Identities: Feminist and gender theory

Feminist and gender theory: blog tasks

Media Magazine reading

Read Playing With The Past: Post-feminism and the Media (MM40, page 64 - our Media Magazine archive is here).

1) What are the two texts the article focuses on?
- Pan Am
- Beyoncé's video for 'Why don't you love me'

2) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?
- In the pilot of Pan Am we are introduced to the main character through a magazine cover which is an example of male gaze as it is a text that is highly constructed, mediated and an image that is aspired to be women and to be enjoyed by men.
- Beyoncé is a perfectly constructed image for post-feminism. She declares herself to be an independent woman whilst objectifying herself for the camera. She does this through her music video by making a parody of the stereotype of a 1950s housewife. by doing this she shows that she welcomes the male gaze whilst avoiding criticisms through the idea of it being a parody. it is said that she is controlling the gaze and therefore is empowered.

 3) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?
-  I think that these text can be seen as sexism in a different form as they can be interpreted in the wrong way. I think that there is never not going to be a time where we don't need feminism. If not then we are still a long way away from that point.

4) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.
Third wave feminism - Was a movement that redefined and encouraged women to be dominant and sexually assertive.
Patriarchy - An ideology that places men in a dominant position over women.



Music video analysis

Watch the Beyonce video for ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’: 

 

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?
- This could link to this Butlers theory as this music videos shows Beyoncé exaggerating every action that is seen as a stereotypical behaviour that is associated with the 1950s housewife. She does this by also being very sexual in the video and also doing household chores.

2) Does this video reinforce or challenge the view that women should perform certain roles in society?

- The video itself is mocking the fact that women are seen to have to do certain roles in society like cooking and cleaning. However when you listen to the lyrics it is emphasising and empowering message through the ideologies of third wave feminism. The fact women are now more in control of the sexuality and femininity.

3) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

- McRobbie would view Beyoncé as an empowering role model because she advocates for femininity and allows others to accept their sexuality and embrace themselves. She challenges the view of radical feminists by encouraging women to embrace their femininity. This is seen with Beyoncé's music video as she is doing just that whilst also being in control.

4) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?
- I think that Beyoncé does empower women by using the ideas of traditional male gaze. She has managed to establish that label for herself as a strong independent woman and is seen as a role model for women all over the world.

Watch the Will Jay music video for 'Gangsta':

1) How does the video suggest representations of masculinity have changed in recent years?
- This suggests that there are changes overt the recent years because the lyrics is suggest that men do not have to conform the stereotypical overly masculine image of what it is to be a man and that there has been a more open acceptance for more sensitivity.

2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?
- He looked at men's lifestyle magazine like McRobbie looked a women's magazines. He found a new, quite different representation of masculinity. - reflecting the changes in woman's magazines. He disagrees that masculinity is in crisis. Which has been a popular view since the last 15 years.

3) What is YOUR view on representations of men and masculinity? Are young men still under pressure from the media to act or behave in a certain way?

- I feel like there is still pressure for men to be overly masculine and to behave a certain way. There is an increase in gym culture and the fact that that their body needs to look a certain way. However this is changing and it is seen through different types of media like film for example Moonlight.