Thursday, 9 September 2010

Feminist & Post Feminist Readings

Both the videos here can be viewed in either Feminist and Post Feminist ways



Britney Spears - Toxic (Feminist Reading only)

  • Stereotypical - Woman presented very sexual and provocative, regardless of her being the main protagonist
  • Very promiscuous & provocative- Coffee poured on man's crotch area/ She rubs her bottom on man's crotch
  • Sexual object - Her range of revealing outfits
  • Typical feminine occupations (Air Hostess/ domestic work)
  • She is not riding the motorcycle but riding behind the man - Not taking charge/ Women need protection by men
  • Diamond dress barely covers her body - Exploiting women's bodies
  • Representation of male on plane is more realistic of that to women
  • Chameleon effect of Britney Spears - Has to use her image rather than talent. Demeans herself/ could possibly reveal artist's low self esteem
  • Shows sex sells



Pussycat Dolls - Buttons (Post Feminist Reading only)

  • Offer messages of sexual empowerment - Assertive, provocative and in control of 'the gaze (male)'
  • Confident, sassy, sexy icons challenging traditional assumptions about passive female sexuality "I'm a sexy marma"
  • Uses a provocative male address challenging Snoop to "loosen up" her "buttons" - However, the dolls prove 'too hot to handle' for Snoop

However there are also counter examples to this, of a Post-Feminist type of video.

Missy Elliot's 'She's a Bitch', is an example of this.



  • It rejects conventional representations of women- free from objectification
  • Does not conform to stereotypical gender representations
  • Missy is not passive; she 'narrates' the action - lyrics are not self exploiting
  • Androgyny: Masculine codes of movement, stance and dress
  • Mise en scene- She wears man tailored suits/ shirt and tie/ dungarees/ army wear
  • Subverts gender codes - Use of male dancers; Missy displays a 'male' persona - drives fast car, wears the 'bling' etc
  • Body image refuses to conform to idealised female stereotypes - Missy is literally inflated in her video of 'The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)'

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