A Not So Dreamy World of Music Videos the Genius Behind Conjuring up A

6 Arts & Life Editor Joe Wolfe Campus Comment Arts & Life Jessica Rothchild A not so dreamy world of music videos COMMENTARY BY the documentary. GABRIELLE CURCILLO Women do not relax by pools, wrestle in the mud or participate Staff Writer in wet t-shirt contests because they want to, but rather because “Women are nothing but men long for it. sexualized bodies looking for While the morality of music man’s attention,” said Sut Jhally, videos may arise in this docu- the writer, editor and narra- mentary, “Dreamworlds 3” does tor of “Dreamworlds 3: Desire, not want to decide if music vid- Sex and Power in Music Video.” eos are right or wrong. Instead, This documentary, produced it wants to decide whose story is by Media Education Foundation, being told. As supported by the focuses on the portrayal of wom- documentary, not enough stories en in music videos for the past of sexuality are told in the music two decades. Shown Wednesday video industry. Not surprisingly, night in the DeNaples Theater only one is represented: the male, by Students In Free Enterprise white, heterosexual one. Accord- (SIFE) and the Women’s Study ing to this view, women are Program, this video successfully portrayed “like pieces of meat” outlines the disturbing stories that are treated as prostitutes music videos tell and the shock- and strippers. African-American ing origins of these stories. men are portrayed as the violent According to Jhally, music and threatening men who force videos “have relied heavily on women to succumb to their will. female sexuality” to receive It should be noted, though, that higher ratings. While the media white males are not exempt from reserves the right to try to raise this deplorable behavior. the number of viewers, the mu- How exactly do the produc- sic video industry has lowered ers of music videos achieve their women’s worth in the process. goal to make women appear as The music videos send the mes- nothing but sexualized beings? PHOTO COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS sage that women have one, and Quite simply through the use of SNOOP DOGG (left) is just one of the many musicians that exploit the stereotypes in “Dreamworlds.” only one, feature: sexuality. the camera. silhouettes,” for men to fill in as tin Timberlake and Janet Jackson fun stem from? When the foot- The fantasies of teenage boys The camera tells the story. By they please. performed together. Throughout age at the parade was compared and men, who are always raven- angling the camera or posing Originally, female artists the whole song, Jackson suc- with music videos, the answer ous for sex and will not take no women in the right way, women strived to relay messages of in- cumbed to Timberlake and his could not be more obvious. for an answer whether in a car, invite the looks that men in the dependence and innocence. As sexual advances through lyrics. Music videos are not neces- public restroom or therepist of- real world are often criticized music videos continue to de- At the end of the song, howev- sarily accountable for the ac- fice, are played out on screen. for. In music videos, though, humanize women, the artists er, Timberlake took it one step tions of today’s society. They are, Women are so desperate for and women are simply objects or struggle to remain true to them- further. He tore off the clothing however, responsible for whose dependent on sex that, when landscapes with no say in how selves. Gwen Stefani, Madonna covering Jackson’s right breast, story is told. Dr. Meager, the they cannot find a man to sati- they are viewed. and Jewel all began as women which symbolized man’s total chair of the Department of Latin ate their desire, they will use “[Women are] just legs in high with the message of strength control over women. American and Women’s Studies whatever might be at their dis- heels,” said Jhally in the docu- and independence. Mariah Carey What effect have these at The University supports this posal. mentary. and Christina Aguilera began as videos had on society? belief. People today, according To add to men’s female fan- Through the use of the cam- young, talented artists singing “[The] line between fantasy to Jhally, “believe they are so- tasy, women constantly undress era, only certain aspects are songs of innocence. As music and reality [is] blurred,” said phisticated consumers of imag- in videos to capture onlookers’ emphasized, namely the ones videos have become more sex- Jhally in the documentary. ery” in regards to music videos. attention and prepare for sexual that arouse sexual desires in ual, all five females have made Based on the actions of men In reality, though, “they are not activities. Even when women do men. Women are fragmented as music videos portraying them- at the Puerto Rican Day Parade [the] sophisticated consumers of wear clothing, they choose from a number of simple body parts, selves as sex objects. 2000, Jhally could not be more imagery” they believe to be. low-cut tops, stockings and lin- which detracts from the rest of Perhaps the best example of accurate. Numbers of innocent How could we possibly be gerie. the body. the ultimate goal of “Dream- women were sexually abused by “sophisticated consumers” when “Women’s bodies [are] there to As Jhally said, “women be- world” is the Half Time show at men who simply wanted to have the industry presents us with solely please men,” said Jhally in come nothing [but] shadows or the Superbowl in 2004, when Jus- fun. Where did their ideas for only one side of the story. The genius behind conjuring up a lie COMMENTARY BY the truth, until one day when dards of out-of-his-league Anna moments for a comedy. In one duced by Lynda Obst, who also REBECCA SCHMAELING he lies without thinking about McDoogles, played by Jennifer of these moments, Mark’s moth- produced “How to Lose a Guy Staff Writer it. Since no one else can lie but Garner. Since Anna, like every- er is on her deathbed, discuss- in Ten Days” and “Sleepless in him, Mark is soon able to ma- one else in this world devoid ing her fear of death. To com- Seattle,” the “The Invention of Ever picture a world where nipulate all different people be- of lies, can only tell the truth, fort her, Mark quickly makes Lying” is far from another ro- everyone tells the truth? Well, cause they never second-guess she outright rejects Mark, tell- up a story of how she will find mantic comedy. However, true Matthew Robinson and Ricky what he is saying. Following the ing him his DNA is not good eternal peace and happiness to most romantic comedies, the Gervais, writers of the new tried and true rags-to-riches sto- enough for her future children. when she dies. Mark’s lie quickly movie ends with the guy getting movie “The Invention of Ly- ryline, Mark is able to utilize his In yet another cliché, Anna falls turns into a news story and he the girl and everyone living hap- ing,” did. They turn a seemingly new “invention.” He goes from for Mark’s much more attrac- is forced to tell it to the entire pily ever after. impossible idea into a brilliant an unemployed man who can- tive enemy and competitor at town. Holding two pizza boxes Alongside Jennifer Garner movie full of life, laughs, love not pay his rent to a rich, suc- work, Brad Kessler, played by above his head, meant to imi- and Rick Gervais, Jonah Hill of and heartache. cessful businessman. In fact, it Rob Lowe. tate the two tablets containing “Superbad” and Tina Fey of “30 “The Invention of Lying” is a seems that Mark has everything While the movie is filled with the Ten Commandments, Mark Rock” add to the stellar cast of serious comedy about the first he ever wanted- well, everything the sarcastic British humor also gives a speech about “The Man characters in the film. With all man who ever lied. Played by except the girl of his dreams. found in the hit BBC series, “The in the Sky.” This scene brings an of these stars and a refreshing Ricky Gervais, Mark Bellison In another typical Hollywood Office,” which was also writ- aspect of religion to the movie mixture of comedy and serious- is a man who lives in a world plotline, nice-guy Mark cannot ten by Rick Gervais, it also has rarely seen in comedies today. ness, “The Invention of Lying” is where no one tells anything but seem to meet the high stan- a surprising amount of serious Although the film is pro- definitely a must see. Campus Comment What movie are you most looking forward to this fall? “Sherlock Holmes.” “Good Hair.” “Sherlock Holmes.” “Saw VI.” “New Moon.” Neil Kalariya Nadege Valcin Rich Hawran Alie Messler Alysha Urniasz Senior, Peckville Senior, Freeport, NY Senior, Clifton, NJ Freshmen, Waverly Senior, Rockaway, NJ.

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