Audience classification
- 2. An Introduction to ‘Blurred Lines’ In this PowerPoint, I will be exploring the different types of audiences for ‘Blurred Lines’ and what they think about it. ‘Blurred Lines’ is a song created for the pop music genre. It was performed by American singers Robin Thicke and William Pharrell. It was released on March30th, 2013 by record companies Star Trak and Introscope. Overall, the ‘Blurred Lines’ song and music video has 349, 693,534 views on YouTube.
- 3. What do different genders think about the ‘Blurred Lines’? Men might like the music video and the song due to it’s misogynistic lyrics and women being viewed as lower than men, and well as the suggestive attire that the models in the music video wear. However, some women might also like the music video because of it’s hip music and catchy beat. They some also draw a sense of power from the music video, with lyrics such as ‘…that man is not your maker’. Women might also like the type of clothes that the models in the music video and might try to find similar clothes and buy them. Also, Women might also find the music video sexist and anti-feminist due to the women complying with what the men want and submitting to being used and placed in seductive and provocative positions whilst letting sexual connotations be said about them. ‘’All-time dance jam… hey, hey hey!” – Teri Philips, YouTube “Yeah…” – David Schurmans, YouTube
- 4. What might different religions think about ‘Blurred Lines’? Christians may condemn ‘Blurred Lines’ and find it offensive and disgusting and a hindrance to equal women’s rights. They might also protest against it or sign petitions to get it censored or banned. The religion of Islam might not like because of the way that women are treated in the music video. However, they might also like the way that men are treated in the music video. Other religions might take same or perhaps completely different views to the ones that I have explained. The same religions that I have talked about or groups within that religion might take an opposite or alternative opinion than the ones that I have explained. Some Christians think that this is outright offensive. However, they may be secretly approve or condone this kind behaviour. I came up with this theory from a website called Christianity Today.
- 5. What might people of various disposable income think about ‘Blurred Lines’? People who have quite an average amount of disposable income could afford internet access or can even go and buy or download the song from a shop or via an online music website might have a fairly knowledgeable and high opinion of the song and may like it or not it. On the other hand, people who are poorer and may not be able to afford access to the internet or buy the song may not have ever even heard about the song or watched the music video and therefore might not hold any kind of opinion on it and might not be aware of the controversy surrounding the song. Students may not have financial independence and may rely on their parents for financial stability. However, they do still have access to the internet and can buy or download music, and can therefore still hold opinions on the music video and the lyrics and could find them either controversial and offensive or acceptable and hip.
- 6. What do people from different geo demographics think about ‘Blurred Lines’? People from city or urban geo demographics will definitely have heard ‘Blurred Lines’ or at least seen the music video and would certainly think about and hold an opinion on the basis of ‘Blurred Lines’ or they may have heard it through their friends or from hearing it by travelling around town. People from this geo demographical origin would be familiar with the genre of pop and other musical genres and would most likely like it. People from agricultural or remote geo demographics might not have heard or watched the music video to ‘Blurred Lines’ and may not be able to hold an opinion on the basis and morality of ‘Blurred Lines’ and could not have heard of it, due to living so remotely or with no one else around for miles. People from this geo demographical origin would not be familiar with musical genres and would not know around it. People most likely to hear the music or watch the video would like those from the Western World (most likely Western Europe) because they have access to the internet and to music channels either on the TV or on the internet. Geo demography can separate how music videos are viewed and how popular they are massively. The country of the geo demographic research can also affect this.
- 7. How do people from varying ages view ‘Blurred Lines’? People from various ages will view ‘Blurred Lines’ very differently from people of older ages due to the way that they were brought up or what society was back then. A young person, 15-24, for instance, might most likely like ‘Blurred Lines’ because of the hip, young beat and rhythm that it portrays as well as the models in suggestive attire. However, an older person, 60+, would most likely not like ‘Blurred Lines’ due to it’s portrayal of women as sexualised objects that must obey men, and for it’s portrayal of men as sexual harassers who do not see women as equals and view themselves as the dominant gender. However, older men may also like ‘Blurred Lines’ due to it’s view of young women in seductive clothing obeying what the men want and letting themselves be treated as objects.
- 8. Product Reception Positive Negative Sexually provocative Misogynistic Cool rhythm Anti-feminist Attractive models Sexist Appeals to the new generation Could be used to promote rape One of the most music videos in the UK Hip beat Treats women as animals What people want to listen to