Representation of men and women in music videos:

Representation of men and women:  

From looking through numerous music videos I have begun to notice a trend between how men and women are presented through the video depending on the gender of the artist performing. Women typically wear revealing clothing, however, the purpose of doing so clearly is suggestive of different things depending on the context of the video.

Beyonce's 'Run the World' is a clear example of where females present power within a video. The females dancing within the video, in little clothing, for example short skirts and stockings present the females to be confident within themselves and thereofore encouraging young girls to follow a similar confident nature. However, the revealing costumes could be seen to sexualise females, encouring young girls with the wrong behaviours. The lyrics 'Run the world girls' represents the control that females have throughout the music industry, and how music acts as a platform for female independence. The shot of Beyonce holding onto two chains with animals on the end represents Beyonce to be powerful and almost firsty, empowering female members of the audience. The men within this example however, are still suggested to be strong, as a result to the army costume and props highlihgted, although, they duplicate the girls dance routune as well as are surrounded by the females, allowing them to seem controled by the females, maybe not phyically in terms of strenght, however emotionally.

Beyonce's 'Single Ladies' is another example of where females are presented with power and independence within music videos. Similarly to 'Run The World' the little clothing and dancing presented indicates confidence amongst the female performers. While the lack of men within the video allows them to be presented as weaker. A dance sequence shows the females to be working together and working as a team, presenting female power, as they work against men suggested by the lyrics 'if you like it then you should've put a ring on it'. Both the lyrics and video are suggestive that the females are disregarding men, and causing males to appear stupid, immature and annoying to women. The dark eye make-up on the women, could act to show control, as well as present the women to be fiesty.

Music produced by males however, present slighly different attitudes towards differences between men and women within their music videos. An example of this is 'Bacon' by Nick Jonas. Men within this music video are presented with more control, and are shown to be masculine and strong as the two boys 'spud' each others fists at the beginning. The females in the video however, are shown as waitresses or sexualised, allowing females to be seen as more vulnerable and therefore weaker. The females within the video are also the backing dancers adding to the voyeristic nature of the video for male viewers, for example by swinging their tshirts, acting like stripers.

It is clear that men are presented as dominating when the artsit themselves are males, whereas women will present themselves as powerful when the artists are female. Women within all music videos are sexualised through the revealing clothing worn, however the reasoning changes from either as a method of showing confidence, or in order to attract male viewers.