Analyse gender in “The Man” and “Riptide”

“The Man” made by Taylor Swift and “Riptide” made by Vance Joy, are near total counterparts. “The Man” centralises on the god complex, that men give off during any activity, as-well as behavioural, socially and physically, “The Man” also promotes the idea of the “ patriarchal” society, as the primary focus of the music video is essentially to be a man and the social empowerment that accompanies it, however, where “Riptide” is concerned the roles are flipped, as women are essentially the main focus as-well as other objects that correlate to the lyrics present at the time of being mentioned, “Riptide” places women in a state of traumatisation and fear, placing them in states of danger and in the forefront. “Riptide” promotes the idea of the female figure being a somewhat important aspect to the video message, “Riptide” also uses post-modern references, where as “The Man” stands to a more modernistic point of view.

In “The Man” the male is presented as a “bully” which is in contrast to the women in “Riptide” being presented as a “victim”. The male stands for toxic masculinity, empowerment of the man and a god and / or superiority complex, as the man is seen taking the forefront, being centre stage as-well as being all around boisterous. The lyrical message of “The Man” speaks about being a man in general, and how Taylor Swift believes, benefits come with being a man, as-well as the ability to do much more in today’s world essentially, Taylor Swift also goes on to speak about how she believes that if she was a man: 

“I’d be a fearless leader, 

I’d be an alpha type,

When everyone believes ya, 

What’s that like?”

Taylor Swift here, states that she believes that by being a man, she believes that she would take on the roles of “a fearless leader” and “an alpha type”. Taylor Swift also downplays women in the following lines:

“They’d say i hustled, put in the work, 

They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this i deserve.”

This once again places women in the “victim” category, showing how, as they aren’t a man, their achievement is questioned and looked down upon, as to almost say they don’t deserve what they earn because the toxic masculinity of men kicks in and downplays women achievement, activating the “bully” role

In “Riptide” there is a generalisation of the women and the “victim” role being implied, “Riptide” progressively increases in the visual traumatisation of one women, implying the “victim” role, “Riptide” references both genders essentially, through-out various stages of the music video, one reference to both genders is:

“Oh, all my friends are turning green

You’re the magician’s assistant in their dreams”

This applies to both genders, and the fact that money is present in the video and it is said, “all my friends are turning green” can be a double entendre, as to saying that both genders of friends, turn green with envy, or are turning to money for a way put of something, implying that both genders are money hungry, 

Women are as previously said to be “sexualised” to which puts women as the “victim” in a aura of danger and causing, as there are scenes of women undressing, whilst being filmed in two different senses within the next scene, providing a predatory feel onto the “victim” of the show. There is a some form of uplifting view of the “victim” where we are told:

“And she’s been living on the highest shelf”

To which essentially “idolises” the “victim” and places her on a metaphorical pedestal, providing that idea that, the “victim” is always being watched and essentially have no freedom, “living on the highest shelf” could also mean, top-shelf magazine or top-shelf alcohol, inciting the fact that, she is displayed to attract prying eyes and essential danger.