I feel like I'm missing something. 'Cause my initial reaction was "... So?" Does it matter if it was made by a female or male? Also, the OP brings in the idea of "target audience" but who was the target audience?
I do have to say, though, that that PV almost makes the original TMYW video feel tame XD
It's an interesting look at how gender issues vary across cultures. It also kind of brings up the question as to whether intentions matter. She may not have meant it to be perverted, but if the universal interpretation is still perverted does that override artist's intent? Is it okay that Japan's cultural values are apparently this away, even according to the women?
I also thought it was interesting that the fact that the director was a woman apparently put the girls at ease with this imagery, because they've done suggestive imagery and bikini PVs way before Hebirote. Were they uncomfortable with it then, or did they do it for the sake of screentime survival? And what about their photobooks and photoshoots in lingerie? At least some of them must have been directed by men, so as you said, does it really matter the director's identity or intent?
The shippy things the girls do on their own backstage and on their personal blogs make Genie-porno look tame. :P
Intentions definitely make things complicated. Another example that comes to mind is the movie Suckerpunch, which I haven't seen personally, but have seen two very different POVs about it. It was intended to be about female empowerment, but some see it as the complete opposite and others say that it achieved its intent. It also makes me think about analyzing texts, i.e. close reading in English classes, where it's highly possible that the author didn't consciously intend such symbolism or what have you, but it's there
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I do have to say, though, that that PV almost makes the original TMYW video feel tame XD
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I also thought it was interesting that the fact that the director was a woman apparently put the girls at ease with this imagery, because they've done suggestive imagery and bikini PVs way before Hebirote. Were they uncomfortable with it then, or did they do it for the sake of screentime survival? And what about their photobooks and photoshoots in lingerie? At least some of them must have been directed by men, so as you said, does it really matter the director's identity or intent?
The shippy things the girls do on their own backstage and on their personal blogs make Genie-porno look tame. :P
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Intentions definitely make things complicated. Another example that comes to mind is the movie Suckerpunch, which I haven't seen personally, but have seen two very different POVs about it. It was intended to be about female empowerment, but some see it as the complete opposite and others say that it achieved its intent. It also makes me think about analyzing texts, i.e. close reading in English classes, where it's highly possible that the author didn't consciously intend such symbolism or what have you, but it's there ( ... )
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