Author Archives: snv226

Video Project Proposal

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It tends to be easier for modern audiences to identify cultural disparities between the present and the past, but present flaws in societal expectations and/or stereotypes are often overlooked and accepted as the norm. The tendency to overlook flaws in present day society often occurs when audiences consume modern media. Viewers are reluctant to critically examine the media they consume, looking only to appreciate its entertainment value. My intent is to isolate one issue, sexism, and show its subtle and sometimes not so subtle presence in modern media (primarily video, however audio clips may also be used). My initial plan is to find clips from each decade of the past century, cutting them together to lead up to clips from present day. My hope is that by viewing the clips one after another from such distinctly different time periods, the thematic similarities between clips will highlight the prevalence of sexism in modern times.

Ideally my video would cause viewers to be reflective. Viewers would feel compelled not only to reflect on the authenticity of the claim made in my video (that sexism is still prevalent and not as strongly overcome as we may think), but also to think about the media they consume and if problematic themes and motifs are overlooked.

I won’t need to learn any new video editing techniques. I already know how to cut various clips, which will be the primary technique needed for this project, and lay music underneath the clips, if necessary. I may need to learn how to insert text into the video, but I don’t anticipate that being an especially challenging technique to learn.

The use of clips from the past will be helpful in accumulating video sources that are within the public domain as many video sources from the 1900’s have expired copyrights. The catalyst for my video is an audio clip of Rush Limbaugh’s radio show in which he makes the claim that sexism is a “dead” issue, politicized for a liberal agenda.

http://mediamatters.org/video/2014/06/23/rush-white-house-summit-on-working-families-cre/199847

Blog 1 (Remix): ***Flawless

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Beyoncé’s ***Flawless is an example of “remix” done right. She uses samples from two different sources, both removed from her current audience, and presents them in a way that is not only appealing from an entertainment stand point but also as a modern feminist anthem. This particular example of remix  is also compelling as Lessig brings ups the different ways quotes are cited across varying media. Beyoncé uses the typical “ft.” title to reference her quotation of Adichie’s speech within the song. What’s interesting is there’s no formal acknowledgement of the Star Search clip also used, again begging the question when and where citation is important an appropriate in different forms of media.

The insertion of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s speech into Beyoncé’s ***Flawless brings a new energy not only into Beyonce’s work, but also into Adichie’s work and to feminism itself.

For Beyoncé, her song evolves into one that extends beyond personal empowerment, but also one of female empowerment. This idea lends itself to the song Pretty Hurts, also on the album. It links the song to feminist ideas of the negative impacts of viewing women in a superficial light. By association, Beyoncé herself becomes a feminist icon. The sampling of Adichie’s speech becomes not only an artistic choice but also a profitable one for Beyoncé in a time when feminism and being feminist is popularized.

In the song, Adichie’s message is cut up, piecing together various “highlights”. As a result, the message of a thirty minute TED talk becomes condensed and palatable to Beyonce’s younger demographic. Adichie and feminism are brought forward in front of an audience that might otherwise be ignorant to what seem like a dry, scholarly and dated topic.

Now, while Adichie’s speech in ***Flawless brings new energy to the aforementioned areas, the sampling of Beyoncé’s stint on Star Search seems to rework history. What might have previously been seen as a failing, her group lost, is now seen as a triumph. Pairing her loss with lyrics that are empowered and demand respect send a clear message: I came out on top.