Theories Of Representation

Women

• Women are often sexualised in today's media however you could say in the modern day music video women are hyper-sexualised.
• This is often done through provocative dancing.
• Women asserting their Femininity and expressing themselves sexually.
• This is very damaging and problematic as if a male was seen doing the same types of things it would often be taking very offensively by the audience.

Laura Mulvey

She suggest:

• Women are objectified and connoted "to-be-looked-at-ness" in films.
• Women become an object to desire and are positioned for the pleasure of the male viewer.
• women are positioned for "the male gaze".

Challenging Representation

• Some female artist such as Adele, Meghan Trainor and Lorde nowadays often challenge these stereotypes and rarely sexualise themselves.
• These artists subvert expectations offering empowering lyrics and stunning vocals.

Men

• The more a man conforms to today's stereotypes of masculinity the more he is viewed as a "real man".
• Despite masculinity undergoing a drastic change in recent times the four main themes of hegemonic masculinity of the male sex role are still the same, stoic, aggressive, dependable and not feminine.

Hegemonic Masculinity

• This is the competitive nature of a male to be dominant over other males and subordinate females.
• Common characteristics of this are, drive, ambition, claims to self-reliance, misogynistic and being the aggressor.
• This is very evident in todays music as the male always seems to be the dominate character in most cases such as Robin Thickes Blurred Lines which puts him in control and sexualise women.

Homo-Eroticism

• This is the sexual attraction between members of the same sex however differs from homosexuality as this is just a desire where as homosexuality implies a more perminate role and state of identity and sexual orientation.