So I know the course is done but I CAN’T HELP MYSELF! I just saw this video and WISH it had come out earlier then I could have talked about it in my essay =( Anyways, the video has some interesting things going on in terms of its use of animal imagery and nature shots as well to reflect the mood/lyrics of the song! Hope you enjoy it!
ENVIROTOPIA
exploring, engaging, and critiquing the intersections of popular culture and the environment
The other day I was at the store and commented on the salesclerks nails (which I thought were awesome!) and its so funny now that I am writing about representations of animals and women in music videos, but I am still in love with this trend of animal print nails! Oh pop culture never ceases to amaze me!
Even though my term paper is focusing on music videos of black women and representations of nature within them, I was reminded by Shelbi (thank-you_ about the use of animals in the video N**gas in Paris by Jay Z and Kanye West as well. Interesting, this video is a compilation of videos taken from their tour for their album Watch the Throne. Just look at that animal imagery used as a stand-in for power!
Cars and Designer Purses and Recycling? Oh My!
When I was browsing for stuff to put online regarding what I would have liked to have seen in terms of our discussion of eco-fashion I thought this article was great! Its about the youngest daughter of the Fendi family (Ilaria Venturini Fendi) who started her own high-end line of purses (she comes from the family that owns the luxurious brand Fendi) eco-purses with recycled parts of Mini Cooper Cars. Talk about an odd but interesting pair!
Before I get into a rant, I really do love this song (and M.I.A period) and this video is quite interesting, especially when considering representations of the environment, women and cars (I think M.I.A is a genius!). I’ve been wanting to blog about this song since I first saw the video like a month or two ago but I thought I would save it for my term paper instead, but now I have decided to not use it in my essay (although, it may pop up in my essay we will see LOL). ANYWAYS this video is interesting in the sense that it really plays off of the arabian-esque beat to build the video. To be a “bad girl” three things have to occur: 1. you need to be a woman (well that’s what the video shows us, all bad girls are mysterious orientalized figures who ‘do it well’), 2. to be a “bad girl” you must be in a foreign country/ location—the more exotic, the better ( in this case the desert, clothing styles, arabic text, etc. are all dead giveaways that the Arab world is where M.I.A. and her bad girls hang) and numero 3. to be a ‘bad girl’ you must have a connection with cars because hey they give us power and not just any kind of power like “I’m going to drive my SUV around the burbs because it makes me feel safe and in control”, but more like “I’m gonna pull off some badass stunts, sit on the side of a car and do my nails, compare the power of my car to a horse running in the desert, and run on the side of the road while the car is speeding” type of power relationship. Right now its kind of early so I will get back to finishing this post so hold tight to read more!!
A hilarious mockumentary following the life of a plastic bag!
#popculturewin
The owner of TOMS explaining the new vegan line that is available at Whole Foods, interesting marketing strategy?!?!
Adele Wechsler’s collection of Eco-Wedding Dresses, talk about interesting!
Some samples of HM’s 2011 Summer Conscious Line
Marie Claire UK's top 10 Eco-Brands
Another link to some interesting UK brands that are Eco-Friendly!
