Journal Reviews on Music

1. Fitts, M. (2008). "Drop It Like It's Hot": Culture Industry Laborers and Their Perspectives on Rap Music Video Production. Meridians V. 8 No. 1 (2008) P. 211-35, 8(1), 211-235.

“Video girls,” or the girls who work on sites filming rap music videos, are often treated as mostly sexual objects. Casting directors often look for girls who are the hottest, in order to fulfill the “booty video” formula. The “booty video” formula means that the music video focuses on the posteriors of usually Africa-American and Latina women. Since rap music spread worldwide, directors for the music videos feel they need to make the videos visually “pleasing” in the form of women. Oftentimes, the women working on the sets are used sexually by the artist and director, and the author talks about how the women are often passed around. Working conditions on music video sets are very poor, but since consumers are still watching it, the cycle will never end.

2. McCarthy, K. (2006). Not Pretty Girls?: Sexuality, Spirituality, and Gender Construction in Women's Rock Music. Journal of Popular Culture V. 39 No. 1 (February 2006) P. 69-94, 39(1), 69-94.

In the past few years, the link between the feminist theory and music has become more evident. There were two sides to females in the music industry. On one side, there were the girls who were sexually exploited to sell records, such as Madonna and Courtney Love. There were also the clean cut females such as Sandra Dee. The 1960s was considered the first generation of women in music, the 1970s as the second generation, and the 1980s up until now as the third generation. This third generation is believed to be more pop culture driven because of the new technology available. Women are writing and producing their own records and their lyrics are focused on girls having fun. Although feminist theories have become more prominent these days, women such as Gwen Stefani would still use their bodies to help boost their images.

3. Bragg, B. , & McFarland, P. (2007). The Erotic and the Pornographic in Chicana Rap: JV Vs. Ms. Sancha. Meridians V. 7 No. 2 (2007) P. 1-21, 7(2), 1-21.

Chicana/o rap often uses sexual connotations in their lyrics. Chicanos talk about what women can do to sexually please them and their lyrics usually say little else. Chicana rap lyrics are also highly sexualized. Feminism and power are one category while their being sexual objects is another. LA based female rap artist JV uses sex to show how being a woman can hold power over men. She uses derogatory terms that men would use in their lyrics, along with phrases that they would also say. In contrast, San Diego based Ms. Sancha is more of a sex object. She conforms to rap views on how women are only there to please men and have sex. There are different views on how rap is evolving, and it is unknown as to whether politics of the erotic and feminism will dominate over the politics of sexual exploitation.

-Tepthida Tan