Candy Shop
The concept of representation in media, is the way someone or something is portrayed, which normally leads to stereotypes, in this essay i'm going to discuss how some institution tried to challenge or even change peoples perceptions on different ethnic groups and weather its good to challenge stereotypes.
50 cent is one of the worlds greatest and is a extremely well known rapper. He is adored and idolized by millions of people, he has a massive star power, but the way he and the media portrays himself is in a bad, and sexisist charater as in most of his videos he is deogrative to women. This is proven in 50’s 2005 hit record ‘Candy shop’ off his get rich or die trying album. ‘Candy shops’ begins with every mans fantasy. In the first 30 seconds a new shiny flashy car, new sneakers and what seems to be a playboy mansion full of beautiful half naked girls captured the audience, which connotes that 50 cents rich and also emulsifies the stereotypes of women being mere objects only their to look pretty. The women are seen, just walking around doing nothing. I also donate 50 cent wearing a fur coat and a long chain which connotes authority and power. This is because fur coats are extremely expensive and wanted by many and the chain is a signifier of a gangster. This is completely different in the opening sequence of the wire which completely goes against the perception of gangster by showing one as being gay. The contrast in the way 50 cent dresses and the character from the wire is immense, 50 cent wears all these flashy and expensive masculine clothing, while in the wire he is seen wearing a shiny silk light blue dressing ground.This challenges the stereotypes of gangster because the media portrayed gangster as being bad, fear masculine men not gay men. This could make the audience feel humorous or even uncomfortable also it shows a gay male who is feared in its local place of living, this is shown by the fear in his neighbours when they heard he was coming they all scattered to their houses.. In the wire, he seen as more of a poor guy, i know this because of the area he was living in, and the house he was living in, but in 50cents candy shop he is in a massive mansion with gates in the entrance. This challenges the stereotypes of gangster being rich.
I believe that challenging stereotypes is great because it changes the people perception on different ethnic class. Its is right to challenge stereotypes because it shows people that you should judge a ‘Book by its cover’ and that everyone's different. It also stops people being put into ‘Boxes.’ There are many ways this could be done, and the creators of the wire.
