Thursday, March 31, 2011

Option for 4/4: response to Monster video

Have you seen Kayne West's Monster video (in which Nicki Minaj contributes some of the best lyrics, at least in terms of form, if not content)? Here's a feminist response to it. What do you think?

18 comments:

  1. I read the feminist blog post before I watched the Monster video and I thought the video was sickening. The post really did put the video in perspective. I think that people generally don't really see the harm in music videos until the harm is brought to attention. If I had watched the video before I read the blog I would have thought the video was scary but never would have really thought of it as the feminist did. Her blog showed the true nastiness of the video and definitely opened up my eyes as to what male artists are really getting away with in their music videos today.

    Laura Andrews

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've seen the Monster video and like the blogger, I listen to both Kanye West and Nicki Minaj. I love this song and the video, and no I do not worship the devil. I think this song and the video is a great way of Kanye expressing himself. This video is different from any other and that's what I like about it. Tiera Gary

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've seen the monster video and the blogger pointed out every single little female part that was played. The song is ok. It is not one of my likes. I do not really look at videos anymore but I think this blogger hit the nail right on the head with her response. I mean I would not want to play the parts that Nicki played in that video. I thought the video was a normal video because that is the way things are now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I listen to and love both Kanye and Nicki MInaj. I love the song as well, and know every word to it, however silly me has never seen the video until now. I understand what the blogger is saying, her opinion comes from a feminists perspective. I on the other hand do not have a problem with the video or the lyrics. Kanye, Jay-Z, and Nicki Minaj, all have a great sense of style and creativity, and they all incorporated their ideas into a great video. I think that women actually make the video, it would pretty gay, and awkward for there to be men in the video. How could Kanye and Jay-Z, define their definition of a Monster with men? and Nicki is Bi, so it also worked in her favor.. To sum it up, nothing is wrong with the video.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I listen to all three of these artists, however I have not seen this video until now. I watched it after I read the blog and I was kind of grossed out at the video. The blogger did a great job in pointing out every way that women were represented in this video and I did think it was a bit disturbing. BUT I also was not that surprised about the music video because in today's society, there is crazy, disturbing ways of creating yourself. I think it was just an odd way to portray the song.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Like Staci and Laura, I also ready the blog before I watched the video for the first time, and the video is quite disturbing. I had heard the song before and definitely was not picturing the video to be like it is. People have said that the artists are just expressing themselves and being creative, but even if that is what it is is is still a bit scary and gross. This is definitely very different than any other music video I have ever seen.
    Kara Higgins

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have heard this song plenty of times before but this was my first time actually watching the video. I completely understand with what the feminist has to say about the video but I would have to disagree with her. I think that this is just a way of Kanye West showing his creativity. I don't think it's meant for him to really disrespect or degrade women; moreso of him just showing the world how different he is. The blogger did point of some very disturbing points, but I think they are just thinking too negative when that's really not whatKanye was trying to put out. I'm a fan of Kanye & Nicki. Both of them are very unique individuals and I think that they have a sense of style & a way of expressing themselves that makes them stand out.
    _Toykia Meeks

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have seen this video and I don't judge the video because based off Kanye and Nicki Minaj's videos I know they are very different and odd but that's just their personalities. I dont agree with some of the things they put in their videos but like I said that's just their taste. I dont think kanye is trying to disrespect females that's just what he wanted in his video, I t hink the video goes with the lyrics and that it fits Kanye's usual style, which is different. Shanicqua Landis

    ReplyDelete
  9. when I had first seen the monster video I was looking at it from the perspective that he was showing heartless actions and moster like disasters to fit with the song but it wasnt until i read the blog I saw the degrading part of the video. The blogger was right when she called the video lazy and degrading . I still like the song but I would like a better video
    Jasmine Robinson

    ReplyDelete
  10. I actually like this song and after watching the video, have no problem with it. I understand where she's coming from with her response and can obviously see why anyone would find this disturbing/ offensive. I think when watching this video you must have a open mind and understand Kanye's and Nicki's personalities and the way they display their styles (if that's even possible).
    Courtney Wolfe

    ReplyDelete
  11. I've heard this song a lot before and I loooooveee it! Up until now though, I had not seen the video. I don't necessarily like it, but I can respect how they tried to approach it in a strange gory horror film kind of way. I don't think the video was up to par with the song at all, and could have been way more creative with it. As for the response to it, I can partially agree. I also thought of it as kind of disturbing to watch and it is not the kind of thing I enjoy viewing.
    Kayla Anglese

    ReplyDelete
  12. I have watched the monster video numerous times and I really like it. I like the artists, the lyrics, and the video and I don't find anything wrong with it. The video is a representation of what they are rapping about. The blog about the video did state everything that was happening in the video and I could see where she's coming from as a feminist. Kanye West and Nikki Minaj are both unique artists, along with Jay -Z that don't mind putting themselves out there and getting their points across, and I was not surprised at all by the video. I could understand and see why one would be grossed out by the video and see how one would feel about how the women are portrayed in a male video. I thought the video was creative and for entertainment purposes only.

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are interesting comments. Nicki and Kanye are definitely talented. No one's questioning their talent.

    Would you like their work as much if it portrayed women in more positive ways?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would like their work as much if it was protayed women in positive ways because they are already good artist and very good talents, and every one listens to them and maybe more people will look at women in a better way. I heard the song before but this was my first time seeing the video.I like her lyrics. She is talking about all the rumors going on about her "nikki is fake" ,she points out that her money isn't so she just trying to show others that using the metaphor "monster" as comparision to she is making big moves as an artist and she is doing well with it. this was an interesting video with the blood and gore everywhere.



    LATRINA GLADNEY

    ReplyDelete
  15. Adam Baker

    I agree with some people have already said and the fact is that i dont really disagree with the lyrics that are being said. I think music videos usually have nothing to do with what the artist is trying to say. The video does put down women in many different ways but i dont think that has anything to do with kayne west and his beliefs

    ReplyDelete
  16. i dont like this video... its not entertaining seeing it i like the song before i seen the video... i dont think its demonic and i understand hes expressing his feelings but i believe hes expressing things that really dont matter... hes sayin hes a mother f'in monster... like ppl listen to him thinking they should be just like him a monster a beast with all this money.... its not true... ppl believe in all these things on tv or around they're friends thinking that having money, partying all tha time, and going out is ok... and its not... tha world is not just about us humans its bigger than us... we think about our selves all tha time and not think about others... we do not need to be a monster or party or have alot of money... that is just things we want... but i dont care what yall think lol if you just set back n just watch tha video its not right its really sad to me.... :/ now im hungery so im a go eat... lol

    ReplyDelete
  17. At the end of the day music videos are here for entertainment but the Monster video does take it to a whole other level. The way the women were hanging makes women seem like pieces of meat hanging from the ceiling. I saw the video before reading the feminist blog and i didn't think too much into the video and how it offends women but now looking back on it and after reading the blog the video is very derogatory.

    -Abby Blan

    ReplyDelete
  18. I agree with her I think that the monster video is outrageous and portrays women in the worst and most disturbing ways possible. I could not be happier that it was taken down and will not be aloud to be re-released again.

    ReplyDelete