Media conventions: genre age and race:

what is a convention?A way in which something is usually done,

especially within a particular area or activity

Men

• Males are almost always portrayed as the more dominant and independent of the 2 genders in music videos. They are also often shown as unemotional, which is often a contrast to females. Men often play instruments in music videos, something that women often don’t do. Men often where plain clothing, such as jeans and a t shirt, which portrays them as generic. They sometimes appear topless, but this is often limited to the genre in which there music is based (usually hip hop or R and B). If the narrative calls for it, men are often put into jobs which are stereotypical of their gender. Roles such as firefighters, builders and soldiers are frequently used, as there are perceived as roles exclusively for men.

• Wake me up when september ends, green dayhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1JXYgwwDeY&ob=av3e

Women

• Very often in music videos, women are portrayed as objects of sexual desire. They often dress in very revealing clothing, and act in very sensual ways. These costumes are usually designed to reveal as much skin as possible. Women often play understated, passive roles, which is used to objectify them. They are also shown to be a great deal more emotional than men, and play the love interest to men, or as their helpers. These conventions of women can be viewed as derogatory and sexist. When women are seen this way by the audience it makes them believe that all women should act in this way.Pixie Lott: what do you take me for?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQCcwNMp830&ob=av2e

Age

• The way that age is represented in media texts is often very stereotypical. This is also very apparent in music videos. For example, teens are often represented as thugs or chavs. They are also portrayed as members of various gangs. Teens are also given very stereotypical high school roles as well. Boys are usually jocks, while girls are cheerleaders, or geeks. A good example of this is you belong with me, by Taylor swift. Furthermore, teens can also be represented as rebellious, and having very little respect for authority figures. This gives them a rebellious side, which is often frowned upon by society. For the most part, teenagers are portrayed almost always in a negative light.

• Nickelback: photograph• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0DU4DoPP4• taylor swift: you belong with me• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bKAaKwX5aA

• Embed taylor swift

• Embed nickel back

Old age

• Another age group that is regularly represented negatively is old people. They are usually perceived as grumpy and miserable. They also get represented as a burden to society, and are in need of constant care. This is slightly true, but not to the huge extent that the media portrays it as.

Race• Race is something that is endlessly misconceived in the media. One music video

that shows this is ‘many men’, by 50 cent. It tells a story of 2 men from the ghetto consumed by a world of violence. The beginning of the narrative (chronologically) depicts 50 cent being shot 9 times in a drive by, by someone who he considered a friend. Just from this we can see the black community is portrayed as a violent one, filled with mistrust. Other parts of the video show various gangs and rap groups who reference guns in their music videos, hinting at a history of violence. The video ends with the death of the attacker at the beginning of the story. It is implied that 50 cent is responsible, and that the killing is an act of revenge. Nearly every cast member in the video is black. This portrays as an entire race as angry and dangerous, and is an inaccurate stereotype of black people.

• 50 cent: many men• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D3crqpClPY

• Embed many men