Who/What: This is the music video for Beyoncé's radio single "Run The World (Girls)" from her album 4 (Dinh). It features pseudo-violence and aggressive choreography reminiscent of a protest demonstration, including militia-like male personnel holding riot shields and night sticks. Beyoncé is a world-renowned R&B singer from Texas, and she has regularly identified herself as feminist.
Where: This video is on YouTube and accessible from all over the world.
When: The single dropped in April of 2011(Dinh).
Why (it's interesting/relevant): Like a lot of Beyoncé music, this song is about female empowerment, and its message is explicit, especially in the lyrics. As it relates to the video, there's a lot of dissent about whether this video, with women in very little clothing and suggestive dancing (leaning towards objectification), is as feminist as the lyrics would indicate.
Identities: This video was meant to represent all women. Her literal army of backup dancers are women of virtually every known ethnic group, including Black, White, Latina, Middle-Eastern, and Asian. In a world where there is a growing distinction between "White Feminism" and a more inclusive feminism that represents and fights for the rights of ALL women, having that level of variety is pointing towards a more global "woman" identity.
Works Cited:
Dinh, James "Beyoncé's 'Run The World
(Girls)' To Hit Radio, iTunes Thursday". MTV News. MTV Networks. 21 April 2011. Web. 8 February 2016.
beyonceVEVO. “Run the World (Girls).” Music Video. Youtube. Youtube, 18 May 2011. Web. 8 February 2016.
Claimed by me :)
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