Music videos have evolved significantly since the MTV era, when strict rules and conventions restricted creative expression. Today, individual record labels and social media platforms empower artists with greater autonomy, fostering experimentation and enabling them to tackle pressing social issues like gender stereotypes (Arnold, et al., 2017). Sabrina Carpenter’s music video for Feather exemplifies this shift by addressing themes of the male gaze and outdated gender norms unconventionally.

Image source 1: Feather Music Video (Carpenter, 2023)

The video opens with a funeral scene where Sabrina, seemingly happy rather than grieving, celebrates the death of a man who was “just okay.” The church is adorned with overtly ‘girly’ pink objects, reflecting gender stereotypes. 

Image source 2, 3, 4, 5: Screenshot (Carpenter, 2023)

Throughout the video, Sabrina adopts the guise of a stereotypical ‘clueless’ woman while men vying for her attention literally kill each other. Her subtle smile reveals she is fully aware of her actions, using the stereotype to her advantage.

Image source 6,7,8: Screenshot (Carpenter, 2023)

In one scene, Sabrina walks down the street, obliviously dancing as a crowd of men follows her. Their pursuit ends in poetic justice when they are hit by a truck, symbolising revenge on those who make women feel unsafe in public spaces. 

Image source 9, 10: Screenshot (Carpenter, 2023)

Another scene critiques the issue of unsolicited photos as Sabrina lures a man to the elevator doors where his tie becomes stuck, leading to his demise.

Image source 11, 12: Screenshot (Carpenter, 2023)

Lyrics like “I feel so much lighter like a feather with you off my mind” add a comedic touch to the visuals of men’s untimely ends, highlighting Sabrina’s relief in letting go of toxic relationships.

Image source 13: Screenshot (Carpenter, 2023)

Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have normalised challenging gender norms and using humour to address societal issues (Arnold, et al., 2017). However, this accessibility subjects artists to real-time criticism from audiences. Notably, the controversial scene of Sabrina dancing in a short dress in the church contributed to the dismissal of the priest one year later, demonstrating the lasting impact of such bold artistic choices. Despite this, Feather exemplifies how music videos can deliver bold, thought-provoking narratives that challenge conventions and spark dialogue humorously.

Bibliography: 

Arnold, G., Cookney, D., Fairclough, K., and Goddard, M. (2017). ‘Introduction: The Persistence of the Music Video Form from MTV to Twenty-First-Century Social Media’, Music/Video: Histories Aesthetics, Media, 1-14

Carpenter, S. (2023) Feather (Official Video). Directed by M. Barnes. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLbn61Z4LDI (Accessed: 28 November 2024).

Pauline Fontein

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