Case Study - Gender

In the music video for Blurred Lines, women are represented as sexual objects that are to be exploited by men. Mid shots are used, showing the lack of clothes the women are wearing with less focus on their faces. In the song the only people talking and singing are the men which suggests that they are the only ones with a voice or a valid opinion. This creates the idea that Robin Thicke, T.I, and Pharrell are ordering these women around, with shots often shown of these women dancing closely to the men. The fact that the males are the only ones wearing dignified clothes suggests that the only thing women are good or interesting for is their body. Whenever Robin Thicke walks around or dances in the video, the women in the shot often follow suit which suggests that they are not capable of expressing themselves or doing what they want to do, only what the men around them do. The men in the video are represented as quite smart and sophisticated through the clothes worn and the mise en scene. This creates a representation of the ideal man for both men and women. Men would look at the clothes worn and the actions of Robin Thicke and believe that if they act and dress in this masculine way, they too will be surrounded by girls and have respect from the people around you. Women watching the video will look at Robin Thicke as an attractive figure as he is represented as quite cool and again very masculine.

The lyrics of the song reinforce the ideology that is conveyed through the visual codes. The repetition of the line "I know you want it" suggests that the singer is putting these ideas in the head of the females in the video and in the audience. The fact that he is stating this again represents him as the ideal man for women, what they should look for in men in their life. However the deeper meaning of these lyrics implies that women are objects that should be used primarily for sexual purposes. The fact that the women in the video don't speak and that Robin Thicke is telling them that they want him suggests that women have no choice or freedom to express themselves. It gives a message to female viewers that if they act like those in this video they will be rewarded with a powerful and masculine partner like Robin Thicke. Another line from the chorus is "And that's why I'm gon' take a good girl". This creates a representation of the women in this video as what men will consider as 'good'. The female audience could look at this representation and feel that if they act and dress in this controversial manor they will receive attention from men like it happens in the music video. The lyric "You the hottest bitch in this place" creates a hierarchy between men and women, implying that men are above women and that they have the right to refer to them in an objectifying manor through words like 'bitch'. The fact that the singer is using this line to compliment the women in the video gives of a bad message to the audience. Women may see this and feel that if they are referred to in this manor they should accept it and take it on board as a positive comment. Whereas the male audience may feel that they should talk to women around them in this way in order to seem attractive, powerful and masculine to them.