Brian Lee

            Upon my first viewing of Nicki Minaj’s recent music video “Anaconda,” I felt somewhat confused and uncomfortable. Based on my preconceptions of feminism, “Anaconda” was far from something that could be considered pro-feminism. From my misunderstanding, I saw that the topic of feminism is on a much larger scale than what I had thought. I believe that this research project would be a good opportunity to gain insight in what it actually means to be a feminist as well as analyze the different opinions on Nicki Minaj’s methods of promoting feminism from the point of view of the general feminist community.

“The fury over Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” cover and the widespread apologetics practiced for nude photo hackers are thus part of the same story. They are part of a story about the female body, power, and control.  In this story, women can be virtuous or victims, but they can’t be agents. Women can be exploited or they can be vigilant, but they can’t be resistant voices. Women’s bodies can become symbols of the power and desire of men,but they can never have an independent existence. Men can display women’s bodies and, even if it is tasteless, it is inevitable, boys being boys, the right of free speech in America. Women cannot display their own bodies without being dismissed as talentless sellouts or failed role models”

—Dr. Melissa Sexton

           Dr. Sexton argues that women in media are in a precarious situation where the state of their public images are unfairly dependent on a sexually biased public. Our culture links power and sexuality yet imposes the universal rule that women are completely responsible for hiding their bodies. Dr. Sexton, referring to the recent leak of female celebrity nude photos, mentions that much of the public response was for putting the blame on the female celebrities while the hackers themselves were almost ignored. When a man exploits a woman’s body, people turn a blind eye toward the situation while the woman is defamed by society. On the other hand, when a woman chooses to display her own body, people view her as a menace to society that destroys the morals of the youth. That is, people believe that women are completely responsible for hiding their bodies whether the situation is within their controllable or not.

 Compare these two covers from Vibe magazine. How does the cover on the left construct Tupac? What about Biggie in his cover? How do they differ? Provide details of mise en scene and framing to support your analysis.        

           Tupac’s magazine cover coveys him as pensive, sophisticated individual while Biggie’s cover portrays him as a cool and dominant figure. Tupac’s photo shows only a vertical half of his head. Wearing glasses, Tupac is looking straight forward and his face is completely expressionless. The background is composed of full colors and is completely out of focus and blurry, forcing the viewer to focus on Tupac. Tupac’s photo takes on an artistic and minimalistic approach in that the image contains little content yet allows the viewer to connote the type of person that Tupac may be. The expressionless face and glasses suggests that Tupac is a refined and intelligent person while the artistic nature of the photo associates Tupac with a complex and gifted person. Biggie’s photo is less formal than Tupac’s photo. The image shows Biggie sitting in the back of a vintage convertible with his girlfriend Faith snuggling against him in his left arm. Dressed in a completely black suit and fedora, Biggie looks straight at the camera and appears slightly irritated. The chain, rings, and bracelets are highly visible against his suit and skin. The car, the way he holds his girlfriend, and the jewelry represents Biggie as a person that has great money and power yet lacks formality. In the photo, Biggie has the likeness of a mob boss or pimp, that is, someone of high power and influence but does not necessarily follow the rules. 

Picasso Baby-

The music video’s beginning sequence of shots containing symbolic imagery of trapped women and shots displaying the absence of any retaliation from the riot geared men demonstrates the message that the public has an underestimated perception of women’s capabilities.

“Thriller”

  As we watch “Thriller,” consider costuming, lighting, framing, camera angles. How do elements such as costuming, makeup, and framing set up the two characters? How does form help tell the story? (Consider, here too, what Griffin says about Jackson’s costuming and image.)

Costumes: Michael- bright red- emphasizes power and masculinity

Dance scene- low angle shots to make a forced perspective (illusion that Michael is taller), Ola Ray- 5’2”

Low lighting and fog- classic horror movie appearance

  “The Thriller Diaries”

  Where does “Thriller” fit within the history of MTV? And, music videos more generally.

-released right after MTV started, and was extremely popular, thus greatly influenced the growth of TV music videos. Michael was also one of the few black music video stars- influenced the greater acceptance of black musicians on MTV

  What is Griffin’s argument and/or the larger purpose of her essay on “Thriller?”

“Thriller” was the music video that pushed Michael to the height of his fame.

    For Griffin, where does “Thriller” fit in Michael Jackson’s career trajectory? Pull a quote from the article that supports your statement.