The text I will be looking at is Trey Songz video “Yo side of the bed” taken from Trey Songz’s 2009 studio album “Ready” the music video was directed by Yolande Geralds, distributed by WMG (Warner Music Group), co-staring Keri Hilson (RnB singer) as Trey Songz’s wife and the mother to his new born daughter.
The following music video goes against the stereotypical views upon black males being violent/corrupted. This is connoted in the introduction of the music video trey songs is shown holding his wife as the camera zooms up on his wedding hand. The clip opens with a question about how long the two have been together. "Well, if you count the time it took to get her on a date with me," Trey replies, "three years and seven or eight months." this represents Trey Songz being a modest character. This can be debated as his arms are also shown covered with tattoos, representing gang culture showing that he has had a past involved in some sort of gang culture. However, this can also link with the feminist theory of “new man” as it shows that Trey Songz has left his gang culture and has changed to become a committed family man, this also connotes the development in his character as he has matured to take responsibility of his wife and kid.
The media text challenges the stereotypical gender representation of black males as RnB artist are normally represented as reckless playas, gangster, thug or pimp abusing drugs, mistreating female and sexual. However, Trey is represented as a caring, humble, committed husband and a father with responsibilities. This goes against his image as Trey Songz is usually known for making hot steamy videos such as “Neighbours know my name “and “I invented sex”.
The video then flashes back to the past when they met, Hilson is shown jogging past Trey who is seated on a park bench. He observes her with a voyeuristic gaze admiring her beauty, this emphasis the power that females have to control male. Keri Hilson is seen decked out in workout gear and a cap, adorned with the badge of the United States Army. She is presented as the more dominant figure where her partner Trey is the house wife, suggesting that society is not so patriarchal.
The two eventually marry and have a child together. The camera pans across their home showing them in bed together, spotting photos from their courtship on the walls and revealing images of Keri Hilson with her army. This shows the gender role swap as Trey Songz is shown to play the role of a house lady and Keri Hilson is shown to play the role of the man of the house. Keri Hilson is a femme fatale as has lured Trey Songz to change for her making him the “bitch” and she is connoted to be a strong independent female in the American army. This shows the that the gender ideologies presented in the media text have challenged the stereotypical gender representation as Trey Songz is connoted to be the house wife looking after his kid, cleaning the house and cooking food. However, Keri Hilson is plays an opposite role of being the man of the house and earning the money to put food on the plate for her husband and kid by working for the army.
No comments:
Post a Comment