Using the comparison of these two texts as your starting point, explore the media issues and debates which they raise.
In your answer you will need to address:
· Key concepts.
· Contextual factors(wider contexts)
· Media theory.
The text “Your Revolution” (1998), by Dj Vadim ft Sarah Jones can be viewed as a feminist text as it raises certain issues such as female empowerment and the idea of a female evolution. However the text “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”(1972), by Gil Scott-Heron can be viewed in a completely different way as the main issue being raised in this text is that we as the audience are being brainwashed by the media and also suggests the idea that more black people should be treated equally, hence a black evolution.
In the text “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, Gill Scott- Heron argues that advertising is a way of brainwashing people that the media are targeting. The main issue that he is trying to raise is that if you buy these certain products that advertisers are selling on television or even in magazines, these products will not make you look better. For example in his rap song he quotes, “The revolution will not get rid of nubs; the revolution will not make you look five pounds thinner”. Therefore this explains that in a way advertising does promote certain anxieties amongst certain groups of people. Hence women in particular will buy a certain product as it will make them look and fell better to attract the opposite sex. Therefore Heron is questioning advertising as we are being overpowered by the media.
Furthermore he is also arguing against the “Uses and gratifications” theory as the theory states that the audience are more active when consuming different media texts and the audience make their own choices about how and when they consume media texts. However it is made evident that Heron is arguing against this as the media is dominating society and promotes false values and ideologies that the audience perceive and accept.
Similarly, “You Revolution”, also raises the same type of issue as women portrayed in rap music videos are very materialistic. For example in her song it quotes, “The real revolution ain’t about bootie size, the versaces you buy, or the Lexus you drives.” Therefore this suggests that Jones is raising the issue that women in society are represented to be very materialistic and dependent on the way people view them. They are forced into believing that if you buy a certain product this will make you image much better. Hence Jones could be sending message out to the audience that you don’t have to be materialistic in order to get you somewhere in life.
Furthermore this issue raised in her song can also link to the “Effects theory” that states the audience are being manipulated. The hypodermic needle further reinforces the effects of the mass media on their audiences. The model demonstrates that the media injects the passive audience with ideologies that they immediately accept as they think this will tend to portray them with a “better” image in society.
In the text “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised”, Gill Scott Heron also argues that black people in the media are depicted as criminals to society and also raises the issue that there are a lot of negative representations of black people in particular in the media. For example in the song he quotes, “Or trying to slide that colour TV into a stolen ambulance.” Therefore this explains that one of the main issues being raised in the text is the negative representation of black people as the media can be seen as a from of propaganda that is against all black people in society. This can also link to the civil rights struggle that many black people were going through in America in the time period of 1972. In society they were not treated as equal citizens and a lot of social inequality was taking place mainly because of discrimination within society.
On the other hand in the text “Your Revolution”, Jones raises the issue about the negative stereotypes of women in society and how the media objectifies women into sexual objects. The main line which is repeated throughout the song is “Your revolution will not happen between these thighs” which suggests that females in society should not be used for sex and that women are still viewed as second class citizens. This also links to the fact of living in a patriarchal society where males have more dominance and control over females which is made evident throughout this song. Hence and Jones is sending a message out to the audience that this should change asking for more female empowerment.
Jone’s also raises the issue of how certain rap songs again objectify women into being sexual objects. She uses certain pastiche texts and mocks them in a way to indicate women should be treated more equally to men. For example she quotes, “Your revolution will not make you feel bombastic and really fantastic.” Hence this explains that she is protesting against women being used for sex and can be raising the issue of a female evolution as they should not let men have more power and control over them.
The text “Your Revolution Will Not Be Televised” raises an issue about how white people in society have more dominance and control over black people, suggesting the idea that white people are excluding certain minorities. For example in the song Heron quotes, “There will b no pictures of pigs shooting down brothers in the instant replay.” Therefore this suggests that the “pigs” are the police and the “brothers” are the black people in society. Heron could be sending a message out to the audience that after the revolution this will not be happening as black people will achieve more power and live in a more equal society.
Furthermore this can also link to Gramsci’s theory of hegemony that states the dominance of one group (in this case white people) over other groups which result in the empowerment of certain cultural beliefs and values.
In conclusion both texts analysed above deal with media issues and debates in different ways. “Your Revolution” (1998), argues for more independence for women in society and questions the idea of living in a patriarchal society. However on the other hand “Your Revolution Will Not Be Televised” (1972), raises the issue of more power for black people and how advertising in general does brainwash the way in which people think.
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