Turntables - Janelle Monae Flashcards
Who is Janelle Monae?
A non-binary, pansexual singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor
What was Turntables made for?
Stacey Abram’s ‘All In: The Fight for Democracy’ documentary
What is the Doll Test 1947?
- Experiments that revealed the psychological effects of segregation on African American children
- Black children, ages 3–7, were asked to identify which doll they preferred out of 2 identical black and white dolls
- The majority preferred the white doll
- This showed low self-esteem
How is the Doll Test linked to Turntables?
- In the music video, the girl chooses the black doll, which portrays a change in attitudes of children towards their own race.
- This represents improved self-esteem overtime due to changes in society, which Monae is pushing for further in their protest song
What are the US Postal Service mailboxes symbolic of?
- During the 2020 election, the U.S. Postal Service faced scrutiny for its role in handling the surge of mail-in ballots
- Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump ally, implemented cost-cutting measures that caused mail delays, raising concerns about the USPS’s reliability.
- Critics accused the USPS of undermining mail-in voting
- The situation highlighted political and logistical challenges within the postal system.
What is the importance of the beach in the music video?
- Opening and closing shots, cyclical structure
- The imagery of a sunset suggests the rebirth of something; closing the chapter on one day and preparing to welcome another
- This is symbolic of the song’s call for the tables to turn, for the citizens of America to seek justice
Who’s voice is heard at the start of the video?
- American writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwin, from 1986
- It is used to remind the viewers of how long minorities have been suppressed for
What does the Warrior Queen Statue symbolise?
- Resilience, strength, and revolution, which represents the enduring fight for justice and equality within marginalized communities
- Defiant posture displays empowerment and the necessity to challenge oppressive systems
- it invites the viewers to see themselves as warriors in the ongoing struggle for societal transformation, echoing the song’s message about change
Who may the statue be of?
- Yemayá, a Yoruba sea goddess and mother figure, who symbolises creation, motherhood, and protection
- She’s associated with the ocean’s nurturing and life-giving power and is revered in African traditions
How are stereotypes subverted in the video?
The American family that is presented in the music video is already subverting stereotypical expectations. For example, the man is cooking while the woman reads the newspaper.
What is Janelle Monae’s performance like in the video?
- Janelle Monae’s performance through the video is very high-energy, paired with dynamic and fast-paced camera shots
- This is arguably symbolic of her passion for the message of the song and wishing for things to change for the better
How is Pride shown in the video?
- Janelle Monáe is an LGBTQ+ community member and advocate for their rights
- The colorful pride flag symbolizes queer joy and a hopeful future, contrasting the grey pavement beneath it
- A Black person at pride highlights the movement’s roots in the Stonewall uprising, led by figures like Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transwoman and transgender rights advocate
- Historically, media has predominantly represented gay people as white, leaving Black queer individuals underrepresented
Who is Stacey Abrams?
- American politician, lawyer, author, and activist known for her work in voting rights and political advocacy
- She asked Monae to create a song for her political documentary called “All In: The Fight for Democracy” (2020)
- The documentary highlights the systematic obstacles that have been placed in the way of marginalized communities, particularly Black and low-income voters, making it difficult for them to exercise their right to vote
How is race represented in the video?
- Pride in being a person of colour (Doll Test recreation)
- Black queer people
- Voice of James Baldwin
- Clips of protest
How is gender represented in the video?
- Subverting stereotypes (American family, women reading)
- Warrior Queen Statue (empowering)
- Army uniform
What is the structure of the video?
Non-linear structure
What theories can be applied?
Laura Mulvey - The Male Gaze
Judith Butler - Gender Theory
Lisbet van Zoonen - Feminist Theory
George Gerbner - Cultivation Theory
Stuart Hall - Reception Theory
Daniel Chandler - CAGE of Identity
Paul Gilroy - Post-Colonial Theory
