Representation

Who is in your video? How have you chosen to represent them?

In total there are six of us in this music video. We have five girls and one boy. The way I decided to represent the characters in this music video is by focusing mainly on each of the character types. Essentially interpreting stereotypes in certain characters. So for example if we talk about the lead bully who was physically alarming the victim, she would in my perspective certainly from where I'm from be the stereotypical race to resort to that characteristics. As I mentioned in my earlier posts that the reasons behind the reason I decided to implement such stereotypes, was clearly because I was pushing forward the concept of realism. At first when I was conducting my research to whether this ideal perception I had in my brain would be the correct way to go about things. Believe it or not I really researched upon this social dynamic to find out what exactly would be key to this music video. Also, considering that when me and my five lovely girls who had so much fun playing the characteristics they were given had our social gatherings, we would talk for hours about what character we felt needed to be represented. Also, one of my actresses had a past of being bullied and she was the bully character in the music video. We strongly spoke about this as a team and decided that the best way to go about things would be to have the bully character be the person that has been bullied in the past. One way we was looking at this was from the perception of that the actress that has been bullied in the past shouldn't have to play the characteristics of a victim again strictly because it might physiologically affect her. So I decided to have the oriental girls being the victim and the black and Asian girl be a duo of bullies. That doesn't establish that only one type of race or gender can be a bully. Literally anyone from any background can become a bully instantly.

Looking objectively, how might your audience feel about the representation of gender, class, religion, ethnicity etc. present in your video?

I feel like that in some cases the way the sequence of timeline has been put together can conjure up some affect to specific groups of people. However, without considering to digest the reasons to why there might be stereotypes. We all have to understand that at the end of the day anyone and everyone can become a bully and everyone in someway is a bully to someone else. This can be clearly done without realizing which makes it such an impacting dilemma. So yes, I would understand that certain groups of people may argue against the fact that we have a black person playing the bully. Considering that a lot of media texts have implemented that concept for many many years. This can possibly make certain groups of people unhappy with what they visually see in the music video strictly due to the whole mirage of a black character having to be the one to be represented negatively in the music video. My specific target audience group was mainly focused on the female gender because at the time the song was written it was being thought from seeing a female bullying incident. So there could be a male group of people that feel like they wanted to see a boy getting bullied by chance to relate to them which can also lead to creating a problem. At the end of the day people are always going to have some sort of issue with any media text. It can be from the most ridiculous to the most serious.

How is the artist represented in your video? In what ways does this reinforce their public image and help build on their profile?

The artist in this music video is being represented as a noble and respectable rapper. We can clearly identify his passion for the topic at hand and also sympathize with what is being said. The lyrics are so empowering and eye opening because they don't focus on vague aspects of bullying. It literally targets every single thing a bully can be which makes it really interesting. The rapper in particular is being represented positively because his not doing or saying anything inappropriate. Also, because this is a movement for a campaign which makes the rapper have more responsibilities and gives the rapper a sense of positive authority.