Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that in our consumerist society, music is one of the most important money-spinners. The writer points out that as noted by Julie L. Andsager and Kimberly Roe, music videos are very important in this industry as they play an important role in launching the careers of artists. Moreover, the writer describes that music videos enjoy an enormous following among teenagers, which means that they likely play an important role in forming their opinions about important issues such as gender roles. This research paper investigates the key issue of how music videos portray women. The writer maintains that as music videos have the potential to impact the lives of so many women, and to form the opinions of so many young people of all genders, the portrayal of women in music videos is clearly a matter of great importance.

From the Paper
"Clearly there exist destructive music videos which encourage sexism and the objectifying of women. This is cause for great concern as such music videos clearly have the potential to encourage men to treat women as mere sex objects. Even more troubling is the fact that some music videos seem to actively encourage and promote violence against women. For example, Van Horn found that more than half of the music videos he examined contained violence, and that all too often this was violence against women. An Eminem song, Kim, illustrates this chillingly well. The following is not the entire song, but merely excerpts, but it should be kept in mind that the entire song is sickeningly violent, not only these excerpts."

Tags:gender, roles, sex, objects, sexism, lyrics, violence

Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses the importance of music videos in the promotion of music artists. Having established the importance and following of such music videos, the writer looks at the influence of such videos on young minds, concentrating on women and gender roles.

From the Paper
"In our consumerist society, music is one of the most important money-spinners. As noted by Andsager and Roe, music videos are very important in this industry, as they play an important role in launching the careers of artists. Indeed, they are first and foremost commercials for a product, usually a CD. Moreover, music videos enjoy an enormous following among teenagers, which means that they likely play an important role in forming their opinions about important issues such as gender roles. The fact that music videos are so important in two such important spheres - commerce and the molding of young minds ..."

Tags:music, videos, women

Abstract
The music industry spends enormous amounts of money to create music videos that will make a profit, and the one ingredient they have consistently found that helps sell their products is violence; this violence is usually directed toward women. The AAP notes that there is a paucity of research concerning the impact of such gratuitous violence on children and adolescents. To this end, this paper demonstrates this relationship through a critical review of the literature, followed by a summary of the research and recommendations in the conclusion.

From the Paper
"The definitions concerning what constitutes entertainment and what is protected by the 1st Amendment do not necessarily address the underlying problems of violence in the media and sometimes only serve to merely contribute to the statistical haze that surrounds an already complex situation. The recent appearance of national leaders on MTV attests to the importance and power of music videos in shaping the nation's conscience. Further, while many non-black observers feel that rap music is just "so much noise generated by angry black youths," rap music or simply "rap," is in actuality a reflection of the current affairs within the communities in which it is performed. Rap is a "genre of rhythm-and-blues music that consists of rhythmic vocals declaimed over musical accompaniment. The accompaniment generally consists of electronic drum beats combined with samples (digitally isolated sound bites) from other musical recordings" (Bowman, 2003). From this perspective, rap is an extension of the Black Power movement of the 1960s, and has embodied the essence of the young black culture. The first rap recording was made in 1979 and the genre rose to prominence in the United States in the mid-1980s. Although the term rap is often used interchangeably with hip-hop, the latter term encompasses the subculture that rap music is simply one part of. The term hip-hop derives from one of the earliest phrases used in rap, and can be found on the seminal recording "Rapper's Delight" (1979) by Sugarhill Gang. In addition to rap music, the hip-hop subculture also comprises other forms of expression, including dance methodologies, art, vocabulary (in the form of slang) and fashion affectations. Despite these contributions to the popular culture, many observers suggest a connection between the music and personification of violence evinced in music videos and rap as a factor contributing to the incidence of violence by young people in the United State today."

Tags:adolescence, game, hip, hop, media, rap, violence

Abstract
This paper examines the allegations that the media is to blame for various random acts of violence. But is the media really to blame? The paper investigates this question, as well as the question of whether we can expect to see more females committing violent crimes, now that there has been an upsurge of media depictions of violent women. It gives examples of violence in film, on the television, in video games and in music and music videos.

From the Paper
"Certainly, many people believe that the media causes people to act violently. For example, at the trial of Lee Boyd Malvo, one of the two notorious American snipers/serial killers in 2003, it was alleged that his older partner in crime, John Allen Muhammad, had attempted to utlize violent video games - such as Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon and Rainbow 6: Covert Ops - to train Malvo as a sniper (Miller). And after the shootings at the Columbine High School in Colorado in April 1999, in which two school boys killed 13 people, it was found that one of the boys, Eric Harris, had played the violent video game Doom a great deal. (Duin) While it is impossible to know whether the game Doom played a part in encouraging Eric to commit multiple murders, it is certainly a possibility. And given the serious impact of his actions, even a possibility needs to be taken seriously."

Tags:Eminem, child's, play, serial, killers, torture

Abstract
This paper provides an analysis that though rap music is linked to some negative affects on society, in the main it is a form of music that offers potentially more positive than negative benefits to society. Various theories on rap music's impact on society, particularly youth, are addressed from misogyny and racism to empowerment and expression.

From the Paper
"As a cultural movement, rap, or hip-hop as it is commonly referred to, music is primarily perceived as both a positive and negative influence on young people in today's society. (Roach) On the one hand, there are those who believe rap music promotes the dismantling of racial barriers and helps provide an outlet for expression and material success for African Americans and other minorities. On the other hand, there is no shortage of critics who find the influence of rap music..."

Tags:racism, prejudice, violence, women, gender, patriarchy, racial barriers, blacks, African Americans, music videos, lyrics, Al Sharpton, Russell Simmons, activism

Abstract
There are very marked differences between the sexuality in lyrics and videos of Rap songs and R&B songs as a whole. This commentary is in no way meant to cast a blanket of generalizations over this issue. Instead, it is the purpose of this paper to examine the expression of sexuality in the lyrics and videos of six songs (three Rap and three R&B). The exploration will pay particular attention to the treatment and portrayal of women in these images and what they seem to be saying about gender and society.

Tags:sexuality, portrayal, women

Abstract
This paper explores gender and sexuality in heavy metal music, looking at the role of groupies, the portrayal of men and women in heavy metal videos, gender roles, and gender-influenced understandings of heavy metal.

From the Paper
"Groupies in the heavy metal environment are not just adoring fans but essentially and exclusively sexual beings. The portrayal of women in heavy metal videos is decidedly sexual as the Western culture's music mythology is expressed in the visual language of music video in that it acts as an expression of sexual desire and that ..."

Tags:gender, sexuality, sex, heavy metal, music, men, women, male, female, groupies

Abstract
This paper presents an examination of the entertainer Madonna's videos and their statement about the societal role of women. It discusses the evolution of females in society over the years through the changes in Madonna's released videos and focuses on her empowerment of women through her music and videos. It looks at how Madonna spent two decades tearing down preconceived notions of what women were expected to do and how she worked to re-instate the ability to be feminine and proved to the world it does not mean giving up the ability to compete in business.

From the Paper
"It has been said that music is the universal language. It is alleged to have the ability to calm savage beasts, make couples fall in love, and incite violence. Throughout the years music has also had a significant influence on the involvement of women. The women's rights movement of the 1960's started the ball rolling toward equality but when it came to issues such as sexuality and the freedom of females to express themselves there was still a stigma about what "kind" of woman expressed her sexuality. The entire issue of sexual openness and women in the music industry was taken by the horns and challenged by Madonna. The sexuality of women was not the only area in which Madonna broke through the glass barriers."

Tags:sex, role, society, music, videos, ideology, feminism, biography

Abstract
The paper explores the meaning and the significance of the use of sexuality in Madonna's art. The writer focuses on two important and often contradictory issues: the use of sexuality in her music, videos and book publications as essentially a marketing and strategic device intended primarily to shock and manipulate the perceptions of the viewer or audience, and the use of sexuality as an integral and coherent part of her artistic intention and oeuvre. The latter use of sexuality is also considered in terms of its impact on modern culture and the way it challenges the social and cultural norms that entrap and subjugate both women and men. To conclude, the writer explains that a comprehensive assessment of sexuality in these works must include elements of both manipulation and artistic and social integrity. This paper contains a photograph of Madonna and an annotated bibliography.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
The Manipulation and Role of Sexuality in Modern Media Culture
Madonna as Contemporary Cultural Icon
Overview of Her Rise to Fame
Sexuality and Madonna's Early Life
Sexuality in Her Music and Image
Sexuality and Individual Freedom and Expression
Sexuality as a Marketing Tool
Conclusion: Reinvention and Hype

From the Paper
"Popular music since the 1960s has tended to question these traditional sexual roles and norms and has interrogated the dominant sexual norms of the society and culture. Contemporary music and art has made use of sexual imagery and lyrics as a sign of rebellion against older morals and values that were considered to be hidebound and retrogressive rather than progressive. The youth culture and the emergence of modern popular and rock music were generally concerned with a central theme - the liberation of human consciousness and meaning from a world that had become overly materialistic and conservative and which prevented new and important expressions of feelings. Sexual images and lyrics in music were therefore essentially seen as form a rebellion against the status quo. It is within this context that the use of sexuality and sexual images in the works of Madonna should be considered."

Tags:independence, expression, feminism, erotic, innovator, homosexuality, Catholic, mercurial, rebellion, exploitation

Abstract
This paper explores hip hop as a co-culture. The paper discusses the history of hip hop music and its development and spread and then focuses on the effect that hip hop music has had on listeners' perceptions of women and African Americans. The paper also discusses the positive aspects of hip hop, as well as the criticism that it has received in recent years.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Hip Hop as a Co-Culture
Effect Hip-Hop Music has on Listeners' Perceptions of Women and African Americans
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The videos of some artists have been a particular point of ridicule because of the way that they exploit women and glorify materialism and violence. Videos, such as Trip Drill by the artist Nelly have become a particular point of contention. Many believe that these videos, in which women are shown with very little clothing, are sending the wrong messages to girls and young women. Many believe that these videos give young men the wrong ideas concerning how women should be treated. In addition to the negative manner in which women are portrayed in these videos, the lyrics of many hip hop artists are extremely derogatory as it relates to women. These lyrics also send negative messages as it relates to who women are and how they should be treated."

Tags:videos, lyrics, materialism, esteem