Maroon 5's 'Animal' music video came out yesterday. Having watched this I am both shocked and disgusted. The role the woman plays in this music video is merely a victim as the male is portrayed as a predatory figure. At the beginning of this video Adam Levine seems innocent as he is working in a butcher's and has spotted a girl (who is actually his wife in real life called Behati Prinsloo!). However during the course of the music video we begin to see that Adam Levine sees this woman as more than just a crush. Later on in the video we see him creeping into her apartment and sleeping next to her and caressing her in her sleep. This completely changes our perceptions of the role Adam Levine plays in the music video. These distressing imagery continue as there is a scene whereby Adam and the woman are kissing and blood is being dropped over them and they are covered (I hope they used paint!). I believe this is symbolic of animal's blood. There are scenes whereby he is stalking her and taking pictures of her to add to his collection. There is a strong link therefore between the blood and the extreme sexual connotations, however it is not crazy that might confuse him with an axe murderer! This video is quite disturbing as it does not portray the meaning of love as conventionally seen in pop songs, rather Adam Levine plays the role of a stalker whilst comparing the meat that he sells (as he is a butcher) to the women. One could view this video as misogynistic as the women is viewed as something that is to be hunted down and killed like an animal. The lyrics sing, "I'm preying on you tonight [...] hunt you down eat you alive just like an animal'. In my opinion this metaphor is suggesting that his intentions are disturbingly provocative on his behalf much more than hers. This is therefore reducing the women to the status of an object linking to Laura Mulvey's theory the Male gaze.The fact that throughout the whole music video she has no idea that she is being stalked suggests she would be less compelled to him if only she knew! I find it a coincidence that this music video has been released when it did as recently there are increasingly becoming more stories and articles of feminist movements and behaviours that are being expressed through the media. For example Chanel's co-opting feminism at Paris Fashion week. Also, recently there have been numerous celebrity nude photos being leaked online and on top of that there have recently been headlines of sexual assault. Not my favourite work of yours Adam!
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Maroon 5's 'Animal' Music Video
Maroon 5's 'Animal' music video came out yesterday. Having watched this I am both shocked and disgusted. The role the woman plays in this music video is merely a victim as the male is portrayed as a predatory figure. At the beginning of this video Adam Levine seems innocent as he is working in a butcher's and has spotted a girl (who is actually his wife in real life called Behati Prinsloo!). However during the course of the music video we begin to see that Adam Levine sees this woman as more than just a crush. Later on in the video we see him creeping into her apartment and sleeping next to her and caressing her in her sleep. This completely changes our perceptions of the role Adam Levine plays in the music video. These distressing imagery continue as there is a scene whereby Adam and the woman are kissing and blood is being dropped over them and they are covered (I hope they used paint!). I believe this is symbolic of animal's blood. There are scenes whereby he is stalking her and taking pictures of her to add to his collection. There is a strong link therefore between the blood and the extreme sexual connotations, however it is not crazy that might confuse him with an axe murderer! This video is quite disturbing as it does not portray the meaning of love as conventionally seen in pop songs, rather Adam Levine plays the role of a stalker whilst comparing the meat that he sells (as he is a butcher) to the women. One could view this video as misogynistic as the women is viewed as something that is to be hunted down and killed like an animal. The lyrics sing, "I'm preying on you tonight [...] hunt you down eat you alive just like an animal'. In my opinion this metaphor is suggesting that his intentions are disturbingly provocative on his behalf much more than hers. This is therefore reducing the women to the status of an object linking to Laura Mulvey's theory the Male gaze.The fact that throughout the whole music video she has no idea that she is being stalked suggests she would be less compelled to him if only she knew! I find it a coincidence that this music video has been released when it did as recently there are increasingly becoming more stories and articles of feminist movements and behaviours that are being expressed through the media. For example Chanel's co-opting feminism at Paris Fashion week. Also, recently there have been numerous celebrity nude photos being leaked online and on top of that there have recently been headlines of sexual assault. Not my favourite work of yours Adam!
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