The Industry of Manhood
In the video, “Hip Hop Beyond Beats and Rhythms,” Byron Hurt takes a look into Hip Hop culture and violence. Within the video the representation of Manhood supports the image of power. Masculinity portrays itself as the dominate role that controls manhood with strength, money, girlfriends and the use of violence among them. Hip Hop creates a value for the appearance of hyper-masculinity.
HARD. VIOLENT. ALPHA. EGO DRIVEN. The characteristic of the hyper-masculine body also portrays the dominate role through the violence directed towards women. Hip Hop, Rap and even in today’s’ Trap music, contain a message of misogyny.
According to “Feminism is For Everybody”, Bell Hooks provides a view into manhood.
“Males as a group have and do benefit the most from patriarchy, from the assumption that they are superior to females and should rule over us”(ix).
By stating this, Hooks points out the most important asset of manhood which is the beneficial notion of patriarchy. In other words, the control for power lies within the patriarchal structure maintained by the representations of the hyper-aggressive male. In the Hip Hop discourse this image develops through a performative lens, allowing manhood to be seen as the man who performs the idea masculine role.
Byron Hurt begins to discuss an important factor within the mainstream music industry. Even though the superior role of the male gender takes place within the Hip Hop culture, the industry manipulates this image. The control they have depends on what the market wants. The industry sells to its audience, there for our performers give into the hype. Real life examples which include the idea of respectable bodies isn’t what the industry wants us to buy. They believe examples of a “hard core” life and booty shaking girls to be the perfect image of what should be. The mainstream media allows the idea of power to be manipulated through the visuals of what exactly makes a real man.
Real men don’t cry.
Real men are tough.
Real men are violent towards women.
Real men are rich.
Real men own guns.
Emma Ugolee provides examples of how some top performers portray the image of the hyper-aggressive male. It is a short and simple article that explains the performative life and the real life of these famous Rappers. Ugolee breaks down the main focus the music industry doesn’t want you to know. While he reminds us of Snoop Doggs lyrics, such as “all women are b*tches,” he also describes Snoops’ marriage and states Snoop Dogg is “Hollywood’s most caring husband with one of its longest running marriages”
Connecting this statement back to the idea on how the industry controls the Hip Hop image allows us to understand how pop culture focuses on the urgency to support a culture of violence. The use of Black men and their bodies presents the factor of worth. Within the music industry the notion of death and the portrayal of women gains its followers due to the image of power.
As Bell Hooks puts it:
“In return for all the goodies men receive from patriarchy, they are required to dominate women, to exploit and oppress us, using violence if they must to keep patriarchy intact”(ix)
The industry sells these images through the projection of masculinity.
The image of the player. One with high regards. The player suggests the entrance into manhood.The media portrays this role to signify the conquest of women paves the road to manhood.
The Hip Hop performance builds a culture which accepts the hyper-aggressive male, and with that , the acceptance for violence against women grows.
The video by Byron Hurt brings important issues American Culture much question. The awareness of violence can help change the image of a real man. For as long as the music industry continues to sell the image of a real man, violence against women will never be resolved.
To learn more about Byron Hurt check out his website:
Side note: On my search for images portraying violence against women through the music industry, i came up on a very interesting article. Here a woman started an anonymous Tumblr as an open space for women to share their experiences in the music industry. the main focus is violence against women. Check it out.
