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The importance of music in society
The importance of music in society
Essays on rape culture
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Ever since, sex has been part of culture and society - either as a biological process of reproduction or as a way of fulfilling sexual desires. Given this important role of sex in every culture, it is relevant to outline different definitions of sex made by men and women. In former times, women were rather seen as bodies existing only to fulfill men's sexual desires. Indeed, women did not perceive themselves as being on the same level as men and thus, having the same sexual desires as their counterparts. Therefore, scholars draw exactly here the fine line between rape - the act of forcing the woman to have sex - and sex that both parties want and enjoy. In fact, rape laws did exist only to the extend to protect the virginity of young daughters, …show more content…
Music and music videos have always been an interesting form of contemporary popular culture and thus, always delivers a kind of message to an undefinable mass. Given this significant influence, it is relevant to outline how music is used to deliver such powerful messages. In the context of rape culture, it is important to figure out how to best highlight such a precarious but highly relevant issue since it influences every member of any culture. Although men have also been victims of rape, this paper will start with an examination of women's treatment and sexual acceptance by society since rape started with the wrong social classification of women. Given female historical consideration, it can then be analyzed how this wrong treatment emerged in a culture called 'rape culture'. Consequently, characteristics and effects on victims can be scrutinized giving a detailed meaning to rape culture. Further, the process of socialization of young men living in fraternities and brotherhoods will be taken into account in order to outline the way how a 'frat-life' can influence harshly the way of treating women. In the following, it will be of importance to offer a detailed overview about the content of the documentary The Hunting Ground not only to contextualize Gaga's song but also to indicate her purpose of writing it. After having focused on the documentary, the song itself will be scrutinized, analyzing the usage of language as well as the graphic content of the music video. It will be then possible to outline how Gaga addresses to the victims and how Gaga handled such a precarious social problem. Finally, the term paper will offer a conclusion underlining the effects of Lady Gaga's song on
I. Introduction Gender plays a big role in music, I became aware of gender role in music when noticing how most songs talks about women and how they are being either exploited or empowered. Most music videos even in the 80s either objectified women or respect sexuality. Women are usually sexually alluring in music videos, stage performances and even in the song lyrics. Most music video uses video vixens or video girls that are usually dressed or performing sexually. For example, “Siouxsie Sioux frequently performed wearing black leather and rubber bondage attire, as well as heavy eye make-up, making overt statements about her sexuality.
As a social construction, rape is created in the context of eroticization male dominance and female subordination. It also bases itself on the assumption that gender is a predetermined that distinguishes people into two distinct categories. Although rape is real, it is rather enabled by misconceptions. In order to envision a society without rape or less rape, it is radical for people to recognize that social construction has had enormous impact on how it is practiced and perceived.
Since the dawn of man, sex has played a crucial role in society. Before they learned to read or write humans were engaging in sex and without it none of us would be here. In today’s society, sex has grown to become much more complicated. If I were to ask a group of people on the street what they believed sex was? I bet they would have a hard time answering. The question puzzling society today is how do we define sex? Can we define sex? These are questions raised in Tracy Steele’s article “Doing it: The Social Construction of S-E-X”. This article is about the current questions and issues that have been raised about sex within today’s society. In this paper I will summarize the key points of the article, while sharing my own thoughts and opinions of Steele’s findings.
In the article “An Anthropological Look at Human Sexuality” the authors, Patrick Gray and Linda Wolfe speak about how societies look at human sexuality. The core concept of anthology is the idea of culture, the systems of attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors people acquire as a member of society. The authors give an in depth analysis on how human sexuality is looked at in all different situations.
In society today, media such as movies and music share huge roles in the dynamics of culture especially concerning communication. In Dream Worlds 3: Desire, Sex, and Power in Music Video we see how famous singers and producers in the making of their music videos have the power of illustrating our language and beliefs. From the music we listen to and things we watch, we are constantly gaining new knowledge by the message that is being presented to us. The main focus of this specific documentary was how women in the music or media industry all together are treated. From this documentary and lectures in class we see that media objectifies, stereotypes, and degrades women and their bodies as advertisements and money makers. Themes in the film discussed
In The Introduction to the History of Sexuality, Foucault explains how during the 19th century with the raise of new societies, the discourse or knowledge about sex was not confronted with repulsion but it “put into operation an entire machinery for producing true discourses concerning sex” (Foucault 69). In fact, this spreading of discourse on sexuality itself gives a clear account of how sexuality has been controlled and confined because it was determined in a certain kind of knowledge that carries power within it. Foucault reflects on the general working hypothesis or “repressive hypothesis,” and how this has exercised power to suppress people’s sexuality. It has power on deciding what is normal or abnormal and ethical or unethical about sexuality. Through discourses of life and sexuality, power is exercised because humans learned how to behave in relation to sexuality, which method keep individuals controlled and regulated. This explains why people experience that sense of behaving inappropriate when we talk about sex in a different way than the whole society. Foucault points up how sexuality is not just treated in terms of morality, but it is a matter of knowledge and “truth.” However, these discourses, including sexual discourses are not true or false, but they are just understood to be the truth or falsehood to control society. As a result, sexuality begins to be explored in a scientific way, developing the “truth” science of sex (Foucault 69). For Foucault, he asserts that sexuality has developed as a form of science that keeps us all afraid of such phenomena, which people think to be true, thus this science helps society to discipline and control individuals’ behaviors.
Since the explosion of music videos in 1981, a large portion of their popularity has been due to the objectification of women and their sexuality. “Early content analyses showed that anywhere from 40% to 75% of music videos contained sexual imagery”(Arnett, 2002). Hip-hop music videos especially have a reputation of degrading women. In these videos “women are often depicted in positions of submission to men” (Sommers-Flanagan, 1993).On the flip-side Country music videos are “known for [their] socially conservative themes”(Frisby & Aubrey, 2012).
In the early 1980’s, women were not supposed to be open-minded or even allowed to have such sexual thoughts that Madonna inspired. Women were expected to be traditional and keep their femininity behind closed doors. When Madonna first came into the entertainment business, it was a complete shock for everyone. No one could believe a woman was capable of being a sex symbol in public. It was not Madonna’s fault that she was simply a desirable creature to everyone (Allen 5). In today’s youth, people are used to watching television and music videos since a young age. We learn from the media and it helps us to comprehend the representations that it is giving of society. Madonna became the main subject of the media and society. Since, celebrities are always focused on by the media; they have the power to impact society by showing their perspective of thoughts and images. Accord...
Many of the attitudes, beliefs, and mistaken ideas about rape have been with us for centuries. By looking at myths, such as “women ask for it,” and “it would do some women good to get raped,” from a historical perspective, lead us for better understanding how they evolved. Women are still seen as the property of men, are protected as such. Men and women are still taught to occupy very different roles in today’s world. Men are usually more aggressive, and women are seen as passive. (Vogelman) This socialization process is changing, but slowly.
According to Marshall University, Rape Culture is defined as “an environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in media and popular culture.” In American society, it is not hard to find examples of rape culture. In popular movies, music, and current events there is an undeniable notion of victim blaming, and sympathizing with male perpetrators. People have begun to use the term rape as a casual adjective. For example “I just raped him in that game,” could be used to describe two people playing a game and one winning easily against the other. American society uses pop culture and current events to promote and justify the prominent rape culture.
Besides being the universally vital mechanism which maintains the survival of species or an engaging pastime that is tabooed in America, sex has become (and had always been) the stem of controversial social issues internationally. Traditionally, sex has been between man and woman only out of necessity of propagation, but so-called “abnormalities” such as premarital, extramarital, polygamous, and homosexual sex have further defined the confines of sexual behavior and its inextricable relationship with morality. As with literature, these ideals of sexual ethics and their religious foundations are unintentionally or intentionally maintained by story elements that revolve around such ideas, regardless of whether they are supported or subverted. Expectedly, both “The Bloody Chamber” and Oedipus Rex by Angela Carter and Sophocles, respectively, reflect the metanarrative of idealistic moral sex established by the patriarchy and depict the deterioration of character experienced by those who deviate from societal expectations. As
Firstly, what does the Madonna/Whore complex even mean? According to Gottschall, it is defined as how “men and/or society divide women into two binary
In the article “The Ambiguity of Sex and Virginity loss”, Laura Carpenter explains the social perspectives of sex and virginity. Also, she exposes the subjective point of view that wraps up this phenomenon. Carpenter in her studies, attempted to understand what is included in the word “sex” and what is interpreted by virginity loss. Her conclusions are based on the testimonies gathered from 61 women and men.
During the Middle ages, females are required to have an orgasm in order to bear a child. Moreover, men are strictly required to let the women feel the ecstasy and orgasm or else, the church will investigate the male’s genitals, and if proven incapable, the church can separate the couple even if they are married. The feeling of ecstasy and orgasm is highly linked with the sexual performance of both parties. The feeling of satisfaction is taken into consideration ever since the history of sex was recorded. For example, “entertainers” were present during the Ancient Greece.
The question fundamental to the philosophy of sex is the question probing into the nature of sexual activity. What is sex? Many have postulated on the subject, but have only further clouded the waters surrounding the subject. There are a multitude of philosophical answers addressing the question of sex ranging from the natural to the phenomenological to everywhere in between. It is essential to the discussion that a proper definition of sex be established before addressing any other issues. I plan to establish a proper definition of sex with an account of sexual perversion and then continue on discussing the nature of cybersex, infidelity, and love.