Pop Culture Introduction

Studies depict the need for positive representation of marginalized groups in society.
Such would be achieved through enhancing equal treatment for all regardless of their racial or
ethnic backgrounds. Media plays a significant role in showing the position of these groups in
society and the existing negative bias and cultural stereotypes. For women and people of color,
the media has continuously portrayed damaging and repressive stereotypes and how society
fights back in the mission to find a path to justice and truth. Activists have sought to fight for
fairness and justice through initiating different movements and peaceful demonstrations. For
instance, the #BlackLivesMatter, a movement that campaigned against the police brutality and
harassment of people of color, hit the headlines in 2014. Other campaigns such as #YouOKSis
sought to combat street harassment, primarily focusing on women. However, despite these
efforts, the music industry has remained relatively unchanged. There is a long history of racist
and sexist representation in this industry, as depicted in the song “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift.

Stereotypes and Bias Perpetuated in the Artefact

“Shake It Off” has promoted a negative stereotype about Black women. The video has
various elements of cultural appropriation that depict bias and stereotypical tropes used to define
the sexuality of Black women over centuries. Negative stereotypes have long put African
American women on the other side of respect. Shake It Off video shows White women twerking
in a way that conforms to the gaze of males, which is considered a profitable success. Twerking
involves sensual movement of the hips. The White women can twerk comfortably without
fearing being branded as hyper-sexual, while the Black woman cannot escape the branding. Such
depicts different conceptions of Black and White womanhood. African American women are

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ridiculed for their inability to hide behind their melanin. However, the White women can hide
behind their skin which qualifies them as pure and innocent according to the societal perception
(Bukholder, 2021).
The cultural appropriation of twerking is also portrayed as a White women’s privilege.
The white women’s version of twerking is viewed as a patriarchal bargain. Besides, the women
are shown in the sexualization of femininity to conform to the male gaze, which will, in return,
impact commercial success. Therefore, the cultural appropriation of twerking is considered an
exercise for white women’s privilege while, on the other hand, it reduces Black women into
sexist, essentialist, and racist. The white women can choose some aspects of Black culture
without fear of suffering possible consequences. Such women benefit from their outlook and feel
safe from being branded as hyper sexism, racism, social stigma, and other inequalities that
women of color encounter. Research posits that women of color experience increased sexual
harassment associated with their perceived availability (Green, 2019). In the song, black women
are represented as backdrop dolls while white counterparts remain the center of the culture. The
women of color, being used as parody and props, stay on the outside as portrayed in the song.
Role of Popular Culture in Communicating Harmful or Incorrect Stereotypes or Biases
Popular culture plays a significant role in communicating harmful or incorrect
stereotypes or biases. Stories tend to influence a particular message mainly because of their
power to create an emotional connection. For instance, being a visual song, “Shake It Off” have
an added weight of testimony. The viewer becomes engrossed in the visual experience, which
impacts an emotional connection and can change the viewer’s perception. Pop culture can also
cause misinterpretation and distort reality from specific groups (Kidd, 2018). For instance,
although the producer of this song did not intend to paint the Black women as hyper-sexist, the

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audience can misinterpret the information leading to stereotyping and negative bias. The media
platforms allow pop culture to reach a wide variety of audiences. Therefore, negative bias and
stereotypes increase, which can harm specific populations.
Racial images intended to entertain can impact how viewers understand and classify
people. Pop culture can harm the white’s perception of the people of color. The racial stereotypes
depicted in the video can escalate the existing fear of racism. The portrayal of body language and
facial expression influences racial bias for the white onlookers. If there is no contact between
racial groups, people rely on pop culture to formulate ideas about people from other cultures
(Kidd, 2018). Besides, people tend to differ in perceptions regarding the song’s contents. For
example, some may view the “Shake It Off” as a depiction of white privilege, while others view
it as a catalyst for disrespect and sexual harassment of women of color. Therefore, pop culture
plays a role in communicating negative bias and societal stereotypes.
Recommendations for how People can Identify and Correct Harmful Views
People can identify and correct harmful views to improve pop culture communication.
One recommendation to achieve this goal is to establish and enhance the existing diversity
programs. The studios need a mentor to train and provide a more extended trial period while
considering all factors, including age, race, and sex. Besides, the studios should rethink diversity
hires because they are associated with free labor and low qualification stigma (Doherty, 2020).
People of color should also be involved in decision-making regarding the role they would be
comfortable playing in the art. The practice of involving people of color should be instituted
across all ranks and positions because it benefits veterans who need fresh exposure to new ideas
and perceptions (Doherty, 2020). Therefore, the music industry leaders should be responsible for
diversity issues, and white elites should avoid hiding in the façade of colorblind tolerance.

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Addressing the Negative Bias in the Artifact

The stated recommendation would help restructure the song “Shake It Off” to change the
way people view women of color. As it is difficult to change a people’s culture, it is possible to
change the factors that contribute to how people perceive others (Bukholder, 2021). The video
depicts the bodies of black women as exotic objects for the white gaze. Besides, the twerking is
interpreted as a white privilege but hyper-sexualization for women of color. The song can be
redesigned to make the black women inclusive positively. For instance, giving a black woman
the role of remaining at the center neutralizes the view that everything centers on the white due
to their privilege. Besides, there can be alternative modes of body movements and facial
expressions rather than twerking, which are less sensual. The analysis of the song would help in
rewriting and reconstructing concepts perceived as negative bias and stereotypes.

Conclusion

Pop culture has become one of the most effective modes of communicating and
portraying cultures across the globe. There is a long history of racist and sexist representation in
the music industry, as depicted in the song “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift. The song conveys
racial and sexual stereotypes that shape the societal perception of white and black women.
Identifying and correcting the harmful effects of pop culture would require encouraging diversity
and inclusion of people of color in the entire process of artistic production.

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References

Burkholder, J. M. (2021). From the shelves and into the world: Imagining information literacy in
the everyday. College & Research Libraries News, 82(9), 418.
Doherty, L. (2020). Using Popular Culture as a Tool to Encourage Inclusive Discussions.
Green, L. (2019). Negative racial stereotypes and their effect on attitudes toward African-
Americans. Jim Crow Museum.
Kidd, D. (2018). Pop culture freaks: Identity, mass media, and society. Routledge.