If I Was a Boy

1. If I Was a Boy Belinda Collins CHS AP English November 14, 2013 A Comparison and Contrast of 2 artist's versions

2. Reba McEntyre COURTESY of GOOGLEIMAGES

3. Beyonce Knowles COURTESY of GOOGLEIMAGES

4. CITATIONS Knowles, Beyonce,Perf. If I was a Boy. Columbia Records, 2008. Filmstrip/Video. 8 Nov 2013 McEntyre, Reba, Perf. If I were a Boy. Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom corp., 2009. Filmstrip/Video. 8 Nov 2013 Wikipedia: “Beyonce’ Knowles, Singles.” If I was a Boy. 2013.

5. If I Was a Boy: ComparedHow does the other half see my issue? Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version • A JILTED woman depicted seeing her crumbling relationship thing through the eyes of a heartless, self-centered man versus that of a tender-hearted, loving woman and how she would do things differently IF ‘she was a boy’.

6. If I Was a Boy : ContrastedDifferent views on the handling of disappointment Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version Beyonce’s REFLECTIVE attitude puts her in the place of the jackal who has betrayed her. She acts and talks how he would act and talk to really emphasize HOW a woman would act if she indeed, ‘was a boy’ • Reba is REFLECTIVE in that she is alone in a large, sterile, ornate home, while she dwells on the idea of her different actions if she ‘were a boy’

7. If I Was a Boy: Compared Setting reinforces the message Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version The setting is that of a hustle and bustle world in which the couple lives. The setting reinforces the idea that the world is distracting in a relationship, but the focus at the end of the day should be on one another. The idea that the couple does his or her ‘own thing’ indicates that the relationship is self- centered for both individuals, but that the woman still meditates on the man while away (example of him (in her position) sitting at a desk, looking for jewelry), while the man (her, in his position) only meditates on his immediate urges (while in a bar, flirts and dances and ignores his calls). • The setting of the video is located in a large Antebellum styled, ornate yet empty home. The setting conveys the idea that the relationship between the couple is one that is ‘on display’ for the public, but empty behind closed doors. The song reinforces the idea that ‘if Reba was a guy and did all the tings he does, and knew how she felt about it, that ‘she’ would be a better ‘he’ because of said knowledge and the relationship would matter more in private, than the public display.

8. If I Was a Boy : ContrastedSettings clearly depict a different idea of the model relationship Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version The city and apartment life indicate the couple is one who both equally share in the dream of personal success. The wife nor the husband appear to spend much time at home as they are in and out of the apartment throughout the video and the apartment is not a tidy, well kept place that offers solitude. • Although a large, ornate, cold, home; the video indicates that the family is still a separate unit from society. The house is located on an individual lot, away from the commotion of town, indicating that the REBA couple finds importance in privacy, but also in the traditional familial roles where the husband is the bread winner, while the wife tends to the home

9. If I Was a Boy: Compared Costumes Depict the idea of the female Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version The majority of the video depicts Beyonce in a police uniform or jeans and leather jacket. The idea that these are masculine clothes depict her idea that if she were a boy she would display herself as ‘all boy’ and not a delicate female; however, when she converts to herself – she is then in a dress and more feminine clothing depicting her real status in the relationship • The Emerald Green gown worn by Reba depicts her idea of the relationship in that she is eloquently dressed although home alone depicting her idea that the looks of the couple are more important than the people in the relationship. The long and heavy train weighs her down just as his aloofness keeps her heart heavy, and the idea that green is the color of envy indicates that she is jealous of the time and attention her husband gives to everything outside of their relationship.

10. If I Was a Boy : ContrastedCostumes visually impress the emotion of the characters Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version The differ costuming indicates and symbolizes the unsteadiness of secruity the female feels in the relationship as the males emotions toy with hers to pull her in and push her away, thus symbolizing the turmoil she feels as she is unable to ‘read’ her mates feelings from one moment to the next • The Green dress and Perfect Make-up worn by Reba area direct symbol for the constriction she feels from the relationship with her husband. The fact that the costume never changes symbolizes the grueling and daily misery of her unending loneliness as a result of a self-absorbed spouse

11. If I Was a Boy: ComparedColor choices in the video express the world in which the characters live Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version The lack of color introduces a life of grey, blurred lines which subtly depicts the emotional state of the characters. The absence of real identifiable color indicates the characters have few identifiable and important traits, and that together, their relationship lacks clear definition • Vivid color, in contrast with neutral colors, is used in the video to enhance the state of being the characters experience. The lack of background color imitates the relationship in that the important part (to the absent spouse) is what the public sees- or the ‘bright’ while the private relationship lacks any vivid or intimate emotion

12. If I Was a Boy : Contrasted Color choices create a different tone Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version The black and white scheme provide an ambiguous tone to the video indicating which supports the ambiguous life led by the male counter-part as he tries to hide his affairs in the shadows and she attempts to hide her pain in them as well resulting in a vicious cycle of unproductive, near-finished, depthless conversation about their relationship • The tone of Reba’s video is one that seems to be making a personal statement by the color choices. Her ‘Green with Envy’ Dress, the Dark frames around family photos, and the colorless walls create a juxtaposition of emotions and an overall urgent tone indicating that the couple never talks, but possibility only strikes arguments at opportune moments, about their issues, and each time, to no avail

13. If I Was a BoyConclusion Reba’s Version Beyonce’s Version Depicts the struggle of a woman in love, desiring the same measure of love in return. The relational conflicts depicted are not resolved, but pushed to the side as emotions are suppressed, leaving wonder if the relationship will survive their lackluster lifestyle • Depicts the struggle of a ‘good wife’ with her desire to be a ‘happy wife’ and the eventual choice of quality over quantity as she detaches herself from the baggage of the heavy train holding her back and escapes the stale, ornate confinement of the marriage for the freedom of the embarking journey in the sunshine