This is the album cover for Rihanna’s
latest album ‘unapologetic’.
From
a first glance, we can already see that Rihanna is portrayed heavily as a sex
icon, giving that she is completely naked, with nothing but words covering her
body. This relates to Michael Shore’s theory
that music video’s are just ‘an overload of male fantasies’ and
even though this is only the album cover, it gives us an idea of what’s to come
in the res of the album, and in any of the songs she releases from this album
and makes a music video for. Relating to Dyer’s star theory,
Rihanna seems somewhat constructed in order to make money, and to ‘sell
herself’ in a way. Her record label may have chosen to portray her in such a
sexualised way in order to promote her album, make more money and gain more
popularity for her (or her record label).
The
words covering her body, are also covering important parts of her such as her
face, however it seems as if she’s looking through the words and straight into
your eyes (direct address). The word ‘unapologetic’ falls right over her
private areas, as if she is trying to say she isn’t sorry for coming across so
sexualised towards the audience, and therefore portrays her to be quite bold
and wiling which could appeal to the audience even more, especially a female
audience as she seems to be so confident about her body, as she also uses the
words ‘happy’ and ‘fearless’ which may
make a female audience feel as if they should be as confident as she is.
The
shot used for this image is a mid shot
which may have been used so that the audience feel equal to Rihanna
which could give young girls hope that they could be like her. Cropping and the
use of rule of thirds puts her in the centre of the image which creates a focus
on her direct gaze to the audience.
The
style of writing used is very sketchy, and messy almost, which could portray a
laid back ‘I don’t care’ kind of attitude, which could be a sense of what’s
within the album, songs to do with having a good and being quite laid back with
everything she does.
Rihanna’s
short hair cut, dark lipstick and tattoo subverts from the typical feminine
stereotype and portrays a more powerful, masculine character, also use of words
such as ‘victory’ and ‘fearless’ also give off a more masculine personality.
This again relates to dyers star theory as it
seems as if she has been constructed in such a way to appeal to the audience,
as its different to your typical pretty, frilly, pink, feminine character. This
also links to the idea of stars representing a certain ideology, and starting
new looks/fashions for the audience to follow, providing them with a focus of
ideas of what people are supposed to look like (stardom/star worship).
The
industry seem to have constructed Rihanna into something that the younger
audiences can always relate to, as since her career started, she may have been
getting older, but her image certainly isn’t, because the industry want her to
continue to appeal to the younger generation in order for her to continue to
serve a purpose, e.g. providing entertainment which results in making more
money for the industry.
The
step before self-actualisation on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is
self-esteem needs, which you gain from being confident, achieving things and
having respect form others. In this image alone, it’s as if Rihanna is trying
to send a message to her audience, to be confident and/or feel sexy and to not
feel bad or be sorry for it, and to have fun and be fearless. All of these
words written over her body seem like hidden messages to her audience to make
them feel loved, and to make them feel confident about themselves.
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