The angel that I would be focusing on for my critical
investigation is on how the representations of black music celebrities impact
on audiences, I would also be particularly focusing on Beyonce and Jay Z as
they are well known world wide celebrities. Furthermore, my hypothesis is to
research more into the younger audiences impact. I have already done some
research in to the impact on teenagers and the younger generation by viewing an
article on 'TeenInk' http://teenink.com/nonfiction/all/article/303133/The-Impact-of-Rap-and-Hip-Hop-Music-On-American-Youth/.
It could also be argued that the 2011 riots were influenced by rap and hip hop
music as well as the way black celebrities are represented through their music
videos and through media. For example, Chief Keef's songs has features of crime
and violent representations therefore allowing young minds to view violent and
criminal actions as right. Moreover, I will be showing different
interpretations of the affects of the representations of the black celebrities
in the music industry. As Beyonce and Jay Z are mentioned in my subject title I
will be focusing mainly on their representations, however in order to show
different interpretations and
representations in the music
industry I will mention other versatile black celebrities such as Toni Braxton,
Chief Keef, Lil Wayne, Drank etc. After viewing many of Beyonce's solo music
videos such as Halo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnVUHWCynig&safe=active, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW8qsL1nDPM, Irreplaceable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xwwuH_Z3WA and who run the world http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBmMU_iwe6U it is evident
that Beyonce represents women in a positive light as well as prominent rather
than degrading them and portraying them as living in the light of men. This is
significant to my critical investigation as this representation in contrast to
how Jay Z or other black male celebrities are represented and show
representation of women in their music as they commonly refer to women as
'bitches', 'hoes' and as being dominated by men.
Additionally, the representations in Rihanna, Kanye West's
and Jay Z's song 'Run this town' are showing them as following the hidden
societies such as the 'illuminate'. The music video is seen as rather bizarre
as they are doing a ritual for the whole world to do follow them and 'chanting
for the kingdom of Lucifer to come upon the earth with the alias of a new world
order'. http://thedoggstar.com/secret-societies/freemasonry-in-hip-hop/run-this-town-satan-hit-2/ These dominant representations through out the music video could impact
audiences in many different ways as many have views with the 'Freemasons' for
example, some may not know much on the Illuminate therefore would research into
it, others may strongly believe in the 'Freemasons' and illuminate however,
some may be highly against this belief therefore resulting in Jay z (Rihanna
and Kanye West) being degraded. http://thedoggstar.com/secret-societies/illuminati/illuminati-hip-hop-industry/
Beyonce is an example of positive representations of black
celebrities through the music industry
this is because she has been promoting the representations of women as
well as herself as a ideal women. She has a high status in the music industry
as she carries on with music despite recently giving birth to her child
Blue-Ivy. She has been through many different media platforms such as magazines
(Vogue cover, Marie Claire, Seventeen); on interview TV shows such as Oprah
Winfrey, award shows such as MTV awards and through her own music videos. She
was also part of the girls band 'Destiny child s' this also shows her in a
positive light as she was able to become a worldwide phenomenon whilst in a
band as well as a solo artist. Beyonce is advertised on magazine covers for
both women as well as teenage girls, for example she is on the front cover of
teen vogue http://www.teenvogue.com/beauty/blogs/beauty/07-beyonce-teen-vogue-cover.jpgwith the subheading of 'BEYONCE princess of pop' therefore, the magazine is
illustrating her importance in the music industry as well as promoting her as
superior as the word 'princess' indicates her importance and shows she is like
royalty in terms of the music industry; the impact this would have on the
audiences is that they would view her as a role model and as a superior figure
for them to look up to as she is seen as royalty. She is also seen as superior
even in the older ladies magazines, http://stylelifefashion.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/beyonce-knowles-vogue-magazine-cover-april-2009-01.jpg as the vogue refers to Beyonce as a 'real' woman as she has curves therefore in
terms of a black celebrity's body Beyonce is once again viewed as perfect.
Beyonce talks about her professional as well as personal life (the way she
separates the two), her relationship with her dad, how life has been with baby
blue-ivy and how she dealt with her miscarriage with Oprah Winfrey.
There are many social affects that the representation of
African-american music celebrities have on society one of these is The
Cultivation theory by George Gerber, this focuses on on the effects of
attitudes and behaviours that heavy viewing of television has on the public.
There are many different debates and interpretations on the effects of
representation of black music celebrities and whether hip-hop, rap music is a
good or bad representations on
society. http://www.debate.org/opinions/does-modern-rap-and-pop-music-have-a-negative-influence-on-children.
Rap Music Videos effect on African American children - http://hiphop368.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/rap-music-videos-affects-on-african-american-children/.
This blog post focuses on the affects that black music such as rap and hip hop
have on African american children - "African American children are being
affected negatively because the mainstream media controlled by the hegemonic
power structure is showing rap music videos that promote misogyny and beauty standards
that are unobtainable unless alterations are made to the body". Black
celebrities such as Tyga, Lil Wayne 2
chainz etc give themselves bad representations through their music as they come
across as misogynistic as well as dominating and controlling. Women are most
commonly referred to as 'bitches'. The music video 'Bitches ain't shit - YG ft.
Tyga and Nipsy Hussle is a prime example as the title instantly shows the
misogynistic views of women also sending the clear message that a women is not
to be valued because they “Ain't shit”. Women being referred to as 'bitches'
could affect the way they view themselves as they may not value themselves as
they grow into women. African american men and boys would also not respect
women or other girls as they are growing up listening to music that refers to
women as 'Hoes and tricks' therefore affecting how boys view relationships.
- "Over the years the representation of black women
have changed as there is no longer as many dark skinned black women in the
music industry".
http://raprehab.com/images-of-black-women-in-music-videos/ -
images of Black women in music videos; shows they way women are shown
differently from men as well as the ways that they are degraded and brought
down by the males in the black music industry. - - "The promotion of black
women as body parts with a particular emphasis on the buttocks has a painful
place in our history".
http://raprehab.com/rap-video-voodoo/ - This is to beware of
rap video voodoo, meaning that there are different messages given through the
music videos; - some is obvious where as many of the messages through the
videos are indirect.
http://raprehab.com/ - has a variety of different articles,
messages, blog posts on rap as well as hip hop music. - Would help my critical
investigation as I will be looking into the lives of black music celebrities as
well as the different ways that they are represented.
http://wgs101.wordpress.com/2011/12/06/representation-of-black-women-in-music-videos/
- representations of black women in music videos
- In this “Candy Shop” video the women are walking around in
lingerie, writhing seductively on beds, and giving 50 Cent lap dances.
- This therefore, shows how other black music celebrities
have been represented through their music and I could compare this to beyonce's
music video 'halo' or Jay Z's music video 'Empire State of mind' or '99 problems'
as these have got other people involved but they are treated with respect
rather than being objectified.
* Media representations of gender
KEY POINT - Almy et al. (1984) argue that media
representations of gender are important because they enter the collective
social conscience and reinforce culturally dominant (hegemonic) ideas about
gender which represents males as dominant and females as subordinate.
Sociologists argue that media representations not only stereotypes masculinity
and femininity into fairly limited forms of behaviour, but also provide gender
role models that males and females are encouraging to aspire to. However,
Gauntlett (2008) points out that sociological analysis of media representations
needs to be cautious, because of the sheet diversity of media in Britain.
It is not expected from black music celebrities to be highly
intellectual however Beyonce and Jay Z break this expectation as they have been
addressed as being the highest earning celebrity couples as well as meeting
Barak Obama therefore showing how intellectual they are and high classed -
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/leisure/showbiz/10688225.Beyonce__Jay_Z_are_top_earners/?ref=asnsp
(Top earners)
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/apr/24/obama-beyonce-jay-z-photograph-scout-tufankjian
(Meet Obama - happy, laughing).
There are also articles arguing that African-Carrabians can
be intellectual and clever if they wished to be ;
http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/02/akala-thieves-banquet-rap-interview
"There's an intellectual culture among young, working-class
African-Caribbean children that comes from a certain strain of hip-hop.."
Although Miley Cyrus is white her 'twerking' at the MTV awards whilst singing
and dancing with Robin Thike was 'cultural appropriation at its worst'.
Google Scholar
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1986.tb03042.x/abstract -This
allows use to have an insight of the three success strategies used in
order for black music celebrities to make the perfect music video for
their target audience. This relates to
my critical investigation as it allows me to see how and what black celebrities
use and how they are represented just to attract audiences. As well as the
representations in their music videos in order to attract and make an impact on
their audiences. "Black musicians have created visual images through mixed
casts and rock star associations to appeal to the target audience – and the
record companies."
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15205430902865336#preview -
This article looks into whether exposure to sexual hip-hop music videos
influence the sexual attitudes of college students. This relates to my critical
investigation as I am researching into the influences of representations on
audiences. Therefore, by looking into whether college students are influenced
or not it allows me to have versatile research into older audiences as well as
the young also I am able to see what it is that influences young crimes and
whether hip hop or the representations of black music celebrities play a huge
part in young peoples life now. “Male participants who were exposed to
hip-hop music videos of highly sexual content expressed greater objectification
of women, sexual permissiveness, stereotypical gender attitudes, and acceptance
of rape as posttest than male participants in the low sex condition.”
1,937 Words.
