Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
Visual summary of different forms of representation
7
Representation of different forms in music videos
Age
The representation of age is commonly split into two categories; old and young however, it can be split further into either broader or more precise categories, for example generations or even age groups (13-18 vs 60-upwards).
1
Age
Stereotype
Teens are usually stereotyped as being rebellious, carefree/immature, defiant, strong desire to do illegal activities and no fear of consequence.
Older people are stereotyped as boring, serious, abusive and nagging.
An example of a music video that conforms to these stereotypes would be 'Young Blood' - 5 Seconds of Summer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RJSbO8UZVY) and 'Parents' - YUNGBLUD (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOWBsmgjmPo)
Counter-type
Counter-type
The counter-type for teens are helpful, especially towards those who are old or ill, innocent, hardworking and as some might say nerd.
The counter-type for older people would be wanting to party, progressive, understanding, laid back and cool.
Music videos that challenge the stereotypes of age are; 'Glorious' - Macklemore (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OrLroFa0AI) and 'Dance Moneky' - Tones and I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0hyYWKXF0Q)
Class/Status
The representation of class & status covers a wide range; the different social grades,status and occupations all come into effect when discussing class & status. The stereotype is upper class and the counter is lower class.
Social Grade/Class/Occupation: A (upper class - royalty), B (middle class - MP's), C1 (lower middle class - teachers), C2 (skilled working class - plumbers) D (working class - unskilled workers), E (lowest level of existence - Unemployed)
2
Class/Status
Stereotype
Stereotype
The stereotype for class & status is upper class, young, beautiful, glamorous and 'happy'. The reason that the stereotype only refers to the upper class is that artists and production companies glamourize the average person's income, the only time in which they don't is when they are creating a music video with the genre that has negetive connentations behind it.
Music videos that stereotype class & status are; Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tmd-ClpJxA), although she seems unhappy/angry its clear that there are a lots of "rich" imagery.
Counter-type
Counter-type
The counter-type for class & status is the lower/working class, outsiders, excluded and the idea that life is a constant struggle. As stated with stereotype the reason lower classes are the counter-type is due to them being shunned and considered the wrong within the media.
Examples of a music video that explores and shows these counter-types is; "Working Class Heroes" by Evil conduct (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnsDK5XVFq4), this video explores the working class through their lyrics and imagery of working class people.
Gender
3
Gender is usually broken up into two different categories; male and female which again can be broken further into more categories when discussing specific genres of music, for example; the stereotype of a male in rap music will be completely different to the stereotype of a male in a country music video. We can go even further and discuss the stereotype of gender and its links to ethnicity.
Gender
Stereotype
Stereotype
The stereotype for men depend on the genre however they usually include; powerful, wealthy, sexually desired, dominant, violent, strong, in control, leaders, gangsters, heroic, idolized, handsome.
Much like men the female stereotype also depends on the genre however they mainly include; passive, sex symbol, good looking, objectified, sexualized, provocative, inferior, strippers, promiscuous, objects and man eaters.
An example of a music video that conforms to these stereotypes is the highly controversial "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU)
Counter-type
Counter-type
The male counter-type's are but not limited to; weak, emotionally in-tune, feminine, passive, fragile, weak and "gay" - part of the LGBTQ+ or likes drag.
The female counter-types include; strong, powerful, dominant, in control, inoffensive, independent, kick ass, tom boy, 'good girl'.
The perfect example of a music video that challenges these stereotypes is Jennifer Lopez's "I Luh Ya Papi" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4oiEhf9M04), the whole video is a role reversal in which men are sexualized and objectified much like women in the music video industry.
Sexuality
4
Sexuality is a very broad subject yet it can be split into to two distinct categories; the LGBTQ+ and heterosexuality.
In previous years we have seen much more representation of the LGBTQ+ in a positive light, especially since music videos used to be heavily dominated by the cisgender.
Sexuality
Stereotype
Stereotype
The LGBTQ+ is usually stereotyped as; just a phase, promiscuous, gay women - butch or for the entertainment of men, gay men - feminine, camp or have HIV, can't have children.
Heterosexuality is stereotyped as; the norm, monogamous, male partners are violent, have children.
An example of a music video that stereotypes the LGBTQ+, specifically the male side, is "Ur So Gay" by Katy Perry (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWbLkXhGEmo), which focuses on a metrosexual man, a previous lover of the artist, whom she believed should have been gay. This music video received large amounts of criticism many calling it; "disgusting", "homophobic", and "insulting"
Counter-type
Counter-type
Counter types for the LGBTQ+ can be considered as being normal; as stated with stereotypes, the stereotype of the LGBTQ+ is exaggerated personality types of specific sexualities. For example a lesbian is considered to be butch or that a gay man is very feminine however, these are not the case. Sexuality doesn't determine a person, although it can affect identity it doesn't always exaggerate a personality type.
An example of a music video that positively displays the normality of the LGBTQ+ is Miike Snow's "Genghis Khan" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_SlAzsXa7E), which is a James Bond styled music video in which the villain and the hero have a gay relationship which ends with them together.
Race/Ethnicity
5
The representation of race & ethnicity is genre specific as many specific genres are dominated by a one race. For example the rap genre stereotypically is dominated by the black community and the rock genre is dominated by the whites. Although in present day we do see more minorities getting involved with different genres they still don't add up to the dominant force.
Race/Ethnicity
Stereotypes
Stereotypes
As said the representation of race within music video culture is dependent on genre, the black & African-American community stereotypically dominates the rap genre which in turn is represented as being gangster with negative connotations. Although we do have white rappers they are associated with being white trash as stereotypically whites are seen to be wealthy and civilized; the term white trash grew popularity when Eminem used it to describe himself and his career in the rap genre.
As just said whites are stereoscopically seen as wealthy, much like asians who then will branch of into different categories. Korean's are stereotyped to have boy bands as that is the only form of music that makes foreign headlines. The chinese on the other hand are associated with love stories and tragedies, most of which draw inspiration from their films.
With race & ethnicity being dependent on genre it should be made clear which genres stereotypically represent race; RnB is black/latino, Hip-Hop and Rap is black, Indie and Rock is white, and Kpop is asian.
Examples of music videos that conform to these stereotypes include; Nelly "My Place" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh2I2HabjEM), Itzy "WANNABE" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE2h3lGlOsk), Bon Jovi "It's My Life" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE)
Counter-types
Countertypes
Countertypes for race and ethnicity is difficult as its the genre that defines them. Rap is associated with being gangster which is dominated by the black community and so blacks are represented by being gangsters. So to come up with a countertype for each genre it would have to be the opposite of associated stereotypes. Rap; classy, formal and distinguished, Rock is a very broad category and so the countertype again would make its way to being classical, Pop's countertype would ultimately be gothic and depressive, Korean and Chinese countertypes would be the minority groups of artists that are popular within those countries for example Chinese rap or Korean rock.
Examples of music videos that challenge these stereotypes are; Tizzy T "020" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKqjZMA-F88), The Cure "Friday I'm In Love" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGgMZpGYiy8), Rolling Quartz "Blaze" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZad9-BzR4w).
6
Disability and regional Identity
Disability and Regional identity
Regional Identity finds its links with race and ethnicity; more prominant in America than other countries regional identity ties itself in with genre, for example the south is associated with country and from there we begin to discuss race and ethincity.
Disability is not so much discussed within the media especially music videos. Diasabilities are usually stereotyped as different, and less human and are countertyped as normal. Its very rare to see the disabled community represented in music videos and as a consequence don't appear as frequently as they should within mainstream music however, it can be said that there is a minority of music videos that are based upon disability and how their community should be treated. For example; Look beyond my disability, See the true me - "Fire in the rain" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBhYSW0l9pU), which has many disabled artists singing about their community.