Props used in music videos

In typical Hip Hop Music Videos, money are usually shown in close up shots to how significant it is in the music industry. For our Music video to fit in to the ‘Party Hip-hop’ Music video genre we must include some of the items listed below such as jewellery, trainers, drinks or anything that represents high status and celebration.

In the Hip Hop genre women are usually objectified in music videos. Theses Music Videos usually have fast paced editing so the Music video producers rely on the use of women to slow the pace down. Women are also used to attract male audience as they usually enjoy watching women, this is an example of voyeurism.

In this particular frame , the role of women could be interpreted in two ways. The first one is that women are  portrayed to be dominant, this is because she is standing on top of some boxes which all forms a shape similar to that of a pedestal. She appears dominant because a Pedestal is associated with Winners, the highest ranker and leader and this is exactly why she appears dominant in this frame. On the other Hand, We can argue that the way she is posing and still in the video, women are portrayed to be passive, trophy like and something to look at.

High tops Trainers are usually very common in hip hop music videos, this is because it is the typical footwear worn in the Hip Hop communities.

 

Adding to the idea that women are passive in Hip Hop  Music Videos, there is a close up on this woman's lip which is showing her lipstick dripping this doesn't speed up the pace of the music video. It actually slows it down because it gets the audience wondering what it is really symbolizing. This agrees with Laura Malvey's male gaze theory.