Men and women are presented in media using many
different forms. In this post, I will be looking at how men and women are
presented in music videos and in adverts.
Blurred Lines- Robin Thicke (Alpha
Male)
In this video, the women shown are younger
while the men are shown as older. This gives off the idea that the older men
are taking advantage of the women. Visual codes are used to show the difference
in representation. The women
are shown to have next to no clothes on. They also have plastic wrapped around
their waist. This presents them as vulnerable and provocative, making them look
like sex objects to the men, who are wearing suits and shades. The women are wearing white clothing. White
is associated with purity which is a contrast to the actions of the women in
the video. The men wear black suits which is associated with wealth and
success. The video uses close ups often.
In these close ups, the women normally stare down the camera, almost giving off
a sexual vibe. In contrast to this, the men stare down the camera while wearing
shades and while the women are looking directly at them. This makes it seem as
if the men are showing off and saying “wouldn’t you want to be me?” The audio of the video also show the
differing representation of genders in media. The women have one sound/word
throughout the entire video, being “Meow”. This presents them as silent and disposable
as they have nothing to say. One of the main controversial lines in the video
the men say is “I know you want it”. This line gives off an uncomfortable
felling, almost a line based on rape. I say this because the woman has no say
throughout and accepts the connotation.
Asda Christmas Advert (Domestic
Kingdom)
In this video, the women and men are shown to
be of a similar age because they are married. At the beginning of the video,
the couple go tree shopping. The husband finds a tree he likes and suggests to
buy it. The woman shrugs this suggestion off as if it was a silly suggestion
and picks up a different tree. This presents the husband as domestically
clueless. When they get home, the wife gives directions to the husband as to
where to place the tree in the house. This presents his role as a heavy loader
who helps do the heavy moving of items. The man rolls his eyes at this. This
presents the man as frustrated that he has no say. From this point until the
end of the video, the wife cooks, cleans shops, washes up, takes care of the
kids and makes decisions. This presents the women as a leader of the domestic
world. This also presents the wife as hard working and overloaded with work
while the husband is presented as lazy as he doesn’t help during this. The wife
is shown to bottle feed the baby, which raises the question of why the husband
couldn’t do that? The wife is only presented with one break: a cup of tea and a
biscuit. This again links to an overloading of work. At the end of the video,
after the Christmas dinner was served/eaten, the husband asks “What’s for tea?”
This line should have come off as comical satire but came off as lazy from the
husband as they cut the video off right as he said that.
Big Bang Theory (Nerds)
In this video, The narrator describes the theory of "Adorkable Misogyny". This is the idea that nerds are presented as sexual, innocent, and almost isolated members or the community. He describes them as persistent in most of their goals. These characters are almost always white. They normally freeze up when encountered by girls, and are antisocial. This idea is spread throughout big bang theory in almost every episode. However, they never get condemned for their actions because of their adorable innocence. This gives them to freedom to make any jokes that are sometimes racist and sexist. They try to play off these ideas as apart of their natural character. An example of this is how Sheldon has next to no filter when it comes to talking to other people. He has bold opinions and isn't afraid to say them, offensive or not. This type of idea is a mainstay in comedy. This representation of men is seen in almost all types of media today. The general nerd is always in contrast with jocks. The manliness of jocks makes them seem almost a superior being compared to the nerd.
Inbetweeners Movie trailer (Lads)
In the Inbetweeners movie trailer, the slogan "the british are coming" is exemplified. These 4 men are the representation of Britain in their eyes. They are there to "drink, have sex, drink, and have more sex". This is shown by the screenshot to the left, where they have Pussy Patrol T-shirts on. Throughout the trailer, the 4 men each attempt to get girls. The 3 "lads" fail, while the one "nerd" succeeds. This is shown by the nerd being the only one to have been ask to have sex with, while the other 3 were punished for their treatment of women. They treated women as if they were sex objects, only their to have sex with. However, the "nerd" treats them with compassion and has a care for them. The nerd speaks to a girl on a sun bed and says he's a virgin. Rather than the girl laughing him off, the girl finds it cute. This is almost any nerds dream. A girl who wouldn't judge them for being failures in the past and only looks at them as they are now. The idea that lads are only meant to drink have sex and avoid relationships is punished by the movie, and rightfully so.
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