Analysis Of Escaping The Seduction Of Mass Media

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Recommended: Impact of media and society

Katie Lockie
April 24, 2014
SPCM100-011
Final Essay- Escaping the Seduction of Mass Media
“Dance music is like a virus, it has affected so many different genres,” says Tim Bergling, “Avicii”, in The Gaurdian’s article on his recent hit song, “Wake Me Up”. The song is a genius combination of country and EDM music, and delivers a fearless crumbling of the ‘genre’ norm. The video depicts a powerful image of finding yourself and where you belong, seemingly showing a switch in generations, as we observe the characters in two very distinct eras. The music video takes a unique route in symbolizing women’s empowerment, and provides an exclusive piece surrounded by the sex-crazed culture of contemporary media. “Wake Me Up” by Avicii is unique for mainstream music videos, and this essay will summarize the video, use the Storytelling Method and the Gender and Sexuality Method, incorporate an outside source to illustrate the unique qualities of this video, specifically how it defies society’s craving for sex dominated media and women’s incompetence, and evaluate the video overall.
The text begins by showing two young girls, presumably a mother and her daughter, being clearly stared down by townspeople as they walk through their small town. Their chic and modern appearances seemingly clash with the rest of the town, who resemble people of a much older generation. The camera view highlights matching tattoos that the two girls have on their arms. The video flashes to the duo sitting on a fence as the daughter innocently asks her mother why the others “don’t like them”. We never get an answer to the question, instead we see the mother riding a horse through a field of trees towards the mountains, through a river, and finally, on the city stre...

... middle of paper ...

...can watch it and enjoy the exquisite story of a young dreamer.
In conclusion, this essay summarized Avicii’s music video for his song, “Wake Me Up”, used the Storytelling Method and the Gender and Sexuality Method, applied a relevant outside source from Chicago Tribune, and evaluated the video overall. All in all, Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” validates the idea that breaking the pop culture norm has potential to generate good results. The media puts images of how to act, and what to look like in the minds of young people so frequently, that most feel the need to conform. However, some need to breakaway from society’s norms in order to belong. Our mass media is seductive, and it takes a courageous individual to escape from it. Our society and popular culture could take some value from the famous words of John Lennon, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”

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