Beyoncé: Feminism through representation and the oppositional gaze
Research Mentor(s)
Morgan Parmett, Helen
Description
The purpose of my poster and research is to inform that Beyoncé Knowles, one of the most well-known figures in popular culture, is a feminist, but that is not at all what I am most interested in. What I am most interested in is taking seriously that Beyoncé is a feminist, and questioning what kind of feminism possibilities does her particular version of feminism have to offer? I support my research with the aid of bell hooks and the oppositional gaze. According to hall, the oppositional gaze is meant to encourage black women to not accept the stereotypical representations of women, but rather actively critique them. We often see women such as Beyoncé as over sexualized beings who fall victim to the male gaze because our minds have been trained to see that a set of concepts represent nothing but a sexual reference rather than empowerment for women. Through her appearances, music videos, sexy dance moves, and provocative lyrics, Beyoncé empowers her performance of being a woman and feminism by transitioning the male gaze into an oppositional one. Beyoncé embraces the black female body as fantasy, power, exposing a critical look on the audience, the media industry, and herself. It is important to realize that there are multiple waves of feminism, which often complicates the idea of Beyoncé representing feminism for some. However, Beyoncé does not fall victim to the male gaze through the stereotypical representations given to women in society, but rather challenges this gaze while inviting her viewers to do the same. Beyoncé is a women who takes charge, and perhaps that is the new wave of feminism that we are, and should be, living in today.
Document Type
Event
Start Date
15-5-2015 10:00 AM
End Date
15-5-2015 2:00 PM
Department
Communication Studies
Genre/Form
student projects; posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Sex in music; Feminism and music
Subjects – Names (LCNAF)
Beyoncé, 1981---Criticism and interpretation
Type
Image
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this documentation for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Beyoncé: Feminism through representation and the oppositional gaze
The purpose of my poster and research is to inform that Beyoncé Knowles, one of the most well-known figures in popular culture, is a feminist, but that is not at all what I am most interested in. What I am most interested in is taking seriously that Beyoncé is a feminist, and questioning what kind of feminism possibilities does her particular version of feminism have to offer? I support my research with the aid of bell hooks and the oppositional gaze. According to hall, the oppositional gaze is meant to encourage black women to not accept the stereotypical representations of women, but rather actively critique them. We often see women such as Beyoncé as over sexualized beings who fall victim to the male gaze because our minds have been trained to see that a set of concepts represent nothing but a sexual reference rather than empowerment for women. Through her appearances, music videos, sexy dance moves, and provocative lyrics, Beyoncé empowers her performance of being a woman and feminism by transitioning the male gaze into an oppositional one. Beyoncé embraces the black female body as fantasy, power, exposing a critical look on the audience, the media industry, and herself. It is important to realize that there are multiple waves of feminism, which often complicates the idea of Beyoncé representing feminism for some. However, Beyoncé does not fall victim to the male gaze through the stereotypical representations given to women in society, but rather challenges this gaze while inviting her viewers to do the same. Beyoncé is a women who takes charge, and perhaps that is the new wave of feminism that we are, and should be, living in today.