Twerking Ain't Forever

Social media plays a major role in our every day lives whether you believe it or not. We are continuing to grow attached to these media outlets because we can finally experience other views and other lives on a 24/7 basis. However, what we are exposed to on social media such as Instagram, is only at the discretion of what that particular person(s) want it's audience to see. While we already have preconceived ideas of what beauty and happiness are(i.e through advertisements), we, as consumers of social media, are divulged in the evolutions of the society depicted through Instagram.

In my final project, I want to focus on a paritcular "evolution" of dancing, which didn't necessarily arise from Instagram but has been a primary topic in the 15 second videos clips users can upload. Twerking, which was once known as the booty pop, has now been exposed all over the world and unfortunately in the majority of the youth in America.

Influential individuals such as musicians are even promoting this exploitation of women using twerking to attract men or even be successful. For instance, Juicy J, famous rapper and producer held a competition for the best twerker to receive a $50,000 scholarship. Ironically, the winner of the scholarship did not twerk at all in her submission video and Juicy J went on to say he didn't actually want anyone to twerk for the scholarship money. A bit misleading don't you think?


Then you have people such as Jessica Vanessa, a normal individual who was a teacher in Florida and quit teaching to twerk because she became a sensation on Vine for her twerking videos. Youth, especially girls, that witness them are being influenced by both the music industry and social media to be provocative and "twerk" in order to make money and be successful, sending the wrong idea of what real life is.

I am writing a song based on popular people on Instagram and their influence on women. While also mentioning phenomenas that has risen through such social media such as the selfie, I want to primarily focus on different instances of twerking- from famous people who promote it and people becoming famous for doing it and why it is damaging to a women/girl's identity and self respect.

My song will be an influential piece and encourage youth and women in particular not to degrade themselves with this evolution of twerking and just give them an uplifting tune that they will hopefully remember and pass on. I have started the song called "Twerking Ain't Forever" but I won't give out too much so here are the first few lines:

"This one goes out to the girls,
who think they gotta get low
'Cause social media taught them so....

...Be a woman, it looks better
Twerking ain't forever"


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/13/jessica-vanessa-vine_n_5978472.html

http://www.complex.com/music/2014/01/juicy-j-scholarship-winner-zaire-holmes-interview