Degendering Dance… and Some History » Sociological Images
How is this a great example of how dancing doesn’t have to be sexualized or gendered by movement or attire?
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Monday, April 26, 2010
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I absolutely loved Janelle Monae's Tightrope video. It was a great display of pure talent. She used her vocal and dance skills to create an amazing song/video instead of using her body and false images to create her video/song. The background dancers, men and women alike, were all dressed the same. Their dance moves were also gender neutral. Once again, this helped the video truly highlight the talent and skills that the singers and dancers possess. If more artists would take this route when it comes to music videos I believe that we would see a lot more raw talent in the music industry.
ReplyDelete-Heather Gaulke
Janelle Monae is a great dancer. Or had good footwork. She has everyone wearing the same thing, men and women. I think this is to make them all equal so you can really see what is going on in the video which is the footwork. She has a good voice and is a good looking girl but she doesn't feel she has to dress a certain way to show off her talent because she has real talent. Being equal made all of the men and women dancers in the background look just as equal and if you just watched their feet you wouldn't know if it was a male for female dancing you would think they are all very talented. I really liked this video and the song.
ReplyDelete-Kristin Frondal
I agree with Kristin and Heather completely, and I'm not going to repeat what they have said because that would be redundant.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I wanna point out is that when you watch this video, it just makes you giddy. It makes you want to get up and dance (whether or not you can doesn't matter). It goes back to the origins of music. It was meant for per entertainment and it omitted the modern day super sexualized or violent music that is presented to us today.
-Kelly Keating-
Janelle Monae's Tightrope video was amazing. I really liked how all of the girls in the video were fully clothed and they did not give off a sexual vibe what so ever. I noticed that Janellle Monae can definitly dance very well and a lot better than a lot of the female artists who are dancing in their music videos today. She dances in a classy way actually doing real dance moves and not focusing on the sexual part of dancing. I really enjoyed all of the fancy footwork that she did while dancing. I liked how her and her background dancers matched not only with their clothing but a lot of their dance moves and footwork went well together. This is a great example of why dancing does not have to be sexualized or genderized by movement and attire. Janelle was fully clothed in this music video as well as all of the other females in the video. I liked her outfit because it was classy yet it was kind of manly with a female twist. Her dance moves as well as the dance moves of all of the other dancers in the video were not sexual at all. Instead they were up beat, clever and fun. I really enjoyed this music video and I like Janelle Monae's style of dancing a lot more than the typical sexualized dancing that we normally see females doing in their music videos these days. -Taylor McDonald
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the above comments. I was very happy to watch a video that didn't have half naked people in it. Like they said above everyone was dressed the same way which made them all equal. The dance moves and foot work were great. They were all gender equal and everyone looked great. It goes to show that you can still have a great music video without having to sexualize yourself. I like what was sid about about raw talent....i think we need more of it in the music industry. Honestly I was waiting for someone to start taking their cloths off, because that it usually what happens when they start out fully dressed. Ashley Kimbro
ReplyDeleteI would have 2 agree with the other comments. It was nice 2 see a video that had dancing that was not sexual, but entertaining for once. Also, everyone was wearing suites instead of wearing almost nothing. Everyone was gender equal because they were wearing the same thing and doing the same dance. I really liked this video overall though.
ReplyDelete~Jaleesa Burton
I had never heard of Janelle Monae before now. I really enjoyed watching and listening to this video, because it was so different than just about any other music video I have seen. The dancing was absolutely phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great video that shows dancing doesn't need to be sexualized or gendered by movement or attire. First off, I agree with all the other comments about the men and women wearing the same outfit, and how they were all fully clothed. Second, it focused on the feet of the dancers, rather than breasts or butts. The video really showed off the singing and dancing talent of the people in the film. I actually got to focus on the lyrics and the great dancing of this video, due to the fact that it wasn't sexualized. I liked it!
-Mary Buss
I believe that " Tightrope" is a great example of how videos don't have to be sexualized because she was dancing well without being provocative or oversexed. Her attire is very unisex-ish. She's not wearing skin tight revealing clothes. Her attire allows us to focus completely on her artistry and craft.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of Janelle Monae's. She's very interesting and unique; not to mention an amazing voice. I love her music and her style. She is proof that you don't have to be oversexed to be successful and to be good at what you do.
- Krystal James
Before this blog I had never even heard or seen this artist. The video really impressed me and was very eye-catching and that kept my interest. In regards to the question, it is a great example of a strong woman doing her creative art without compromising to the media.
ReplyDeleteWhether it was Monae or someone else, they made the decision to dress both men and women in the same outfits. That clearly shows that they are on the same level. The dancing was fantastic and very cool to watch. It's good to know that women dancers like this exist.
Cara DeMarlie
I agree with the above comments in that the video was entertaining and not trying to sell a woman's body or be sexual. She is a great dancer and makes it look so easy and fun to do. I think that the wardrobe choices were intresting and made to look more masculine or uni-sex. However elements such as her earrings and makeup still added feminine elements to her image. As Cara said, I had never heard of the artist before, but I too feel as though the video did a good job of keeping my attention. -Victoria Wilkin
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of Janelle Monae before but i really liked her music and her music video. This video is unlike alot of other pop videos i have ever seen before. This one definitely shows that sexy clothes and vulgar dance moves are not what makes a video good. I thought the dance moves were very original and very different from anything i have every seen before. It was very unique and i liked how she wore a man suit and made it look feminine. She made it work.
ReplyDeleteJamie Powell
Let me first start off by saying I love Janelle Monae she's so different and energectic I love her. But this video and her own take on music and dance just goes to show you everything doesn't have to be sexualized in order to be good or successful music. I actually watched an interview with her in it a while back and she was saying how people always ask her why do you wear a tux. Her response was why not she said something like a tux is as feminie as a dress.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that Ms. Monae doesn't feel like she has to fall into the norms of society she chooses to be herself. And the tux looks very good on her she still looks feminien!!
::Monica Mickel::
This a very good example of how you dont have to be half naked to prove you have talent. I think Janelle Monae being fully clothed gets people watching the video's full attention. Instead of focusing on her body and what she is wearing people can now see her talents. being nearly naked in videos is only a distraction for the veiwers. I love the fact that she is so different and this sets her apart from other female artists. She is gaining her respect by dressing this way. She has a very unique and has a style that works for her. Some artists may feel they have to dress and dance a certain way to gain their status. Instead of Janelle selling her body and sex to gain popularity she is selling her talents. (Erica Jones)
ReplyDeleteI like this a lot because it does not go with the the norm of most performers. Most performers do just about anything to get attention an obtain popularity. Janelle proves that she can still be popular/successful without following what most performers have done in the past, which mostly about being a sex object.
ReplyDeleteTightrope by Janelle Monae is a great example of how dancing does not have to be sexualized or gendered by movement or attire. Janelle is showing that she can be a great dancer and singer with not exploiting her body. Today many women singers have little to no clothing on when they perform. Janelle is not conformed to a box, she is saying: "I am a confident women that can dance and I do not have to be hypersexualized and this culture will not inscribe meaning on my body".
ReplyDeleteI agree with Erica you do not have to be nearly naked to show that you have talent! Instead of the audience focusing on her body they can focus on her dance moves and voice because they are awesome! I loved the video!
-Alexa Stel
The one thing that stands out is that all of the dancers are wearing the same outfit, therefore they are not singled out. With every person looking alike, the person who is watching is not concentrating on a specfic image or outfit. I think it's really great that they didn't single out the women or the men in any specific way. It's not mandatory to wear sexy clothing to be noticed and admired by society. It was different than anything i've seen.
ReplyDeleteJackie Hund
I really enjoyed watching the music video by Janelle Monae. I really appreciated the thought that was put into the film. I think the choice of everything from them outfits to the setting and most importantly the dance moves and footwork were so refreshing. I thought their outfits were very unique and fun, the setting of the old hospital was a really cool idea and went with their theme well. And the footwork and over all dancing was just brilliant. I hope that style of dancing comes back because it really allows you to focus on the music and really enjoy in. I think that Janelle is very talented and I hope to see a lot more of her work in the feature so we can get away of the rap culture we seem to be currently stuck in. Where the "music video" girls, which are always just about naked, seem to be the center of attention and not the artist or their song.
ReplyDeleteKara Flower
I really liked this music video. Janelle Monae is a great dance and a great singer. Everyone in the video was wearing the same thing to make people focus on the dancing and vocals.Also it shows that if that you can't tell the difference between the men and women dancers. I really like this because it shows that women in video's don't have to be dressed sexy to be good or get good ratings.
ReplyDeleteSamantha Cale
After viewing the music video clip, I can say that I never seen people move and dance like that but i really enjoyed it because it was different and very creative. The clothing attire that everyone wore was tuxedos, white shirts, black bow tie, and black and white shoes. If everybody really paid attnetion t the video there was a difference from how the women and men were dancing. The men were more energetic and hype but the women were also doing well but there were just a little more laid back. This video really says that women can be just as creative as men and not look or display themselves as a sex object. The women were dressed just like the men but still looked feminie and good throughout the video. Women dont have to alway have on sexy or sluty outfits to be successful and make successful videos.
ReplyDelete------>>> Denisha L. Price
Loved watching the video. Good sound. Good moves.
ReplyDeleteThis is a universal sort of song, meaning that everyone is encompassed in it and it can be related to by a wide range of listeners. The line "tip on the tightrope" is not steered to a specific sort of person neither male nor female nor a specific ethnicity. This is the same with the outfits. Although tuxedos may generally be male, women for quite sometime have been wearing them. Their use of matching costumes, as someone noted above, allows us as the viewer to focus on their dance moves and the lyrics.
-Kelsey Yoder
I have never heard of Janelle Monae before I watched this video, but I think her song was very catchy. It seemed like an older video because of the hairstyles and overall style of the video, but it could just be the look she was trying to accomplish. This video really stands out because it does not look like the rest where there are half naked women dancing around and being treated poorly. I think her style of music made it easier for her to dance a different style, whereas r&b or "sexier/popular" music would seem weird if girls were dancing like this. This song is more like a pop song that anyone can relate to. I think it is great that she decided to be different, I'm not sure if she is very well known but if she is not it may be because she is going against the norm
ReplyDeleteJesica Perrone
I thought the video was really interesting because I usually don't see music videos where girls aren't naked or being portrayed as sex objects. Like everyone else stated, the dancers were all fully clothed and dress alike. The dance moves didn't make me think "sexy", it made me think more of the music. Like the dance moves were in sync with the music and portrayed the lyrics. I thought this was a great video, I've never heard of her before.
ReplyDelete-Courtney Dennis
The video is great. I would say this is a good example of not being sexualized or gendered because of the costumes, to begin with. Both the men and women were wearing tuxedos which are gender neutral. The fact that they were covered up in the video denotes that the point of the video is not to draw in the viewer by the clothes, but by the music. Secondly, the dancing was gender neutral as well. The same steps were being done by both the women and the men. The setting of the asylum was very basic, and sparse. I think the video did a fantastic job of focusing on the music itself, and keeping the props, clothing, and back drop secondary to the music. I love this video!
ReplyDeleteAngie Petersen
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that everyone has said. In the begining of the video you dont even see Janelle's body and once you do and the other dancers are there you see them in identical outfits which typically is seen as a masculine outfit. There are both men and women dancing the same dance which is great because it doesnt have to do with anyone being looked at as an object. The foot motions in the Tightrope video were amazing and i loved that the dance was focused on that, not the whole body with someones booty movin(etc.) It was nice to see some more of an updated take on classic moves.
ReplyDelete-Jennifer Rose
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was not to fond of this artist before I actully sat down and closely watched the video twice and listened to the lyrics, paid attention to the genre, and style of dressing and dancing. And I can honestly say I can dig it!!!! The video shows not only pure talent but it shows how classy a woman can be portrayed and grasps attention while being fully covered with little to no makeup and none of that grinding nasty dancing stuff.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Angie P....the clothing, props, back drop, and dancing didnt outweigh and generalize what the actual video was trying to convey and that was **music**!!!
~*Croshana Floyd**~
I really liked this video. Nothing was sexual and it was very creative. I thought it was kinda of different but I really liked how orignional it is. Everyone in the video is wearing the same tux and no one person is tryign to stand out by being sexual. I think by everyone wearing the same outfit it brings more to the video because your focused on everyone and not just one person. It's nice to see that there are videos out there that aren't just directed towards sex. Music videos today, to me, seem like they are all pretty much the same. Either the singer is half naked, or is dancing in a very sexual way. I think there should be more videos like this one instead of sexual ones.
ReplyDelete-Rachel Sitter
I really liked this video because there weren't any differences between the men and women. It was just people, dancing together to a song. By wearing the same outfits I felt like there was no separation between the performers. You're able to watch them as a whole, instead of picking out one individual person. Like others have previously said, music videos today basically just contain half naked girls and are doing sexual things. I liked this video because there wasn't any of that. The viewers are able to put their focus completely on the song and dance, and I believe that is how all music videos should be. When they contain inappropriate things, viewers lose sight of what the music and dance is all about. That is why I felt like this was a great music video to watch.
ReplyDelete-Christine Lowe
I saw this video a long time ago on television and realized it was definitely a different video from every other one on Mtv. The way she dances is not only different but not degrading in any way to women, compared to the artists such as Britney Spears' videos. I actually enjoyed this video and found it also had a nice beat and was ordinary instead of following the mold of every other female artist.
ReplyDelete-Molly McWard
I do not know to much about her, but I think this video is amazing. As was stated by the author of the site the dancing memorizes you. In part I think it is because it is not something that we see every day. I also got caught up by watching how all of the dancers seemed to seamlessly glide across the dance floor. I think that she not only did herself justice, but also her song by not sticking to the typical sexual stereo types in any way in order to sell the song. I also think that the way that the video was, the dance, the way the video was made, ect., it made you pay attention to the words.
ReplyDelete~Rebecca Dudzinski
This was a very clean cut video. I felt that the moves were very neutral as well as the stance. Whether you're a man or woman, I think it's safe to say that it would draw the attention of either sex. I also think that this can apply to men as well as women, but thats just my own personal opinion. I just love how she uses dancing to back up her words, that is my favorite part. The clothing she wears too is not too distracting from what she really wants you to focus on
ReplyDeleteNick King
That video was amazingf and a breath of fresh air. I love the coustumes the male and female dancers and everything about it! I think that doing a video like that shows that you have raw talent which she does and that you dont have to use your body to distract the viewers. I feel that there should also be more videos like this because it was over all very positive
ReplyDelete-Ashley Merchant
i think that the tightrope video shows pure talent. I can look at the video and appreciate the work and dedication that went into it and not really look at it as a visual piece. What I mean by that is usually people look at dancing and look at the outfits, hair, and make up before looking at how they are dancing. This is especially true for female dancers. Tightrope focuses more on the dancing rather than the outfits and that is something to be admired.
ReplyDelete-Lindsay Hummel
This video is a great example of how dance does not have to be sexualized or gendered because it was just pure talent. Tightrope focused on the dance whether then how sexy the people looked or how much skin they were showing. They way she carried herself was nothing like Lady Gaga or Britney Spears where it is degrading to woman and they really don't have that much talent, it's just distracted by the flashing lights and sexy costumes. It's definately a good mix up and videos like this should be played more often. She didn't conform to the normal music video.
ReplyDelete-Elizabeth Leonard
This video was a great example of dancing not having to be sexualized. Her moves were amazing and not focused on being sexy. Her outfits were very simple and full, making the dancing all the more meaningful in this video. She is a great role model when it comes to women who can show off what they have without using their bodies
ReplyDelete-Brianna Hund
I love how both women and men are wearing the same clothes. This is great expecially in todays society were artist gets carried away with image. She is an amazing dancer to and i agree with what bre said she wasnt trying to be sexy or be a sex object snd it worked for her. Its good to see something different than todays artist where they focus on wearing less clothes as possible.
ReplyDelete--- Jennifer Nicol
This is NOT the first time I saw a video like this. My sister and I watch videos like this all the time for entertainment. The artist of the video is unique down from the way her hair is styled, to her voice, to the outfits, and the video as a whole. I like how she has everyone wearing the same thing to show that we are "all the same". A women doesn't need to have her breast out, and a man doesn't have to have his pants falling to the ground to symbolize gender. I like the little dance with the feet she incorporated into her dance. I thought it was cute. I really like the dance. She may have created this dance for fun and not much thought. This reminds me of the dance "The Cupid Shuffle". It's meant for everyone to do it the same, and not for discrimination between sexes. I like the video has a whole. It was fun and entertaining to watch.
ReplyDelete-Katherine Hallmon