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Since the release of the Buggles song “Video Killed the Radio Star” and the introduction of the music video station MTV in the early 80’s, music videos have progressed into a predominate part of our culture. Every generation has had its video icons. These icons have used the music video to convey messages to their viewers. Messages sent through music videos have included everything from what to wear, how to act, and who to vote for. With such an influence and with ever increasing availability, it is important that viewers become media literate in order to critically question what messages are being sent through videos to them. We have chosen fifteen popular videos that are on current, consistent rotation on music video stations. We have summarized them and added in critical questions to consider for visitors to this blog to answer. We have also linked the videos to this site. You can access each video by clicking on the picture of the artist that is found beside the title of the video.

Friday, March 30, 2007


Fabolous- "Diamonds"
This video consists of a combination of Fabolous flashing all his "bling" (diamond chains, watches, bracelets, and a diamond-studded jacket) and scantily-clad women dancing suggestively. One of the main lines in this song is "She liked my necklace, so she started relaxing". In the video they show women laying down, wearing nothing but lingerie, and a woman wearing diamond headphones responds to this with the line, "I like you, but I really like your damn chain". Other images in the video include a woman wearing a diamond-studded ski mask, the rapper eating "Diamond Crunch" cereal and drinking diamond champagne, and a woman showering in diamonds.
Questions to Consider:
How are females portrayed in this video?
How are males portrayed in this video?
What is the main message that viewers are receiving from this video?

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