Analysis Of Anaconda, By Nicki Minaj

This essay aims to deal with the recently released music video from Nicki Minaj; namely, her “Anaconda” music video. By and large it has received both positive and negative critique across the board. Men, women and all genders in between have given opinions on Minaj's latest release, touching on topics such as sexual provocation, cissexism, feminism and body shaming. This essay will touch on these topics, and will aim to shed a new light on the controversial music video released in August.

The topic of body shaming, or more specifically, 'thin-shaming', was a very popular one with many people (but mainly women) across the internet. In an interview with ABC, Nicki told an interviewer that “[She] wanted to say, ‘Hey ladies, you’re beautiful.'”
Minaj is a self-confessed feminist, which ties in with her celebration of her non-skinny frame. Nicki's skin colour is also a major factor ìn her expectations for this song. Frequently throughout pop culture, female singers have used the black woman's body as an object and a prop. Therefore, for Nicki to display complete control over her body as she sings about her sexual conquests, it is no surprise why the song has received such mixed backlash. As a writer for a feminist blog puts it, “Nicki Minaj is reclaiming a song (Baby Got Back) that was made by a black male rapper who celebrated (but also objectified) Black female bodies.” (Iphis. 'Nicki Minaj's #Anaconda and Reclaiming “Black Girl Sexy.”' battymamzelle.blogspot.ie, 22 Aug. 2014. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.) For many, the idea that a black woman can so openly own her own body is inconceivable, not to mention the fact that Nicki is rapping about her exploits with men as she dances in a provocative manner. Some claim that the video is, in essence, still about pleasing men, while others argue that Nicki is acting on her own terms, which means that she is the one in control, and dancing alluringly as a means by which to enjoy herself. However, the latter claims are completely contradicted upon realising that the song was written, directed, and published by men. It leads the consumer to
Cissexism is a term coined by Julia Serano, a transgender writer and activist, which means 'prejudice and discrimination against people who are not cisgendered (eg, those who agree with the gender that was assigned to them at birth). This is not the first time that Minaj has received a negative response from the lgbt+ community as a result of transphobia in her lyrics. Her cutting up of a banana seems to portray her disapproval of the the male gaze on her body, and her desire to please them, and while it is a bold statement in such a male-dominated industry, it is also a transphobic proclamation. It glosses over the idea that women with penises do not exist, and also denies the validity of a man without phallic genitalia. This suggests disregard for her transgender fans, and also perpetuates the harmful myth that a penis is necessary in order to be a 'real man'. It is worth noting, however, that Nicki has spoken out in support of trans people in the past, which may suggest that it was not Minaj's idea to include this cissexist imagery in her music video, but the doing of, again, her superiors. That being said, the addition of transphobic symbolism, while it may not be completely her doing, still reflects negatively on her personality and