Women in Music Videos

We are going to watch Beyonce’s 2011 video for Who Rules The World (Girls)

Who Rules the World (Girls)

In what ways is this typical of a music video and are there any ways in which it is different?

How is Beyonce being represented? What kind of woman is being portrayed through her performance?

In what ways is her image constructed? How is this representation built up? It may be helpful to see how her aggressive leader image is constructed and how she is also constructed as a sex object.

What factors do you think govern this representation? Why has this image been carefully created for the star? Is the image the same as the reality?

Can you identify two audiences for this video and analyse what might appeal to both audiences here? What might they both get from this video? Think in terms of Uses and Gratifications.

Different audiences might read the same text differently. Can you think of two different ways audiences might read the final salute in the video? How do you interpret it? What factors might lead to different interpretations?

What do you think the Preferred Reading and an Oppositional Reading of this representation might be? Can you identify any groups of people who may well adopt these positions?

Many of Beyonce’s fans are young teenage girls – many will respond positively to her girl power image. Can you think of nay concerns older women , especially mums, might have about this representation?

Can you think of any other artist whose image has given cause for similar concern?

Farmer tells Rihanna she is too raunchy for his land28 SEPTEMBER 2011Rihanna got her marching orders after a farmer objected to the pop star peeling off her clothes while filming a new video on his land – but she received a warmer welcome in Belfast. 

Farmer Alan Graham, 61, was so shocked to see the singer in his barley field wearing a red bikini that he pulled up his tractor, objected to her “inappropriate state of undress” and called a swift halt to proceedings. 

Christina Aguilera and Rihanna 'too raunchy' for X Factor 

Christina Aguilera and Rihanna's racy performances on X Factor have been slammed for being too raunchy for a family TV show.

Fans complained that the two stars were dressed too sexily for their pre-watershed performances. 

Rihanna sported a strapless bra and high-waisted pants for her rendition of What's My Name while Aguilera wore a low-cut black dress as she sung the song Express from her new film Burlesque last night. 

(Metro: 12/12/2010)

Here are two CD covers for you to analyse how they represent women: