Persuasions: Identities, Stereotypes, & Fights

For those of you that don’t know, I have a big interest in photography. I have the Nikon D3000 and just got my hands on a miniature polaroid camera. I’ve been planning a series for a while and I finally have the resources I need to make it complete. I’m calling it, “The Gender Division.” In these photos, I will be using polaroids as an artifact to depict what the male is thinking versus what the female is thinking in the same situation. I tried to start today but I don’t think I’ll be the female model. My boyfriend wasn’t capturing me the way I wanted and it ended in unpleasant banter. I ended up putting the attempts I took today together to make a cover which I will attach. It’s a scenario where the boy is thinking lustfully versus the girl who is thinking about love. Well, I’m going to figure this out as I go and hopefully not waste too many polaroids along the way!

Click the picture to access my flickr.

I have been thoroughly enjoying all of your post-Postrel posts, and figured that perhaps I should join in on these meditations on “attractive wrappings.”

So, who watched the VMAs? I tuned in purely because I am completely fascinated by Nicki Minaj, who performed during the pre-show with will.i.am.

Minaj is a Queens native, and one of few women associated with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money. But, what does this have to do with “Surface and Substance”? Postrel writes, “we judge people, places, and things at least in part by how they look. We care about surfaces.” (458) Hip hop (as is the case with many music/media/art forms) is often associated with the objectification of women, “sex sells,” and a place where “image is everything” and in this case the image of women comes with cleavage, bling, and seductive dancing.  As Postrel points out, “we’re simply attracted to anything that helps us compete for recognition and dominance.” (459) In this case, it appears that “recognition” and “dominance” is achieved through money, fame, and girls.

But, then we have Minaj. A woman who refers to herself as “Barbie” and as a “bad bitch.” And, it seems like people (the public) do not know what to do with such proclamations.

In a recent interview, Minaj said, “I started making it my business to say things that would empower women, like, ‘Where my bad bitches at?’ to let them know I’m here for you.”

Minaj puts hip hop first (“substance”) and decidedly takes the “road less traveled” approach to “surface.” Do you think that Minaj’s real appeal is that she has changed the stakes for the hip hop industry? Is it possible to really change gender roles and the way “aesthetic value” is affixed to different sexes?

Why can’t I stop listening?