Sut Jhally’s Media Smackdowns

The above is a short but fascinating trailer for Dreamworlds 3, an hour-long documentary on the use and abuse of women’s bodies in modern-day pop music videos. You needn’t be a scholar of gender studies or media literacy to appreciate what you see here. If you’re a fan of thoughtful video editing, deadpan humor, or the ladiiiiies, this one’s for you.

Narrating over a relentless cascade titillating music-video imagery, Jhally finally explains the problem of sexual objectification in our culture in a way that does not, unlike many other texts that deal with this, make you feel like a real shit for objectifying others in your mind, or for wanting to be objectified. This point comes into clarity at the 29:30 mark:

There is nothing inherently wrong with [the techniques of objectification] in and of themselves. It is not that it is always negative to present women as ready to be watched, or wanting to be watched. We all – men and women – present ourselves to be watched, to be gazed at. We all – men and women – watch attractive strangers with sexual desire. To treat another as an object of our desires is part of what it means to be human. The problem in music video and in the culture in general is that women are presented as nothing else.  If the story about femininity could be widened beyond sexual objectification to include many other qualities of individuals – [intellectual, emotional, spiritual, creative, etc] – then there would be no problem with a little objectification as a sexual aspect of femininity, to be balanced out and integrated with many other human qualities. The problem is that in our contemporary culture, the complexity gets crowded out by a one-dimensional femininity based on a single story of the body.

Click here for the full-length feature. It has a stupid watermark on it, but the documentary’s compelling enough that it really doesn’t matter. Even if you don’t have time to watch the whole thing, the 5-minute version included here stands as a fascinating vignette on the subject on its own.

Dreamworlds 3 is only one of several media literacy titles that Jhally’s produced or contributed to over the years. Here are a few other favorites:

  • Dreamworlds 2 – Same as the above, but retro! Made in 1995.
  • Advertising & the End of the World – A discussion of advertising’s promise to deliver happiness, society’s high-consumption lifestyle and the coming environmental crisis.
  • Reel Bad Arabs – On the vilification of Arab characters in the American cinema.
  • Wrestling with Manhood: Boys, Bullying & Battering –  Focuses on “professional wrestling and the construction of contemporary masculinity, they show how so-called “entertainment” is related to homophobia, sexual assault and relationship violence.”

12 Responses to “Sut Jhally’s Media Smackdowns”

  1. toro Says:

    I know that my opinion is not orthodox, but I think the movie is weak. While the message of the movie is correct [the media is saturated with vulgar sexuality], the movie’s end messages are revealing the true agenda, sexist fear mongering. Stereotypes replaced with other stereotypes. And probably I should have not commented on this as I’m not a part of the intended audience, certainly not a a lady.

  2. Ross Rosenberg Says:

    It’s on YouTube in 7 parts starting here. If that’s too much of a hassle it looks like the entire thing is available here, although the audio is out of sync on my computer.

  3. nancyx Says:

    I think it is an acceptable film for high school english/media classes, but not in depth enough for much other than that. I found myself saying “yeah, okay, BUT…” a lot during this movie.
    The visuals remind me of old Roman movies, where they condemn the violence and debauchery of the Roman Empire but at the same time are in fact exploiting it. And if the male narrator was anyone other than the writer himself, that would have been an interesting choice in itself.
    The luncheon meat scene made me feel off, ugh.

  4. Tequila Says:

    Quite a bit to digest all in one sitting. I’ll check out the updated Dreamworlds documentary though the original didn’t win me over with it’s argument the first go around. Still that was some time ago. The above quoted statement may be asking too much though from the wrong genre and artists however.

    “The problem is that in our contemporary culture, the complexity gets crowded out by a one-dimensional femininity based on a single story of the body.”

    Thing is that applies to the music in the videos too.

    A lot of complex issues get crowded out out or overshadowed by watered down versions. Even by artists with good intentions. Shakira’s latest video is a prime example. What she says it’s about and then watching it you’re left going “Uh, Really?” Plus as it’s been said by others, for every positive image of female sexuality you have in music and videos…countless others are willing to go against it for a quick buck and easy fame.

    “Arabs are the most maligned group in the history of Hollywood…”

    Ok now THAT is a stretch. It also goes against countless romantic
    depictions of the Mid-East going back to the silent era with The Shiek or the technicolor glory of The Thief of Baghdad or even as very sympathetic characters that contradicted Hollywood stereotypes WITHIN the SAME movie as it did in The Jewel of the Nile in the 80’s. Even the Mujahideen were freedom fighting heroes in films of that era at times. Not to mention the beautiful handling of Arab and muslims Kingdom of Heaven most recently gave us. Yeah Hollywood is guilty of pushing stereotypes but in this case it’s nowhere near as one sided as many claim.

    I’ve seen variations of this argument and I’ll give this doc a shot but it’s already losing credibility with the trailer alone. One doesn’t need to look too deep into the films and entertainment of Arab countries to see some pretty severe vilification of Jews & westerners for example. It goes both ways. It’s hard to get very sympathetic to the issue when Hollywood and cinema as a whole is simply another platform for old hostilities and politics play out in.

    Look forward to seeing these docs. Especially the one on Wrestling since like many kids I grew up as a fan (though lost interest by my teens) and It’s always seemed so contradictory to me. How it’s related to homophobia, sexual assault, and relationship abuse should be an interesting argument to hear.

  5. Link Salad: Story, Violence & Seriousness « Aporia, or Kaseido’s Quandries Says:

    […] out how to embed videos in WordPress without buying a pro account for a ludicrous amount of money, so here’s a link. It’s to a trailer for Dreamworlds 3, a documentary on women’s bodies in pop music […]

  6. Mer Says:

    “While the message of the movie is correct [the media is saturated with vulgar sexuality], the movie’s end messages are revealing the true agenda, sexist fear mongering. Stereotypes replaced with other stereotypes.”

    I can see how you’d perceive Jhally’s thesis as fear-mongering; his presentation of this information is definitely slanted to scare and upset. Then again, I personally find a lot of music videos scary and upsetting, for a wide variety of reasons not even touched upon in Dreamworlds, so I guess I didn’t see it as being too far off the mark.

    But… more than “vulgarity”, what I came away with was “violent”. Music videos (for instance that Limp Bizkit clip) can be intensely violent in their glorification of extreme degradation of women– verbally, physically, visually. A sort of “you’re a receptacle, you’re an ottoman, you’re a show pony, just shut up and physically take this because it’s what I want” attitude of entitlement that is everywhere in our culture.

    Which, granted, is A-OK between consenting adults! But I don’t think that’s really Jhally’s focus. He’s saying “well, what if you’re NOT into that paradigm?” What if that oversaturation condones or even encourages projections that are actively harmful to you in your daily life?

    How does pointing out those glorifications and projections, or drawing a connection between music video depictions of sexuality (where the often BDSM-tinged acts are consensual) of sexuality and non-consensual incidents that occur daily between men and women make Dreamworlds guilty of upholding stereotypes in your mind?

    How is it sexist? Sexist against the multitudes of wonderful men out there who don’t act entitled to grab or harass? Sexist toward sexually aware women who are comfortable with passivity? I’m not clear on that point.

    “And probably I should have not commented on this as I’m not a part of the intended audience, certainly not a a lady.”

    Okay, cool… but then why did you? (Keep in mind, I don’t think I’m a part of the intended audience, either!)

    “The visuals remind me of old Roman movies, where they condemn the violence and debauchery of the Roman Empire but at the same time are in fact exploiting it.”

    (Heh. I love those old Roman movies.) But how so, nancyx? Do you think he had other intentions? Did you find his editorial presentation of female bodies titillating? Or dishonest?

    “And if the male narrator was anyone other than the writer himself, that would have been an interesting choice in itself.”

    Okay, but it was the writer himself. Why do you think he made that choice?

    Questions, questions. :)

  7. Vivacious G Says:

    “Sexist against the multitudes of wonderful men out there who don’t act entitled to grab or harass? Sexist toward sexually aware women who are comfortable with passivity? I’m not clear on that point.” Right on, Mer.

    “The problem in music video and in the culture in general is that women are presented as nothing else.”

    This is not what I want for the future women of the world.

    I am so tired of the image game, of the media’s emphasis on human shape and style rather than skill and character. Maybe the burqua wearing women have it right. Maybe then I would be safe from “looksism”. Get to know me, not my image.

  8. Mer Says:

    “Right on, Mer.”

    Eep, Re: flipside of sexism, I actually genuinely am curious to know if that’s what they meant. Hope it didn’t come off as flippant.

    “Maybe the burqua wearing women have it right. Maybe then I would be safe from “looksism”. Get to know me, not my image.”

    Heh. I’m not coming within three yards of that one! :D

  9. Chris L Says:

    Thanks for posting these, Nadya!
    I haven’t seen any of his films (except for the Reel Bad Arabs clip that I’m pretty sure was posted here a couple months back), but I’ve read some of his critiques of advertising and remember finding some of them pretty compelling — or at the very least, they got me thinking about ads in ways that I hadn’t done so before.

    Will watch these… when I have more time… gack.

  10. samantha Says:

    This video leaves me with some confounding questions even though it tends to focus entirely on one aspect of female subjugation, rather graphically, thus creating a one sided perspective.

    What would happen after the upheaval of the patriarchy or extinction of males? Would females model reality after the previous constructions? Would their still be stereo typified roles such as masculinity and femininity?

    What is the role of masculinity and femininity in society? Is it encoded in our genes for procreation and continuation of the human race? Will these restrictive roles persist? What will take place of these roles?What is it in our genetic composition that consigns women to a feeble sacrificial role and males an aggressive one?

    Pop culture is not entirely the reason that females globally are taken advantage of it only serves as a horrifying insight into the true nature of civilization .It is a combination of conditioning(the females in this video seem perfectly willing to be spat on) and unfortunately brute physical power .

    Still. Why cant females reach absolute equality? Balance holds the universe together but there is no complete domination/authority or an imperfect but equal relationship. Is it because free thinking seems to be obsolete and is replaced by greed, complacency, and general idiocy? Probably.

    This video does not express the magnitude of suppression women undergo even subconsciously by conventional gender stereotypes. The worlds greatest economists, artists, philosophers, scientists, doctors, etc all overshadow and disclude women from their ranks.

    Social revolution is gradual, spanning centuries but there was one and it subsided. Why? There should be a more momentous spark to ignite change now.

  11. Larissa Says:

    ” And probably I should have not commented on this as I’m not a part of the intended audience, certainly not a a lady.”

    I really don’t see how gender would invalidate a person’s opinion on this subject, in fact, that sort of thinking is likely part of the problem.

    Nadya, it’s very powerful to see all these images compiled together. The Limp Bizkit video is profoundly disturbing and it combined with the lunch meat scene, completely nauseated me. I am really worried for the girls who are growing up now, and I have been for a while. I really don’t even know what can be done…

  12. L’image de la femme dans les clips vidéos « La Bibliothèque de l’IUT Paris Descartes Says:

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