Issues of Representations P5 (b)

Meaning & Purpose

Explaining issues of representation in terms of the music industry, and videos that artists under record labels such as Columbia Records produce, it is essentially when people or objects are represented in an unfair, negative light (for whatever reason; maybe they are being stereotyped!) It is important that we learn about this though because for one thing, we are then able to look at ones that are being rude, and see them in a different light to everyone else. It also means we can identify when a music video is/isn't being rude quite clearly, and that is very useful.

So, it is also very clear that music/music videos released by record labels such as Columbia Records can contain all sorts of negative and positive things. Stereotypes, social groups, individual people, issues such as violence, racism and sexism, are all aspects of many different music videos across the world today; whether they are raising awareness for a cause (or using an issue in a very ironic way in the video, which also does happen.. much like in films), or doing the opposite! There are 100's of music videos that are criticised for stereotyping, etc, but there are also 100's that shed light on issues in a very positive, informative way too.

Examples of issues of representations can include a number of different things in music videos, all of which are/can be taken as offensive to people; it is clear that record labels have struggled with these issues in the past. Probably one of the most dominant issues of representations that always seem to pop up in music nowadays is towards women; the female gender is often stereotypically represented in music videos through the use of half dressed girls dancing around the lead male singer. Men in music videos more often than likely also appear to have control over the women that appear in them too; the women are usually always the ones who are objectified (although sometimes men are made to look the same way too).



An example of a music video with a dominant male lead, and a female almost being objectified around him (as she dances, etc)

Ethnicity and disabilities are also perhaps issues within the music industry; for one thing, disabled people are not featured in music videos at all. It is very hard to find a well known music video with a disabled person in it, unless of course the song is for a charity or another special event. Perhaps not a major issue of representation for the lack of these people in the videos, but still something important that must be considered. Nowadays you typically have good looking young people in videos produced by record labels, because people want to see the latest fashions shining through; maybe something the record labels like Columbia should reconsider?