Dave P. Perry, "Who(se) Am I? The Identity and Image of Women in Hip-Hop," 136-148

David Pica
11/27/07
WGS-220-05
Perry, "Who(se) Am I? The Identity and Image of Women in Hip-Hop," 136-148
Description:
• The problem is that women are objectified and degraded in male hip-hop videos. Also feminist recording artist's songs are neutralized by an objectifying image of the artist performing the song. (pg 136)
Analysis:
• Black women in hip-hop are objectified and degraded. They are commodified, not unlike cars, jewelry, houses, and many other items. (pg 137)
• Use of black women dancing in videos often has an association with the culture of porn and strip clubs. (pg 137)
• Men who view the videos appreciate the images while women who view the video get instructions on how to be sexy and how to look to attract a wealthy man.
• Women in hip-hop videos with the perfect body may cause women to have self esteem problems. (pg 137-138)
• Female rappers often self commodify themselves by the images they show and the language they use. (pg 141)
Vision:
• "Implied"- "The reality is that the "realness" in popular hip-hop and R&B superstars is as much an illusion as it is real." The author thinks that viewers need to be cautious in viewing hip-hop videos because most of the images sent by the videos in no way show how the artist is in real life. (pg 146)
Strategy:
• "Implied"- Artists agree to make videos and their image is used by producers as a product for the sale of music. Instead, artists should be able to display images of what they want rather then producers.