Prompt 1
How to be a Heartbreaker - Marina and the Diamonds
The cultural artifact I chose to show gender representation is the song "How to be a Heartbreaker" by Marina and the Diamonds. The song is generally about a girl who's been screwed over by men enough times to lose hope all together in trying to find a serious relationship with them. She's taken these defeats and turned a new attitude towards dating. These men have done her wrong countless times in similar way so now she's going to do the same thing back to them. A majority of the video is the singer dancing around in a locker room shower with wet half naked men dancing behind her. The music video is visualized through a montage; there are short clips of her with different men who appear to fall under various stereotypes. This song represents the female gender as capable of defying the over-emotional and helpless stereotype. The video represents the concept of reversing the male and female roles, the lead singer has full control over these men rather than the other way around.
Prompt 2
The cultural artifact is Marina and the Diamond's "How to be a Heartbreaker" music video. The social world it exists in is 21st century UK. The creators are Marina and the Diamonds and her record label. Their intended audience is the UK's nonconformist generation. The message of the music video is that girls can fight back just as hard when it comes down to it. The lyrics "Girls, we do, whatever it will take: 'Cause girls don't want, we don't want our hearts to break in two: So it's better to be fake, can't risk losing: In love again, babe: This is how to be a heartbreaker," reveals women are just as capable of turning off their emotions in order to get ahead in the dating world and filter out the men. Marina and the director of the music video choose to capture the audience's attention by showcasing and sexualizing the naked bodies of men rather than the naked bodies of women. They depict an antithetical scenario from a typical male dominant one to a female dominant one; like a man-eater you're definitely rooting for. While my positive representation of this involves a woman who has turned her losses into power. It can also be depicted as an overzealous, broken girl who has "lost enough respect for herself" that she has decided to sleep with or date countless men without any thought. It could also be depicted as obnoxious or a cry for attention, considering it is being portrayed through a woman's perspective. This music video, considering its contextual timeline, represents self value in a sense that, even though it alludes to a woman having multiple sexual partners, it's the outcome to a decision that she knows and believes is most beneficial to her. It depicts a careful yet carefree lifestyle, she's careful with who she chooses to bring into her life on a deeper, emotional level but at the same time she doesn't care how she does it. The music video strictly presents the girl's point of view, the men are constantly mesmerized by these tricks that she's refined and she is consistently happy and untroubled. The men's perspective is never introduced because the song doesn't focus on what happens to the men, it's omitted in order to keep the focus on the women's perspective. This message is being sent to provide an alternative perspective on the female agenda in terms of relationships. Women are oftentimes depicted in a certain way that paints us as helpless and bound to the poor treatment of men; this exemplifies the exact opposite.
How to be a Heartbreaker - Marina and the Diamonds
The cultural artifact I chose to show gender representation is the song "How to be a Heartbreaker" by Marina and the Diamonds. The song is generally about a girl who's been screwed over by men enough times to lose hope all together in trying to find a serious relationship with them. She's taken these defeats and turned a new attitude towards dating. These men have done her wrong countless times in similar way so now she's going to do the same thing back to them. A majority of the video is the singer dancing around in a locker room shower with wet half naked men dancing behind her. The music video is visualized through a montage; there are short clips of her with different men who appear to fall under various stereotypes. This song represents the female gender as capable of defying the over-emotional and helpless stereotype. The video represents the concept of reversing the male and female roles, the lead singer has full control over these men rather than the other way around.
Prompt 2
The cultural artifact is Marina and the Diamond's "How to be a Heartbreaker" music video. The social world it exists in is 21st century UK. The creators are Marina and the Diamonds and her record label. Their intended audience is the UK's nonconformist generation. The message of the music video is that girls can fight back just as hard when it comes down to it. The lyrics "Girls, we do, whatever it will take: 'Cause girls don't want, we don't want our hearts to break in two: So it's better to be fake, can't risk losing: In love again, babe: This is how to be a heartbreaker," reveals women are just as capable of turning off their emotions in order to get ahead in the dating world and filter out the men. Marina and the director of the music video choose to capture the audience's attention by showcasing and sexualizing the naked bodies of men rather than the naked bodies of women. They depict an antithetical scenario from a typical male dominant one to a female dominant one; like a man-eater you're definitely rooting for. While my positive representation of this involves a woman who has turned her losses into power. It can also be depicted as an overzealous, broken girl who has "lost enough respect for herself" that she has decided to sleep with or date countless men without any thought. It could also be depicted as obnoxious or a cry for attention, considering it is being portrayed through a woman's perspective. This music video, considering its contextual timeline, represents self value in a sense that, even though it alludes to a woman having multiple sexual partners, it's the outcome to a decision that she knows and believes is most beneficial to her. It depicts a careful yet carefree lifestyle, she's careful with who she chooses to bring into her life on a deeper, emotional level but at the same time she doesn't care how she does it. The music video strictly presents the girl's point of view, the men are constantly mesmerized by these tricks that she's refined and she is consistently happy and untroubled. The men's perspective is never introduced because the song doesn't focus on what happens to the men, it's omitted in order to keep the focus on the women's perspective. This message is being sent to provide an alternative perspective on the female agenda in terms of relationships. Women are oftentimes depicted in a certain way that paints us as helpless and bound to the poor treatment of men; this exemplifies the exact opposite.
As we have been learning about gender schemas in class, it is interesting to watch this video and see what the producers picture of a "heartbreaker" looks like. More specifically, I noticed that the video is mostly showing gorgeous, buff, tall men some which have tattoos but all look like they could be models. When I further analyze, the video could encourage people to think that if you are a man who looks like a model then you are a heartbreaker. On a different note, the lyrics alone do present an empowering message to women to stand up for themselves in a relationship.
ReplyDeleteThis was the first time iv ever seen gender roles being reveresed in anything. Its hard to find that now becuase majority of the time, people are attracted with half naked girls and etc, when this video does the opposite to go against society. I really liked you approach on this and great job on going deeper into it!
ReplyDeletehi anika,
ReplyDeleteThe analysis on this video was perfect. Heartbreakers are predominantly men, and Mariana defied that stereotype. This goes against gender norms and paints a picture as to what society may look like if men were judged for their looks and women were on top. The vulnerability that women have is diminished in this video and you did a great job pointing that out.
I found this post very insightful! I agree that making women vulnerable is so ridiculous and though it is meant to be a song that supports women its underlying motifs are that of the male gaze. I found that it was insightful that you pointed that out! good job :)
ReplyDelete