




Every single day many things catch the attention of us humans. Whether it be a poster, a music video, a commercial or a billboard, something in the way it is presented makes the viewer interested. The visual elements that grab one’s attention could be very simple but have a large impact on the way one views the advertisement; it could be the colors, the angle, the wording, the picture or maybe the movement of the people. However, just like written text, people interpret things differently; but just as a written text can be analyzed so can a visual text leading to a deeper, more complex meaning being discovered. Sometimes advertisements can be completely misinterpreted; there are many advertisements and videos that have many debatable features. One of the most debatable topics that are heard, and maybe seen, every day are songs. Singular lines may mean one thing to one person but another individual may think of it in another context. This is where music videos come in, putting images or scenarios to specific phrases and diving deeper into how the song should come across to an audience. Over the last year or two, one of the biggest controversies is the way Nicki Minaj’s video "Anaconda" responds and remarks that of “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix A Lot. By looking at the visual elements in “Anaconda” in comparison to those in “Baby Got Back” we can see that Minaj is responding with a feminist approach on the topic of women’s bodies which most people do not see; this is important because these visual elements, such as her use of the color pink, choice use of fruit, her actions and the background, help explore her response and make it effective. 

One of the first elements in Minaj’s video that promotes her feminist belief is her use of the colors pink and blue, and the way she uses those colors. In many parts of the video, different pieces of clothing, scenery, hair, etc. are pink. There are many associations with the color pink however the biggest association is it being a “girl” or feminine color. At one point the dancers have on a pink top and blue shoes; the placement of the blue and the pink in this scenario could be understood as women walking over the “boys,” an association of the color blue and boy, and holding power for themselves. Minaj even uses the color in very discrete places such as her lipstick and nail color, making it subtle yet very noticeable. Compared to “Baby Got Back” these colors stand out and make an impression on her audience; it’s hard to miss bright pink hair and clothing. Mix a Lot uses very dull colors keeping the focus on his lyrics and the women in the video. Since pink is considered to be a very feminine color, it seems as though Minaj is using it in a uniting, powerful way. She wants all women to embrace their assets and realize what they have. 

Throughout the whole video there are also very obvious images portrayed with the use of fruit. Though the fruit is not the actual object, it is implied by its placement and use just as it is in Mix a Lot’s “Baby Got Back.” The first obvious image of a fruits use is the banana spinning on the record player every time Mix a Lot’s line, “my anaconda don’t want none unless you got buns Hun,” comes in. The second most recognizable image with the banana is when Minaj is standing in the kitchen. At first Nicki acts as though she is going to be sexual, however she soon after chuckles and goes on the cut the banana and throw it away. Here Nicki is showing that she, as a woman, has power and that one can be flirty with a man but can also always keep that power. This is an instance where Nicki is providing female empowerment, just with the use of a banana and her action. Minaj also uses a pineapple in the beginning of the video, occasionally popping up in other places. A pineapple is a fruit that is hard and prickly on the outside yet sweet on the inside, coming to symbolize her attitude and personality in this video. It also symbolizes her true self in some ways; Minaj has to be hard to get what she wants otherwise as a woman she would be trampled, especially in the rap world. Minaj’s message by using this fruit is that sometimes being a woman in today’s society is difficult; a female may have to come off hard and strong to get what they want but in reality one may be a very genuine person. Just as the pineapple comes up occasionally, so does this type of attitude but at times it may be necessary. Compared to “Baby Got Back” instead of a pineapple, Mix a Lot uses a banana and a peach. The banana contains the same symbolic meaning as it does in “Anaconda” however the peach is not representative of one’s personality. The peach also images something of the body and many people associate this fruit with the shape of a butt. In both cases these fruits help, in a subtle more respectable way, relay to the audience what is being portrayed and said. 

Smaller visuals such as color choice or use of fruit are only a very small piece of what’s to be picked up on. There are even hidden messages in what goes on around the focus; the background of the image or video is also important. Mix a Lot again uses very distinct, subtle imagery in his background. Most of the time he stands on a large set of hills, faintly yet obviously representing ones’ backside. Minaj on the other hand chooses to use a jungle background with bamboo, water, trees, vines, etc. This jungle background plays into her and the dancers actions as they behave in a very sexual manner; its suggestive and an emphasis on an individual’s animalistic behavior of the subject. 

Although all of these visual elements play a large role in Minaj’s message, some of her actions cause controversy over the video. Some people may say that dancing and acting sexual, basically promoting yourself, is not feminist in any way. People that feel this way would be correct, feminism isn’t about acting this way, it’s about justice for women’s rights and their qualities. However, Minaj isn’t doing so to be sexual or for the pleasure of a specific gendered viewer. She’s doing so for herself and other women in the world that have heard the song or viewed this video. By doing so she is promoting self-pride and confidence with the body one is given, she is attempting at being an empowering female voice. Other elements that have caused controversy is the clothing that is worn. At many times she wears little clothing but two that stand is when she wears a very short skirt in the kitchen along with fishnets and she wears only a sports bra and thong to workout. Most women don’t wear this type of clothing every day or for these activities. However, Nicki is being prideful of her body as she promotes other women should feel the way she does too. By behaving and dressing in this nature, she is making a statement that it is her body and she will do with it as she pleases; it’s a valid statement and question of why everything a woman does is for the attention of a man and can’t ever be for self-pleasure. Not only is Minaj empowering women to be proud of their body, she is also reaching out to all races. Feminism isn’t about a singular race either it is about all women no matter what race and Minaj reaches this by using dancers of multiple races. Sir Mix a Lot on the other hand only uses black women, other than the two white teenage girls putting down the women he desires. Besides her dancing, Minaj acts in other ways that also show her prideful nature. In the end of the video, she has a scene where she is dancing with Drake. Although she is being flirty and sexual, right before the bell goes off she slaps his hand away and leaves. By doing so she is showing her power and letting not only him, but other male viewers know that women do hold power.  

In many cases visual text is more than meets the eye. Sometimes things are meant to be taken a certain way or have hidden messages. Minaj’s song/video was and still is a topic for many people and is very controversial. Even the smallest details in this video open a new topic and discussion about what she is trying to portray. The way she uses the color pink, her choice use of fruit and her actions are just a few of the debatable things. How and why Minaj chose to do things the way she did them is always up for conversation. However, by looking at these specific elements closely we can see that Minaj chose to respond and promote this song in a feminist way. These elements she chooses to subtly highlight ultimately help to emphasize her feminist mind set what she wants her message to be. 