METAL MUSIC: LIPSTICK AND CORSETS
There is an interesting phenomenon that presents itself when looking at women in the metal music genre. Many of the women in this genre, are placed into a neo-gothic fashion style that leads them to wearing corsets and dresses, almost in an attempt to remind the viewers of such bands that their front woman is actually a woman, due to classic gender stereotypes that women are the only ones able to wear corsets and dresses. It is also interesting to hear that much of the female-fronted metal music involves the woman singing the melody whilist chugging guitars work behind her to offset their jagged "masculine" sound in contrast to her light "feminine" vocals.
Women in this genre of music also find themselves placed in front of their band in a different style of clothing (often a contrast of color) to again remind the viewer that she is different from her male counterparts. Women in this genre also get placed in calendars like "The Hottest Women In Metal" which reduces them back to their sexual nature, rather than emphasizing their vocal/musical talent. |
VIDEO EXAMPLES:
IN THIS MOMENT- "BLOOD"
In This Moment's "Blood" starts out with a grieving, and seemingly beaten Maria Brink writhing against a black backdrop while covering her bare chest with her hands. Similar to the way in which Spears does in her video for "Womanizer" (on the Pop Music Page) although here we see Brink being less of a sexually charged woman and more of a sexually weak victim. The video's strong message and lyrical content are juxtaposed with Brink in dominatrix-like leather dresses, ball gowns, and sporting a face caked with makeup. |
EPICA - "STORM THE SORROW"
Epica's "Storm The Sorrow" interestingly represents their lead singer Simone Simons as the dominated. In the beginning, Simons is shown all in white (a play on her feminine innocence) and soon becomes tainted with a black oil which turns into restraints that pull her between two men. As she suffers, she continues to sing before her falls to her knees, overcome by the oil. At this point, she cries out, and her male counterpart takes over vocal lead. It is interesting to see this visual metaphor of the song, as Simon's powerful vocals are dominated by a man's. |