Violence in Music Video

Question 1

Main point of “Playing With Fire” by Encks & McDaniels

Answer 1

Although the music video draws media attention to the matter of domestic and dating violence, it does so in ways that re-affirm or re-assert familiar ideas about masculinity and femininity. Uses women in general but specifically black women as a scapegoat to maintain hegemonic masculinity in society.

Question 2

Hegemonic Masculinity

Answer 2

term introduced by R.W. Connell to describe a form of masculinity that “embodie[s] the currently most honored way of being a man.” Connell points out that there are variety of masculinities and that hegemonic masculinity is that form of masculinity that is most valued and most directly linked to power and privilege. Subordinated masculinities, on the other hand, are less valued and less linked to power and privilege.

Question 3

Cycle of Abuse

Answer 3

Tension-Explosion-Remorse-Honeymoon:

Tension: Couple is fragile, woman considers leaving, male is frustrated
Explosion: Full on fight, violence and abuse, emotions are uncontrolled
Remorse: Abuser recognizes damage done and begs the victim to forgive them/stay
Honeymoon: The victim forgives and the 2 are in love, however the relationship is still fragile
–> Not just interpersonal but systemic, reinforces hegemonic masculinity in society

Question 4

Interlocking gendered/racialized archetypes

Answer 4

The Sapphire & The Strong Black Woman:
Sapphire is a “hostile nagging black woman” who emasculates black men around her with her angry and forceful manner, always opposes the black male who she is always fighting with.
Strong Black woman celebrates survival, despite oppressive circumstances she tolerates the intolerable and does it all w/o complaining
–> These 2 archetypes oppose the stereotype of the passive, white middle class or “good” victim.

Question 5

Intersectionality

Answer 5

introduced by Kimberle Crenshaw to describe the ways that multiple systems of privilege and oppression work together to shape our cultural experiences. An intersectional approach to violence against women understands thatrace,class, gender (as well as age, ability, and a wide variety of other factors) shape how we experience violence and how the violence done to us is represented or responded to.

Question 6

Role of Alcohol

Answer 6

The liquor is a significant part of this story it shows that alcohol is responsible for domestic violence. Positions Alcohol as to blame for sexual assault. Excuses the perpetrator. Makes both individuals share the responsibility.
- Empty alcohol bottles, they met in a bar

Question 7

Romanticizing Abuse

Answer 7

Representation of violence as mutual (i.e., shared and practiced by both partners) functions to romanticize the violence and to reduce the perpetrator’s responsibility; in the video, domestic violence is represented as “an ‘equal opportunity’ endeavor… where men and women alike are equally violent and capable of inflicting equal harm” (Encks and

Question 8

Abject

Answer 8

Completely without pride or dignity, self-abashing.

Question 9

What does class afford ‘the race man’

Answer 9

Honorary whiteness, where they receive white privilege as long as they behave nicely

• -> Chris Brown at first, he then became a hyper-visible black man when he was abusive
• To shift accountability onto black men if it can’t be put on women rather than white men, kind of a back up protection

Question 10

White Masculinity can…

Answer 10

Move freely into Black Masculinity and back again when they want, whereas black men can only achieve white privilege through class as a single opportunity - almost like a gift of some sort

Question 11

Patriarchal Dividend (Connell)

Answer 11

The advantage men gain from the overall subordination of women