US AGAINST THEM

Samah Asfour

US against Them

                                The myth that surrounds the terrorist is emphasized by the media. The typical image can be described by a multitude of traits that concern social identity.   The terrorist myth evokes fear in the lives of the American people every day, it constitutes evil and the idea of bring the American people together as one to fight against them. The description of the terrorist in one that is specific yet very vague at the same time. Many behaviors and mannerism define a terrorist as described by former President Bush in his speech after 9/11 and his vice president Dick Cheney. These two men have helped create the image of the terrorist and as we can see in the American rhetoric they have helped instill that image in the minds of Americans and people all over the world.

Islam is the initial factor that people associate with terrorists. Religion plays an important part in describing a terrorist. President Bush had explained that these terrorists practice an “extreme and fringe” form of Islam also trying to “hijack Islam itself. He had also stated that these Muslims are anti-Christian and Jews, thus creating a rift between the three religions. People believe that these terrorists are acting in this way in the name of Islam, which is a contradiction of this peaceful religion. These terrorists are, during the Cold War era after World War two.  Also a group of individuals that see Osama Bin Laden as a hero and the American population very much knows that that man is a monster, even though many Americans are unaware that the U.S, in the past, was the one that gave Bin Laden is power and helped instill the idea of killing the enemy in him. At that time the enemy was the Soviet Union Gender and race are also associated with terrorists in this myth because it creates the idea that they are Middle Eastern men.

The notion of uncertainty is also a predominate factor in this myth. Even though we are lead to believe that this myth clearly explains that the terrorist are a part of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda we are still at a disadvantage because we don’t really know where Al-Qaeda is or where they operate and who is a part of them. This unknowing is very coincidental, it solidifies that fact that this is only a myth and not a true fact.

In his interview with Tim Russet, Dick Cheney undoubtedly labels the terrorists as barbarians. The word barbarian dehumanizes the terrorists, making them less than human, and allowing us to bring them justice for what they have done on 9/11. The term is very controversial; it allows Americans to produce a distinction between us and them.  

The myth of the Middle Eastern, Islamic terrorist men is one that has allowed fear and hatred to enter America in a very radical way, creating a difference between our preferred social identities over theirs. Similarly compared to the Communist fear in the late 950s and 1960s, this myth will always have unanswered questions in the minds of Americans.

The Beauty Myth in current pop culture

The Beauty Myth in current pop culture

 Akon’s music video “Beautiful” featuring Colby O’Donis and Kardinal Offishal produces a version of the beauty myth that exemplifies the idea of men wanting to possess women who embody beauty. In the video we see four ethnic women who retain beauty; these women represent the idea of how a beautiful woman should appear. Masculine dominance and beautiful femininity are bound up with this version of the beauty stereotype.  The three men in the video use the power of lyrics to emphasize the fact that they believe the women around them are define their ideas of beautiful.

            This artifact constructs certain beauty myth because we see the guys trying to catch the attention of the women because the women caught their attention first. The idea that men desire to own women who embody beauty can clearly be seen. Factors such as hair, dress, eyes, skin and body type all make the women look feminine and pretty and the men can see that in the women around them. Wolf explains that in one beauty myth “strong men battle for beautiful women…women’s beauty must correlate to their fertility” (488). This valid argument hold truth in the lyrics of the song because in one line Akon says “Cause you’re independent and you’ve got my attention. Can I be you’re baby father” this line undoubtedly illustrates the beauty myth that was talked about in the short reading. He wants to have a baby with her. Reproduction is natural aspect for humans and the concept of wanting to reproduce with someone who possesses beauty is a part of sexual selection based on a heterosexual relationship.

            Facets of social identity such as gender can be seen in the heterosexual relationship being suggested. The males want to dominate the women in the in the sense that they want to own them because they are considered beautiful. Also the women are seen as passive because they don’t say anything in the music video, all the do is move around the men and flaunt their beauty. This suggests that the women comprehend the idea that they need to gain the affection of the men, in ordered to fully satisfy society’s idea of heterosexual selection.

In the artifact many behaviors by the women are represented as beautiful. The women are considered beautiful because the men believe they embody beauty. Other lines such as “when I see you, I run out of words to say, I wouldn’t leave you cuz you’re that type of girl to make me stay…you’re so beautiful, you’re so damn beautiful” insinuate that these men desire to be with these women because the men understand their beauty. And being masculine emphasizes their other desire to possess the pretty women.  The women’s’ body shapes are also taken into account as a major factor because the line “hourglass make a place go woo, waist line make soldier salute constitutes the idea of physical attraction; which thus becomes the main reason beauty is a relevant factor in our society.  

The “Beautiful” music video embodies the idea of the beauty myth and how masculine men and feminine women should act when they desire to obtain a heterosexual relationship. We see the men trying to embody women who embody beauty, and women in return desire to have beauty because it makes the attractive to men.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSOzN0eihsE

The Double Entendre behind Timbaland’s and Timberlake’s Carry Out

Samah Asfour

      The 2010s catchy and creative song “Carry Out”, by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, evokes the idea of a heterosexual relationship between a stereotypical “playa” and his female clients. This video sends a very clear message surrounding sex and what men expect women to give them in a relationship like the one seen. Women serving men sexually is the stereotype that is being exploited in the music video and in the lyrics. The presumption that heterosexual women should act and behave in a promiscuous way towards heterosexual men is the internal message the singers are emphasizing.

                Dress in the main factor that helps create the stereotype surrounding this music video. The women are dressed in a very provocative way. They are made to wear very short dresses that show the majority of their bodies like a lot of their back side and their breasts are very visible as well. The heels and fish nets they have on are a symbol that relates these women to strippers. A stripper is a woman who serves men and I believe this was the image and stereotype they wanted to portray.   This is a deliberate attempt that makes the women seem inferior to the two guys. It not only degrades the women but it also makes them seem as though the main reason they are in the video is to serve the men, sexually, by fulfilling their fantasies. If the women were dressed in a very conservative way the idea of this stereotype would fall through and it wouldn’t look like the women are there for sexual purpose. In a particular scene the women are dressed in very skimpy maid outfits, this costume is a great example of how the stereotype created by these two men, effect s the women in the exact way the wanted.

In a specific scene Justin Timberlake is sitting on chair and two women are around him dancing. In is made to look like Justin is the king sitting on his throne and the girls are his maids that will obey his orders. This stereotype is very degrading because it makes it seem as though the women are inferior to the men. They make it appear as though the man is very dominate because it looks like he is controlling them and they will do whatever he wants just to please him and his desires.

The opening scene with the car has a very interesting implication. In this scene Justin and Timbaland are in a red car and two women just show up wearing very little clothing. Then we see the women start bending over and talking to the men through the car window. Body language is an extremely important aspect in this video because here the women’s bodies are open, almost in an inviting sense, and the guys look very stiff and their stance looks powerful, making them appear as though they are dominating and forceful. I believe this scene was set up like this on purpose so it looks like the women are the prostitutes. The act almost looks like they are negotiating on something, almost the way a pimp and a prostitute would. This scene is more evidence that helps prove the idea that this music video is sending; the stereotype around playa males.

                The lyrics have the most relevant meaning throughout this entire music video. The figurative meanings of the words are in fact two guys who are looking at getting some food at a fast food restaurant and they explore their different options. They mention very famous fast food quotes too like Burger King’s “have it your way”, and the lines like this convince the gullible listener that it is just something innocent that they are trying to play around with. However if you actual listen to the words simultaneously watching the music video one will realize that the literal meaning is something very sexual; encouraging the exploitation of women for the heterosexual male’s desire. The lyrics emphasize the idea of buying women and letting them know what those desires are because these prostitute will step up and give the guys what they want. When they talk about ‘not getting enough so they need a carry out’ and a ‘delivery sent home’ we come to the conclusion that there is an extremely obvious double entendre here, one that evokes the idea of male dominance and sexual aggression over compliant and passive females.

Setting a minor factor in the Carry Out music video but it has an important job in creating the sexual aura. To start off the lights were very bright and the back round was very dark; it almost appeared to be a strip club, thus relating to the idea of male dominance the playa stereotype has.

This music video is does a very good job getting their stereotype across using many factors that help send the message across clearly.

Brady Bunch

One cultural artifact that exhibits a typical stereotypic notion of a white family would be the “Brady Bunch” TV series. This classic television show took place in the 1960s. It had depicted the relatively normal life of a classic white American family with issues and concerns of the time. Social and racial identity can be seen throughout this television serious. Class is also integrated within their racial identity emphasizing that fact that these characters were your standard rich, white American family in the mid-sixties that did not associate with any black people. There is a distinction between a white family and how a black family lives.

          The suburban setting of this show exemplifies the definition of a typical white household. This idea is contrary to the black stereotype, which is believed to be in an urban setting with very poor living conditions. The Brady family had very nice material goods, modern to that time. The beautiful big house not only symbolized the American dream but it represented the desires of the white American family. Throughout the years the Brady family had many different cars as well, this helped establish their class level too. This show offered a very clear message, a message that did not allow black Americans to relate.
        The fact that they had a maid also insinuated a richer white family. The maid shed light on the fact that a rich white with a lot of kids should have a maid. The reason why the maid was white is the paradox of the message. One would assume that they would hire a maid of color, to facilitate the idea of social white supremacy; however I believe that the producers of the show wanted to incorporate the thought of change because it took place during the civil rights movement. They did not want to anger any person, nor did they want to cause controversy. So to presume the impression of white superiority they had to integrate other factors as to why they are what a normal white family should be like.
         The style of dress and clothing creates that sense of an upper white class family. They all have really nice clothes that were modern to their time. They were a very neat family that that did not look sloppy or messy. They fact that the producers also chose blonde girls is another stereotype that helps describe the white family, they all have blue eyes as well including the boys. The choice of blue eyes is yet another stereotype that defines the white family; it tries to separate them from normal brown eyed people. This also expresses the point of white supremacy, a stereotype that people have acquired, including white people, they believe that they are better than the colored because of shows like this; it plays on their desires to be supreme. ­­­­

          The Brady Bunch television series not only portrayed the definition of the modern white household, but it also helped create the image as well. The writers of this show started the concept on how a white family should act and be like. From there many other television shows have emulated the idea. Omi had stated the fact that the media and television are the factors that helped create these stereotypes for generations to come to follow.

Gender Role Behaviors and Attitudes

Nike ad campaigns are always appealing to athlete “wanna be” hopefuls. The Make Yourself advertisements aimed at their female cliental, depicts famous female athletes in a very masculine stereotype. The techniques the ad creators used are strategically placed to help emphasize the desired image, that you can be a powerful female athlete. In the ad with professional dancer Sofia Boutella, Nike ad designers used details such as body language and positioning, facial expression, dress, camera angle, lighting and text to convince the viewer that she and many other women can be masculine female athletes if they purchase Nike clothing and gear. In “Gender Role Behaviors and Attitudes” Aaron Devor mentions many manners and conducts associated with being either feminine or masculine that can be seen in the ad. Social identities such as class, gender and sexual orientation are presented in the Nike ad as well. 
 Body language and image is the relevant aspect as to why this ad appears very masculine. As Devor explains masculinity can typically be shown with “…body postures tending to be expansive and aggressive. People who hold their arms and hands in positions away from their bodies, and who stand...thus maximizing the amount of space that they physically occupy, appear most physically masculine” (571). This holds a lot of truth with the picture, the woman’s arms here are placed away from her body. She is also making fists with her hands, as though she is about to punch someone. The position of her body as opposed to her surroundings also makes her look masculine. She takes up the whole page with her body, like Devor said this increases the amount of room she is taking up, making her look as though she is bigger than she really is. Making her look larger suggests that she is a threat, a common attribute to a male athlete. Boutella is also standing up straight, this relates to the idea that she is very authoritative, “Movements that are abrupt and stiff, communicating force and threat…make an actor look masculine” (571).
    Facial expressions given by the female in this picture were made to appear masculine, which relates to strength. “…masculinity can also be conveyed by stern or serious facial expressions that suggest…the attainment and maintenance of egoistic dominance” (571). Sofia’s jaw is very strong and pointy. The absence of a smile also insinuates masculinity because Devor explained that smiling was a trait associated with femininity. There is also no make-up on her face either; clearly cosmetics are related to being very feminine and not wearing any has made this ad very mannish.     
Dress is a classic indication of gender and sexual orientation. If this ad were to be womanly, the actress would be wearing a dress, heals, maybe carrying a purse and other “feminine styles of dress that likewise display subordinate status…” (570). However she is not, she is wearing Nike active wear. The choice of white also  plays an imperative role because if they chose a color relating to girls like pink, the masculinity of the ad would fall through but if they chose a color like blue then the ad wouldn’t completely grab the attention of the female cliental because then it might be too masculine. White is a neutral color that helps define both males and females. Women look at the ad and think “I wanna be like her” and men look at the ad and think “I wanna be with her”. Devor said “exposer of bare skin” (570) is feminine and I believe they showed her stomach to help attract men to this ad because it plays on the idea of sexual orientation. She can appeal to a lesbian woman or a straight man and this extension of sexual orientation is indeed intentional.  She also can relate not only to the athletic class but the ethnic/international class because she isn’t only white, it seems as though she can be Hispanic, Native American, black, white or Mediterranean just by the way she looks.  This reaches out to the majority of all consumers because they too can know live the life she is because she might be ethnically diverse. 
 Camera angle was also taken into account when shooting this advertisement. The camera is purposefully placed a little bit below her to emphasize her strength and to show that she is independent and dominate, adjectives that Devor says relates to masculinity.

Text is shown in the ad as well, I believe that the words "Make Yourself Proud" are very powerful and attention grabbing. The want to tell the female consumers that they can and are able to accomplish anything that they want when it comes to athletic competions. The words are written in a large font, this helps emphasize their point.

The typical male stereotypes that Devor explains are clearly shown in the ad. I think it's really interesting to see a woman on the cover and not a man. This helps play on the fact that you don't have to be a man to be masculine and in this picture this woman  athlete looks very masculine.

Kevin Jennings- American Dreams

Growing up in the south had  undeniably left a tremendous impact on the way Jennings thought and lived. His predjudice of homosexuals was built on a foundation created by the southern culture that surrounded him. I think that this hatred prevented Kevin from accepting his true social identity earlier on in life. The perception of the 'American Dream' appeals to many who live a life of destitute. Conversely, Kevin's determination to conquer "The Dream" had left him in a very despondant state of mind. As he tried to establish the sense of normalcy that the 'American Dream' promised, he quickly began to abandon his southern roots. I think this action was a desperate attempt to conceal his real identity instead, the fact that he is gay, despite what his upbringing demanded. Kevin has come across relevant "cultural artifacts" that have altered his typical southern lifestyle. The notion of relating himself to two very iconic "American" people, Eleanor Roosevelt and Langston Hughes, was a coping method that allowed Jennings to openingly  acknowledge his homosexuality. Mentioning Eleanor's  famous quote and Langston's well known poem was to comprehend the idea that these artifacts have helped shape his new social identity, one that wasn't created out of fear from the truth.