The gender representations evident in this video are typical of boys and girls at this age in regards to the way they take notice to each other, act flirtatious and playful with each other, and try to gain the approval of their peers at the same time. This interaction does seem traditional, however, many teens at this age are not sure enough about themselves to express themselves this way or act as sexual as Beiber and the girl he is flirting with do at times in the video.
This video may indicate a certain perception about teens in the 21st century. Those who watch the video and others like it may form a sort of "profile" of 21st century teens as portrayed by the media. Much of what society is bombarded with by the media is pure fantasy, not reality. For example, many teens that are the age of those in the video are not allowed to go unchaperoned to such places as a bowling alley. Most teens are likely to actually meet each other at school or through extracurricular activities. A lot of teens at this age hang out at other places like the mall, movie theatre, or sporting events during daytime hours. Many are not allowed to date yet. The way the teens in the video line up and dance like they are partying in a club is not the way typical teens of this age act. They may dance at a prom or other school dance, but no, they do not line up and dance at a bowling alley.
The merger of the singing styles of Beiber and Ludacris does indicate a change in the music industry. Rap music has become more mainstream and has lost its edge. For a popular rap star such as Ludacris to join up with a teen pop star such as Beiber could indicate this, but it could also indicate that Ludacris is smart enough to know he can cash in on a teen sensation like Beiber. The management teams of both stars probably saw dollar signs with this merger, with all hoping to bring new listeners to the other side. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it is just how the industry works.
This music video does show a touch of reality, but mostly fantasy. The reality would be in the way the teens react to each other. The fantasy of the video is shown in many ways. Other than the previously mentioned dance line up at the bowling alley and the fact that the night time event appears unchaperoned, the way the teens are dressed is above and beyond what many parents can afford in today's bad economy. However, just like with most videos, movies, television shows, etc., you have to keep in mind that it is entertainment and intended to be fantasy.
