Artist- Missy elliot
genre - hip hop
video - performance based
Released - april 20th 1999
Director hype williams
She a bitch is a hip hop track performed by artist Missy elliot. As the video starts we already get a very sinister vibe from the artist. But the beat seems very hip hop which still is conventional. But the dark colour scheme for the video does challenge generic codes for the video. At the beginning we see missy elliot wearing a black costume which challenges the female conventional codes as they do not wear this type of clothing. Wearing this type of male clothing is clearly identified through mise-en-scene. Already there is some intertextuality referencing to the movie blade. This film main character blade is a heroic character who fights vampires. His role wouldn't be seen as a women role to play. As heroes are normally men. Who are a strong. Representation of gender is instantly countered as this is not expected of the female or male hip hop audiences.
Looking at both costumes we can see the similarity blade was made in 1998. This video challenges the idea of feminism and post feminist views. We can clearly see she doesn't care what people think as she has her own style. She embraces that she is different and loves it. Blade the character was a bit different as he was half vampire and human. the intertextuality referencing is very interesting. But there may be some post feminist views as she is in control of what she doing. She not doing it for the pleasure she saying this sis who i am. 'Nigga you pissed on trip I'mma have to bust you in your lips' these lyrics are what you would expect off a male artist. Missy Elliot seems to reject conventional representation of women free from objectification. the video adhere typical feature of a female hip hop artist video. We have a high angle shot on her for quite some time thisa could be representing how the industry looks down on her and how she challenges the norm of getting recognition in the music industry. Then we have a low angle shot of her walking whcih could be saying she striving towards something with her new look.
The vidoe is one of the most expensive of all time so missy elliot wanted to put out her message that she weren't a normal artist who followed other artist which is a post feminist reading. Her styl counters feminism very much. As the video plays we see her in a car which again challenges forms and conventions of a female hip hop video. She is a very androgyny artist due to her clothing. She does not conform to to stereotypes of gender representation. We then see female dancers in the video which is a convention of a hip hop video but she doesn't wear provocative clothign like them. she wears male type clothing which is another. unconventional feature of her.
Overall missy elliot unconventional approach to music has allowed her to have an image of her own that has worked sucessfully. There is still a post feminst feel to the video but she has done it in her own way. Although not entirely post feminist as she doesn't go for a sexy female approach. She has given a differnet impression of typical female artist. She has gained an image of her own she just enjoying who she is. she counters feminsit views strongly as she has played a male type role in this video.
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