Railton & Watson - Representation of Black Women in Music Videos

Key Points;

•  They point out that Black women's body is shown throughout history as more "primitive" & "sexually intensive" than white women (Caucasians).
•  Their genitalia and buttocks are suggested to be more "thick" & "primitive" which give physical signs of them being more animalistic sexually.
•  Black women's assets seem to be more on show. On the other hand, white women of history seemed to be more covered up and "conseted". Showing black women are easily available being more sexual objects and Caucasians being more "preserved"
•  Railton and Watson quote; "This imagery is still seen today in music videos where the black woman's body is on display in videos more than white women"

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My Examples

Agree:

  For example; 


Rihanna - Rude Boy

  In this example, the use of her short skirt, animal print background and clothes, provocative dance moves, and Jamaican themed music video, backs up Railton and Watson's theory on Black Women in their point on them being shown in an 'animalistic' fashion. Also, here Rihanna is shown as a sexual object and is "on display". The edit comply of doubles of the lead singer (which is clearly seen in the thumbnail of the video as well) in the same frame, one next to the other. This expresses her provocative style, especially with the added primitive animal-print costume. There are many close ups of Rihanna singing a line of her song, with her dressed in tight animal-print costume and jewelry, also cuts and as well as establishing shots of her leaning on a stuffed tiger posed in a stance which enhances her curvy figure. These range of shots shows the viewer how these two objects (the singer being an untamed "animal", and the lion) are similar on screen.


Nicki Minaj - Stupid Hoe

  Next example, shows the lead singer caged up/behind bars - just like a vicious animal. This adds to the stereotypical points of Railton and Watson's theories and essay on black women. Also she is shown in a lot of skimpy animal print (especially leopard-print) clothes and suits, with her buttocks on display. This gives physical signs of them being more animalistic sexually, rather than Caucasian women in music. The shots her her being shown close up in her cage, on her hands and knees, show her animalistic side and trying to make her a sexual object (with her dancing in a way which expresses this point). The edits that go along with the music adds to the stereotype of a hip-hop/rap style music video, e.g.; just before the chorus starts. As well as this, Nicki Minaj tends to make a lot of faces and growling looking facial expressions with showing her teeth a lot, omitting attitude and her animalistic side.


Nicki Minaj feat. 2 Chainz - Beez In The Trap

  Finally in this example, The lead singer (Nicki Minaj) is shown in a seating position which draws attention to her "animalistic" and "thick" assets which are on display for the viewer. Also the use of costume near the middle of the music video is shown to be leopard-print - this gives her impression to the viewer added animalistic sexuality. In the beginning of the video it shows Nicki staring at the audience, almost like watching them like a predator staring at its prey. The barb wire round her in the frame gives the illusion that shes enclosed, and so she can appear to be dangerous like a wild animal. There are many close up shots of her in the same position and dancing, having her assets displayed very clearly on this music video. This enhances the fact that she is shown as a sexual object.

• Nicki Minaj is a prime example of all these stereotypes that Railton and Watson have pointed out in their essay on representations of Black Women. Many of her other music videos help back up my points and Railton and Watson's essay points e.g.; the excessive use of exposed skin and buttocks, leopard-print hair/wigs and costumes etc.

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  Some of these videos show how Caucasian women who agrees with the points of being "conseted", being more "preserved", and "covered up", (or they could be shown as more innocent compared to black women artist's music videos).

Taylor Swift - You Belong with Me: Here

Nina Nesbitt - Way in the World: Here

Florence Welch feat. Calvin Harris - Sweet Nothing: Here

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Against:

  ALTHOUGH some music videos go against the point of it just being black women who are shown in a "primitive" and "animalistic" way...

For example;


Iggy Azalea - Work

  In this example, Iggy Azalea displays her attitude through her music (hip-hop/rap) and her style. Her clothes display her buttocks and dances in ways that, I would thought, an artist like e.g.; Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim etc. would stereotypically do. Her use of her & a few black women "twerking" in the background at the first chorus (being what black women do in nowadays music videos in the hip-hop/rap music industry) helps fuel the idea Iggy Azalea being like a black woman, in the stereotype.


Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

  Here, their isn't any animalistic points I could make on her music videos, apart from a prime example on one scene here, which is her dancing or "twerking" with a group of black women, and the display of her body (not to extremes like other examples I've made previously).


Shakira - She Wolf

  Finally, in this example, Shakira is shown in a cage, like an untamed animal would be. This representation of her being mostly horizontal, her climbing around and about in the cage, and the idea of her being behind bars close up, helps fuel the argument of going against not just black women in music video are shown in an animalistic and primitive way.

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How far do you agree with the ideas in the essay?

   I do agree with the stereotypes in Railton and Watson's case study of Sean Paul feat. Béyonce's music video "Baby Boy". It does show Beyoncé in the fashion of her exposed quite a lot,  dances in a provocative and animalistic way, adding in her singing in a way that backs up their points towards their essay.
  After my research and examples given, I have come to the conclusion that I do agree with their points to an extent. Many black female artists do or show signs of the list of stereotypes shown in Beyoncé's song (from Railton & Watson's case study) and my examples I found, although I think a handful of Caucasian female artist's, nowadays, are trying to copy black women in the music industry with how there express their sexuality in a song through their lyrics and moves in their music video. I guess it depends on the artist they are, because not all Caucasian artists go down their route in their music videos/songwriting.

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I agree with Railton & Watson on the following:

• From my research, I have found the majority of black female artists are represented almost entirely as sexual beings and that links to animal behavior are very common.
• In the ten videos I've looked at all of the women that were represented as "animalistic" e.g.; -

1. Rihanna - Rude Boy
2. Nicki Minaj - Beez in the Trap
3. Nicki Minaj - Stupid Hoe
4. Ciara - Ride
5. Ashanti - Only You
6. Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne - Motivation
7. Kelis feat. Too $hort - Bossy
8. Beyoncé - Kitty Kat
9. Destiny's Child - Cater 2 U
10. M.I.A. - Bad Girls

Having said this, I also feel that some of these representations are about the music genre rather than solely down to the ethnic origins of the artist e.g.; -

1. Iggy Azalea - Work
2. Shakira - She Wolf
3. Miley Cyrus - We Can't Stop

Although, not all female black artists display themselves mainly as a sexual object in their music videos e.g.; -

1. Beyoncé - Halo
2. Keri Hilson - Knock Down
3. Emeli Sandé - Next To Me
4. Nicki Minaj - Your Love
5. TLC - No Scrubs
6. Alesha Dixon - Knock Down
7. V.V. Brown - Shark in the Water
8. Dionne Bromfield feat. Diggy Simmons - Yeah Right