Dream Worlds 3 Response- Carlisle Jensen

The movie Dreams Worlds 3: Desire, Sex & Power in Music Video is a disturbing look into the world of pop culture. The movie investigates the stories told in mainstream music videos and the implications they have on the images of femininity and sexuality. The whole film was disturbing but what I found to be most impactful was the fact that the videos and artists analyzed are so popular and “household names”.  I am disturbed to think of how such images have become intertwined into the American culture and are on the surface acceptable.

            I especially found the influence that the music culture and industry has on the female image and their role in society.  Females only function, in these videos, as objects and part of a male fantasy world. The argument that mainstream music videos present women as stereotypical sexual creatures is valid, all of the clips shown illustrated women as passive objects whose only purpose was to be objectified and taken advantage of. This image traps women into image and a category that takes away their right to independent thought.  I question how these mainstream images of women have affected the women’s movement? As the film argued these images rob women of their humanity. As the film presented even female artists are forced to buy into this fantasy world of sexual images in order to maintain success in the music industry. Teen pop idols like Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera had to comply with the image of sexuality in order to have staying power in the industry.  I cant help but think about Miley Cyrus and how she tried to shed her innocent pop star image by producing provocative videos and poll dancing in her performances. Was her change in image a result of her own wishes or all part of the industry’s idea of what a female artist should be. What kind of messages are these female artists sending to their fan base? It is important to remember how impressionable audiences are in respect to pop culture. Like the film asked who is really telling the story and whose dream world is being presented. I can’t help but worry that this world and the images being presented are starting to become more of a reality.