alluring looks for only themselves.

wwatson9

In Jay-Z’s Picasso Baby, Jay-Z performs in an intimate setting of an art gallery to a select group of artist, writers and random people. Hobson is arguing that his concert in the art gallery is an exhibit of “performing art”, even though he is most readily labeled as a celebrity and…

wildthornberry34

In your analysis of Jay-Z’s “Picasso Baby” you point out how Jay-Z is comparing his wife to the Mona Lisa and claims she is superior to her, is there any evidence to support this claim? Or are you just agreeing to Hobson’s affirmation of this in the article we read? Also, you used the phrase, “old time white image of Mona Lisa” what exactly does this mean? Could you expound upon what the “old-time white image of Mona Lisa” is?

wwatson9

The evidence lies in the lyrics "sleeping every night next to Mona Lisa, the modern day version with better features" as Hobson points out. The "old time image" I meant was how he compares Mona Lisa's beauty (which is very old and classic) to the "modern day version" beauty of Beyonce.

wwatson9

hyperhanh

I like the irony part. I also made the same point with the Mona Lisa part that he’s glorifying black beauty over white’s.

davidmedrano22

With Jay-Z putting black features on a pedestal and criticizing white features, do you ever think he can overturn the white superiority idealism?

wwatson9

I don't think he is trying to overturn any idealism with this specific song. I think he is simply asserting his message and making awareness. The message is somewhat hard to understand and the average listener wouldn't even get it. That kind of racism in people isn't changed with a single song from an artist in my opinion.

wwatson9

theycallmedanny-blog

Do you believe that Jay-Z specifically intended for the concert to be for a primarily white audience in order to make his “white critique”? Also, do you think the audience understood his viewpoint?

wwatson9

I do believe that Jay-Z or whoever produced the music video intended the concert to be in front of a majority white audience because we learned in the first unit that all the 'Mise En Scene' is chosen and placed. Before I may have thought it could be a random group but they most likely chose each person. Also I don't think the audience understood his viewpoint, I certainly didn't listening to it the first time but after reading Hobson's article I can see his message.

Picasso Baby

In Jay-Z's Picasso Baby, Jay-Z performs in an intimate setting of an art gallery to a select group of artist, writers and random people. Hobson is arguing that his concert in the art gallery is an exhibit of "performing art", even though he is most readily labeled as a celebrity and "authentically black." The irony lays into the fact that he is preforming to a majority white audience while offering a critique of white culture. In his lyrics he says "sleeping with the modern day Mona Lisa, the modern day version with better features." He is obviously talking about his wife Beyonce and how she is superior to the old time white image of mona Lisa. Hobson says that he is trying to subvert the white atheistic. Jay-Z's music video is different in that it presents the music as an intimate performance while also injecting the idea of "black authentically"

wwatson9

wildthornberry34

I really like how you began the analysis of the two magazine covers by commenting on the cinematographic qualities of the two issues. Comparing a close-up to a medium-long shot is a great way of displaying the differences in personalities and appearances of Tupac and Biggie. It’s also a clever way to connect out last unit with our current one. However, you critiqued Biggie’s cover noticeably more than Tupac’s. When doing a comparison/analysis you might want to make sure you devote an equal amount of attention to the two things you are comparing in order to create a more equal, unbiased view of the two subjects. Overall, nice comparison.

wwatson9

Thank you! I found Biggie's cover more interesting and full of content and maybe this is why I wrote more about it, but you are right in comparing it is usually a good idea to spend about an equal amount of time on both. Thanks for the suggestions.

Q: Compare the covers of VIBE magazine

The cover on the left depicts Tupac as educated with his glasses and more complex because of the close up shot. There is a layer of mystery in Tupcas cover because only half his face is shown. Biggie is depicted as a player with the woman he is with and the fact he is wearing a chain and hat in the back of a nice convertible. It also says Big wheels which is kind of gangster and flash. In real life, He was more flashy and luxurious and this is exactly how the cover depicts him. Tupac’s cover was more intellectual, depicting his true personality.

Shot list+thesis

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19_x412oWAOBmIJd85Ny8xKTZLmm5cKVVVRNMCVBQ1Dw/edit

Beyonce XO Shot list

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ZTd2AEu6o3U0VQWmFpRmlydDA/edit?usp=sharing

Lady Gaga's Paparazzi

The cutting in Lady Gaga’s "Paparazzi" sets the scene in an extravagant mansion aside the ocean while paparazzi are watching a famous woman. Cutting from the ocean view to the exterior of a white stone building with intricate details and then to the interior of a large bedroom with golden details, classical rugs and a couple in a bed create a scene of a rich ocean front mansion with important people living inside. A cut to oil flowing in the air instantly connects the mansion and Gaga to oil money. Cuts back to stacks of money not only show wealth but also display Lady Gaga’s face, the woman in the bed, on the currency, which implies she may be royal. As the shot pans to show Gaga and her boyfriend going out on the ocean view balcony the image soon cuts to a sequence of black and white stills of their motion which mimics the actions of a quick camera shot from a distance. The quick shots alongside camera clicks create the idea that they are being photographed by paparazzi’s, instantly connecting them to fame. Through the cuts of the various riches and paparazzi shots the background is established by linking Lady Gaga to wealth and fame.

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:…

davidmedrizzle-blog

You picked a really good picture to show us the ghostly image you talk about. After reading this, I noticed every video by Jackson that we’ve seen thus far has fog and a generally spooky serious mood that contrasts with the upbeat mood of his songs. Just an observation and I really enjoyed the post!

wwatson9

That is a really good point, just now after reading all these blog posts I see a similar theme through MJ's music videos. There is a gang atmosphere in all these videos and they take place at night. Maybe this was just the way it was at the time or MJ had this message to fight against gang violence hoping kids wouldn't get involved like in "Bad." But definitely there is a lot of fog and dark lighting that contrasts his high pitch voice and upbeat rhythm.

theycallmedanny-blog

The moment in the first 30 seconds that best sets up the tone, mood, and story of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” comes at the point when Michael and his “crew” all come together. At this point, Michael and his crew are in “bad” attire, each having on “tough” and rugged clothing such as Michael’s full leather outfit and the crew-members’ thuggish bucket hats and du-rags. This clothing is typical of the types of clothing gang members of the time period would wear. Having people that look this way come together in a group against a similar group signals that two egos have clashed and someone will have to prove that he is worse than the other, or something bad will happen to him. This also comes at a point after Michael has had his encounter with the first character that says that Michael isn’t “bad”. This encounter is the reason that Michael’s friends show up to help him prove who actually is bad. At this point, while in some type of garage, Michael and his crew are prepared to “fight” the other group. This parking garage-like setting is important because it is the typical fighting arena for “bad” groups around that time. These two crews ganging up helps to highlight the actually title because not only is the “fight” to see who’s bad, but it is also a bad situation altogether. No other piece of the beginning of the video completely emphasizes the title of the video and explains what is to come in the video.

wwatson9

I like how you saw the play on words seeing that not only is the fight to see who is "bad" but also how the situation at a whole is a "bad" one. I also think the costumes of both gangs represent their differences as well as MJ strays away from his old friends to his new ones

jkspark-blog-deactivated2022112

In the first 40- 50 seconds of Beat It by Michael Jackson, the elements of the scene and the costumes of the characters set up the tone and mood of the music video for Michael to later sing about anti-gang violence. The music video opens up with a scene in a diner, and a guy grabs his buddy to head out back. This sets up the viewer thinking that something is about to go down. The costumes the two guys are wearing makes them look like street fighters or members of a gang. Then the music starts to play, in a dark back alley, where the gang members start to run around and yelling getting ready to go fight. The style of music is a little more rock style than Jackson’s other songs, which sets a tone of bad guys and gang violence. Then there are more shots of gang members rallying up their brothers to go fight between the rival gangs. The gang members are wearing leather jackets, sunglasses, tattoos, piercing, etc. which set the tone that these are tough guys. One scene shows a guy kissing his girlfriend before leaving for the fight, depicting that he is fighting for what he cares about. Clearly the audience can tell who the two rival gang leaders are, one being a black guy with a white jacket, and the other a white guy with a black jacket. This sets up the contrasting images of the two rival gangs. This tone that is created in the first minute, before Michael even starts singing Beat It, sets up the viewpoint and mood for the song to have a lyrical message of anti-gang violence.

wwatson9

I like your point about the contorting outfits of the gang members. One being in a white jacket and the other being in a black jacket. These are obviously contrasting each other and I think it signifies good vs bad maybe? Do you think the costumes have meaning?

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.

wwatson9

I like your analysis and point that Darryl is alone in his private school. I think this sets up well the later part of the video where Darryl goes back to his neighborhood friends. This contrast of being along at school and trying to fit in back home with those friends puts Darryl in a hard position. Also I think its worth noting that Darryl seems to be one of the only African American kids at this school which could have been difficult at that time. This could also be a parallel to Michael Jackson being one of the only African Americans shown on MTV.

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