Representations

Different Group Representations in Music Videos

The First Video I am looking at is a song called "Often" by The Weeknd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPIhUaONiLU

Age:
 Here we see The Weeknd wearing a jacket that has "XO" on the back. This doesn't stand for what you and I think. It stands for ecstasy and oxycodone. This conforms the theory of Dick Hebdige who explored the polarised media representations of teens as fun or trouble. In this case trouble. Of course The Weeknd is not a teen but he is still a young adult who is in the party stage of his life. This use of promoting and using drugs is considered as wreckless and irresponsible and would be associated with young people.
 We could also apply Daren Garrett's theory of media representations of young people being trouble, invites young people to be trouble therefore the weeknd is embracing his representations as he looks careless when exhaling the smoke and also inviting others to do so.
 Another thing we see is the two young woman being sexual with eachother in an environment which looks like a party. This tells us that young people don't have self-respect as they are exposing themselves and doing private things in the company of others. 

Gender:

 On the video we can see two promiscuous woman on the bed wearing near to nothing. This gives woman the representation of being sexualised and that they are solely there for objectification of men. It conforms  theories such as male gaze (Laura Mulvey) and men look woman appear (John Berger). Laura Mulvey's theory is applied firmly here as we are seeing the two woman through a male gaze as men often like to see two woman acting sexually with eachother and the woman are doing as the men please.

Race:

 Again in the same picture we see the same two woman. However it goes against the theory of the colour codes (bell hooks). This is due to it normally being black woman that are sexualised whereas the music video sexualises two white/asian woman. But the picture on the right is a black woman which conforms the theory of Bell Hooks.

The second video I am looking at is called "Only Right" by Ty Dolla $ign ft YG, Teecee 4800, Joe Moses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdToHMjSsl8

Age:
 This picture from the music video has a representation about age. This is Teecee 4800 and he s part of the school yard crip gang. When you in a gang it is very difficult to leave. You can leave by being in witness protection program or you can take you chances by leaving yourself, both are very dangerous. Teecee isn't necessarily old but he isn't in the young category. Therefore the presentation shown about age is that young people make bad wreckless decisions (like Teecee did) which could effect them for the rest of their lives.


Gender: In the next picture we have Joe Moses. He is putting on his glasses with an aggressive expression on his face. He also has a bloodies cloth wrapped around his right hand which looks as though he has been punching somebody. Also another aggressive gesture is being shown in the picture on the right where a male is showing his middle finger. These give off a feeling on violence and aggression towards who/where he is looking. Those characteristics (violence, aggression) are mainly associated with males.

Race: Here we have four black males. Black men's style of clothing aren't usually represented as wearing smart clothing such as suits and ties. They are normally presented to wear baggy clothing, hoodies etc.
 Also Black males are stereotypically associated with illegal activity which is represented here.

So overall both videos conform and go against certain stereotypes in terms of age, gender and race.