Essay Plan: Critical Investigation Task #4

Q: How is marijuana represented in rap/reggae music videos, such as Snoop Lion’s ‘Smoke the Weed’, and what is the effect of this on youth culture?

My essay involves around this question and i plan to answer it in as much detail throughout my essay.

A brief description of my text:

Snoop Lion - Smoke The Weed

In my essay i will talk about the way marijuana is represented in music videos and really go in depth about the music genres and the background e.g reggae at 1950's. This will help me to write as i will be talking about the history of smoking and overtime how it became something that people smoke for enjoyment purposes. Not only that but also the way the media has changed towards the idea of representing marijuana as a key convention in hip hop videos and also supporting the idea of getting high.  

This is particularly apparent in Snoop Dogg's music video "smoke the weed" where he performs different smoking styles/inhales in which is highlighted throughout the video. snoop Lions video  seemed to be one of the best performances ever made by by himself . It has been praised as one of the top hit reggae songs nowadays as Snoop Dogg is almost dominating the reggae/hip hop industry, and this is very much influenced by fans reactions to it. Snoop Dogg has set a bar in the music industry and has gained much love from fans and audience members across the world who are in delved in to his music. Not only that Snoop Dogg encourages a lot of youngsters to copy his ideology e.g the only reason to listen to his music is when your high. Snoop Dogg himself sells his marijuana products then he mentions in his video to "go and check out my new track and while your at it smoke some of my finest dank". After the final instalment of the Snoop Dogg franchise (Doggy-style record label) fans were eager to see what was next for Snoop, as he is still despite his age dominating the whole industry.

Hypothesis for the end of the essay:

Music videos about drugs will encourage the youth to consume it.

Section 1:

• In this first section i will introduce the reggae culture
• Introduce Snoop Dogg 
• I will then talk about Snoop Lions music video "Smoke the Weed" and a short but detailed analysis summing it up.
• Talking about the youth culture/hypodermic needle model reference.

Section 2: *Hypodermic Needle Model reference

·         The impact that music videos have on audience members/critics.

·         appraisal as one of the best performances ever

·         Give an example of how both genders are portrayed towards the use of cannabis.

·         The sense of moral panics towards such content in music videos.

Section 3: 

Section 3 (P3): Snoop Dogg and his connection to the audience (justification of why he can influence the audience)

Snoop Dogg has had many different portrayals over the years, but hes best known for his hit reggae/hip hop songs. As the audience think of Snoop Dogg they think about marijuana straight away as Snoop Dogg has earned his title King or marijuana aftwer an interview when he said that he smoked 81 blunts a day he was more than just a artist he had a whole franchise dedicated to himself relating marijuana products One of the major things that had an impact on the influence of Snoop Dogg and the audience, was the narrative, mise-en-scene and camera presentation because people really liked the clothes he wears. Furthermore, ever since (Doggy style records) he has produced and also been featured in many other sub genres. Snoop Dogg can also have a negative portrayal e.g allowing the media to reinforce the moral panics due to the whole ideology of smoking marijuana.

• Events and Drug use that have been influenced by Snoop Dogg
• The aftermath of Drug use in his music videos
• Evidence and information regarding the accused/ moral panics
• The past Snoop Dogg influences and over the years

Media Language (Posters, clothing, props, make-up)-

One of the key conventions in the music video "smoke the weed" snoop dogg wears glasses as the glasses symbolise that he dosent want to reveal his face too much the fact that he said during shooting this video behind the scenes that he was stoned to the shit which means that he was so high during the shooting many reggae artists are known for wearing glasses mainly  to represent the sensation of the stoner eyes and also getting high. The location is represented hes in a town where there are a lot of youngsters smoking weed.There are also videos of the cannabis plant which could also be parts of the location and props. In the video they also show behind the scenes e.g the green screen and the lighting  and snoop dogg sitting on a table with the a female beside him. one of the main iconography is marijuana but also smoking joints and weed plants. these are shown secretly from the video. snoop dogg also advertising one of his new products the "G pen" snoop dogg wants to promote his products that also could be the main reason why hes making this video.

Narrative (How has Snoop Doggs music video  "Smoke the weed" convey and narrative and what form of narrative it trying to be shown)

• narrative through the Snoops voice
• linear narrative
• chaos of overall music and drug use

Section 4: Historical Texts

Introduce the historical text (Bob Marley). Show the change in the time periods (Zeitgist) etc as well as the differences in the texts overall. Form a focus on Snoop Dogg and how he is portrayed and Reference to other texts.

• How the historical text version of Snoop Dogg  has changed over the years
• Fit for the current audience and pleasures at the time (marijuana, getting high, enjoying reggae music)

• The different portrayal of reggae music and the differences between the 1950's and the current time period

• Other Music videos such as Snoop Dogg - Gin And Juice and how they convey a similar portrayal to the audience

Quotes

Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle. Death Row Records November 23, 1993 -"Rollin down the street, smokin indo, sippin on gin and juice / Laid back (with my mind on my money and my money on my mind)," "Gin and Juice": 

Snoop Dogg - Vapors 1996 - "Can you feel it, nothing can save ya," "Vapors":

Snoop Dogg - December 11, 2004 - "When the pimp's in the crib ma drop it like it's hot," "Drop It Like It's Hot":

Snoop Dogg - December 19, 2000 - "Niggaz got the misconception of us / cause we so cold at what we do," "Wrong Idea":

Section 5:

Overall conclusion whether or not, is there a form of link towards content viewed on screen and to the consumers who take in this information. *Can be for or against the question.

Audience members are effected by what they see, there is an extent to where they feel influenced, or even emotionally connected to what they have viewed and is something they will copy in order to fit in society but some people actually use cannabis for enjoyment purposes