Comprison To Formation Flashcards
(18 cards)
Gender Representation in Riptide (Surface level)
• Theme: Patriarchal ideology, submission of women.
• Visuals: Woman dragged away (under a bed/floor), implying control and submission by a man (possibly Vance). • Lyrics: “Dark side” repeated, aligning with visuals to build narrative of a deteriorating relationship where the man holds power. • Appeal: Highlights patriarchal society and reinforces the idea of women as weaker and needing to be saved.
Gender Representation in Formation
• Theme: Empowerment of women, unity, and gender equality.
• Lyrics: “Okay ladies now let’s get in formation” – uniting women to show strength and spread the message of women’s rights. • Appeal: Encourages empowerment, showing that women are strong when united and deserve equality.
The Male Gaze in Riptide
• Clothing: Women wear revealing swimsuits or skimpy clothing, open to objectification.
• Theory: Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze – the women are sexualized and reduced to objects for male viewers. • Appeal: This represents the male-dominated view of women, reinforcing patriarchal values.
The Male Gaze in Formation
• Clothing: Women wear scatily clad outfits (e.g., short shorts), rejecting objectification.
• Theory: Male Gaze subversion – Beyoncé challenges the gaze by asserting women’s power and freedom to wear what they want without being sexualized. Post-modern feminism • Appeal: Showcases strength and challenges societal norms of objectification. They do not passively construct femininity
Propp’s Character Theory in Riptide
• Character Roles: Woman as the innocent “prize,” a passive role for women who wait for a man to rescue them.
• Message: Reinforces patriarchal society and the idea that men are stronger and women are weaker. • Appeal: Continues the portrayal of women in passive, subordinate roles, reinforcing gender inequality.
Propp’s Character Theory in Formation
Character Roles: Beyoncé subverts traditional roles by asserting her control over the relationship.
• Quote: “I might take his ass to Red Lobster” – Beyoncé in control, showing women can wear the trousers. • Appeal: Challenges traditional gender roles and portrays women as powerful, independent, and in charge.
Colour and Mise-en-Scene in Riptide
Colour: Soft, warm tones with cool filters to create vulnerability and helplessness.
• Clothing: Soft tones (e.g., orange bikini), reinforcing the idea of passivity and weakness. • Appeal: The colours create an atmosphere of fear and question, reinforcing the woman’s vulnerable position.
Colour and Mise-en-Scene in Formation
Colour: Cool tones representing power, confidence, and strength.
• Clothing: Women wear blue denim, symbolizing unity and strength when they are together. • Appeal: The strong, cool-toned visuals reinforce empowerment and defiance against societal norms.
Vance Joy’s Role in Riptide
• Absence of Vance Joy: Vance is mostly absent from the video, allowing the audience to focus on the female character.
• Impact: Passive spectacles to fulfil the audiences desire for voyeurism • Appeal: Reinforces societal views of women as passive and subordinate.
valuation of Gender Representation in Riptide
• Effectiveness: The portrayal of women as weak and submissive is effective in emphasizing the patriarchal narrative, but it may feel outdated to modern audiences.
• Appeal to Audience: While it may appeal to older or traditional viewers who see these representations as familiar, younger, more progressive audiences might feel uncomfortable or disconnected from this portrayal of gender dynamics. • Reinforcement of Stereotypes: The passive, submissive woman can reinforce harmful stereotypes, limiting the empowerment of female audiences.
Evaluation of Gender Representation in Formation
• Effectiveness: The empowerment message in Formation is strong, showcasing women as powerful figures who control their own destiny. It aligns with modern feminist ideals.
• Appeal to Audience: This representation resonates strongly with contemporary audiences, especially young women who are interested in gender equality and representation. • Challenging Stereotypes: Formation successfully challenges traditional gender roles and expectations, empowering women to take control of their own narratives.
Evaluation of the Male Gaze in Riptide
• Effectiveness: The use of the male gaze in Riptide can be seen as reinforcing negative portrayals of women in media. It may alienate progressive viewers.
• Appeal to Audience: The representation may appeal to audiences who are accustomed to the traditional portrayal of women in pop culture, but it risks alienating those who advocate for more balanced gender portrayals. • Impact on Audience: It limits the narrative to a patriarchal perspective, potentially reinforcing harmful attitudes toward women.
Evaluation of the Male Gaze in Formation
• Effectiveness: Formation subverts the male gaze by showcasing women as empowered and confident, which is a refreshing approach in contrast to traditional objectification.
• Appeal to Audience: This subversion is likely to resonate strongly with audiences who value empowerment and gender equality, especially in the context of Beyoncé’s strong cultural influence. • Impact on Audience: It challenges the objectification of women in music videos and can inspire women to embrace their strength and autonomy.
Evaluation of Propp’s Character Theory in Riptide
Effectiveness: The passive “damsel in distress” trope in Riptide effectively reinforces the idea of male dominance, but it could be seen as outdated and unrelatable to modern viewers.
• Appeal to Audience: Traditional viewers may find comfort in familiar tropes, but younger, more progressive audiences may find this representation limiting and alienating. • Reinforcement of Stereotypes: The representation of women as passive victims reinforces harmful gender stereotypes that are less acceptable to modern audiences.
Evaluation of Propp’s Character Theory in Formation
• Effectiveness: Beyoncé subverts traditional character roles, positioning herself as in control, which resonates with modern feminist ideals.
• Appeal to Audience: This shift appeals to contemporary audiences, especially those interested in strong female representation and challenging patriarchal norms. • Challenging Stereotypes: By subverting Propp’s theory, Formation challenges the idea of women as passive or secondary characters, offering a more empowering portrayal.
Evaluation of Colour and Mise-en-Scene in Riptide
• Effectiveness: The soft, warm colours and vulnerability of the female character work to create a sympathetic and passive atmosphere, but may reinforce outdated gender norms.
• Appeal to Audience: While it may appeal to nostalgic audiences who enjoy softer, emotional narratives, it risks alienating more progressive viewers who seek more empowering representations of women. • Reinforcement of Stereotypes: The colour palette emphasizes the weakness and passivity of women, reinforcing outdated ideas of gender roles.
Evaluation of Colour and Mise-en-Scene in Formation
• Effectiveness: The cool, empowering colour tones in Formation work effectively to reinforce the strength and autonomy of the women portrayed.
• Appeal to Audience: Modern, progressive audiences resonate strongly with these visuals, especially those who support feminist movements and the empowerment of women. • Subverting Expectations: The use of denim and strong visuals subverts the idea of women being passive, reinforcing the message of strength, unity, and power.
Evaluation of Vance Joy’s Role in Riptide
• Effectiveness: Vance Joy’s absence from the video allows the female character to be viewed as weaker, but it may unintentionally reinforce negative stereotypes about women.
• Appeal to Audience: Older audiences familiar with traditional gender dynamics may find this acceptable, but younger viewers may feel alienated or uncomfortable with the portrayal. • Impact on Audience: This absence may reinforce the passive female character trope, which can feel limiting and outdated in today’s progressive social context.
