1. Tariq Esprit-media production blog A2
Music Video Analysis’

2. Music Video analysis- Wiley, Cash In my pocket
Mise-en-scene:
Representation: This is used to create an illusion that the
The is a general view that people that music video really is happening in the
work in office’s wear suits and act Gherkin (famous business building in the city
of London) The use of costume and location
formally. This music video adheres to really immerses the audience into believing
and subverts from these that this is reality. The workplace concept is
generalisations. Having the actors wear completed through the use of props (fax
suits, however also have them acting machine, numerous un-opened envelopes
young and childish creates a sense of and a flux of computer stations)
entertainment for the audience as
Cinematography:
they’re viewing something abnormal in
One continuous shot, however a mixture
that specific time of society. So the Of long, medium and close up shots are used.
music video suggests that office Low angle and an establishing shot is used
workers are able to have fun and Type Of Music Video:
perhaps change the youths view of Cash in my pocket combines all music video Editing:
them, inferring that maybe Wiley was Types (Concept, Narrative and Performance) The editing is virtually non
The entire video is a continuous performance Existent/seamless, where the audience
attempting to make a point rather than
(seen when the staff at the office dance and Can’t tell if its one continuous shot or
just entertain his audience. Move around as if they were on stage) If the transitions flow so well, the
The concept is simple as it follows an office Audience can’t tell (transitions could
Workspace theme and uses people that generally Occur as the camera is turning)
Wouldn’t have a clue about this type of music. as the entire music video
Narrative: Finally the narrative is simple as it is emphasized Is one continuous shot moving
Simply in the chorus, the Many times in the chorus “all I want is money in Through a typical work office
Narrative is similar to the type My pocket”. Mixing all three types (making this Space. This means that the events
Music video a hybrid) helps appeal to all types Throughout the video are scripted
Of song, straight to the point
Of audiences that are attracted to a specific In a type of performance sense. This
With no complications to make Type of music video. May help to immerse audiences that
It easy for the audience to understand Perhaps aren’t fulfilled by mainstream
(“all I want is money in my pocket”) Music videos and this change of pace
Will encourage them to watch/listen
To the whole thing.

3. Music video analysis Narrative:
The story is held within the lyrics
Biggie Smalls, The Sky’s The Limit and title of the song. It suggests
that even if you’re from a
Cinematography:
poor, under privileged
Variety of shots including various close
background, you can still become
ups, medium shots, medium long shots
successful in life. (Biggie Smalls
and long shots. Also the establishing shot
being from a poor background, he
is used to verify locations.
could relate to the youths of that
time period)
Mise-En-Scene:
The clothing of the main artist Biggie Smalls is extremely important in this
music video. He is seen to wear a variety of suits which implies that he’s made
it far in life already and this should be what the youth of that day should strive
for (suits are the most expensive type of clothing) Also, the Mercedes seen in
the first section of the music video is another showing of what others should
strive for, using the metaphor “the sky’s the limit” Finally, the walking stick used
can be implied as a tool of senior ship, suggesting that he is perhaps inspiration
and the engine that fuels the younger generation.
Representation:
There is a general view in society that if you’re a young person and you strive
for something, you’ll probably achieve it. This music video challenges that
Type of music video: general representation of youths by implying the message that if you don’t
This music video is strictly a have inspiration. Drive and a realistic goal then you won’t. Inspiration is key
narrative. No real dancing is and is seen in the music video through Biggie Smalls’ senior style presented
involved. The narrative is attempting through his achievements, dress sense and lyrics.
to get the message across that the
sky’s the limit, encouraging people
to aim high in life (particularly Editing:
youths) Simple music video. Nothing is exaggerated and
its fit for purpose. The video has a sense of
continuity and scene placement works well

4. Feminist and Post feminist text-
Britney Spears- I wanna go
Feminist
A feminist inference of this music video would agree
with a negative representation of women because it
suggests that they’re only able to find solutions with
their physical aspects and not their actual mentality. In Post Feminist
this video, Britney Spears is only(mainly) seen as a A post feminist inference of this music video
sexual object that men are perceived to fall over and would be Britney Spears (the main artist) being
follow for no particular reason. A point in the music exemplified as powerful, confident and an
video that exemplifies this is when Britney (the artist) independent woman. In one section of the music
flashes in front of a police officer to prevent getting a video Britney is being fluxed by Paparazzi, she is
parking ticket. Although exaggerated, this is seen to be able to fend them off with super human like
the modernistic view in society of “favourable” women. power again asserting her powerful dominance
A feminist and theorist called Rae Langton identifies 3 and confidence over men (all the paparazzi are in
points of treating women as sexual objects (and two of fact male which means she was trying to make a
which are used in this video)These are: point) In another scene, Britney is standing up and
Reduction of physical appearance- When body parts are dancing in a passenger seat of an open top car.
expanded/reduced on to make a female seem more From this, I can extrapolate that she is trying to
attractive. cross the message that woman can do anything,
-Reduction to appearance-where facial aspects are even if its extremely dangerous or in some cases
changed to make the female more attractive (nose jobs, pointless.
Botox etc.)

5. Analysis of Postmodern text, Lady
Gaga ft. Beyoncé-Telephone
Wonder woman
Advertising:
references to Virgin mobile, Beats
by DR.Dre, Plenty of fish(an online
dating website used mostly by
Americans) and Polaroid
cameras/camcorders
There is a flux of references to other
products/services in this music video that
it may actually start to irritate the viewer.
Kill Bill
Common hairstyle
Reference
Bonnie and In the late 1940s
Clyde reference
And many more are shown in the music video

6. Music Video Analysis
Chris Brown, Turn Up The Music
Cinematography:
Similar to other performance based music videos. Long shots are used for
the choreographed dance scenes and close ups on the main artist to
demonstrate emotion and confusion (towards the beginning of the video)
Representation:
The representation of youths in this music video adheres to the general
view of them overall. In the beginning of the music video, the main artist
is confronted by others who are wearing animal masks/outfits outside
the club. This suggests that youths are immature and will do anything
just for the fun of it. Also the fact that the main setting is a club could be
an implication that young people are always partying without a care in
the world, again emphasizing their immaturity. Finally the term “turn up
the music” could be inferred to from youths as “party harder” implying
that the more they dance, the more fun they will have.
Editing:
Helps the performance come together, the routines are split up through
the video and the editing helps to form them into one cohesive model.
Mise-En-Scene:
Type Of Music Video: Mise-En-Scene in this music video subvert from the views of all
This music video is a performance based video. Most of the other elements. The main artist, Chris Brown for a start is
the scenes are of the artist dancing or moving around a wearing a formal suit in some scenes, going against the typical
club (with others dancing) There is no clear narrative to youth dress code. Also, the people in the club are wearing masks
this music video which imitates the idea of a masquerade party, normally held by
the rich and upper class. This could be implied as a message that
the youth of today aren’t as immature as others think.

7. Music Video Analysis
Justin Timberlake, Cry me a river
Cinematography:
Includes a variety of shots such as close ups, establishing shot, high
and low angle shots
Mise-En-Scene:
The dark clothing is used to emphasize his sadness throughout
The music video (the meaning behind the music video is in fact
“getting back at another”) The dark setting whilst outside also
helps to emphasize this emotion.
Representation:
Type Of Music video: In this music video, Justin is attempting to imply that men are
This music video is a hybrid of a narrative and a insightful and also easily intimated. Having knowledge about
slight performance (mostly narrative) The motive someone's actions (in this case, he knew that his ex girlfriend was
behind this music video was for Justin Timberlake cheating on him at the time) men choose to take revenge rather
(the main artist) to inform the public of his ex than confront the problem. This can perhaps be associated with a
girlfriends actions (Britney Spears) and to give the sense of dominance that men carry. A carefully though out plan in
impression that he’s still going strong after the order to take revenge is presumed to be a “mans ordeal”
break up. Some scenes are of him telling the story
through the lyrics and others are of him
dancing, thus leaning slightly towards the
performance style of music video even though he’s Editing:
not dancing for the full video. It gets the job done, cohesive cuts that brings
The narrative together; nothing different or
Extraordinary is done

8. Music Video Analysis
Rihanna, We found love Type of music video:
This music video is a narrative and not a mixture. The narrative
is attempting to cross a state of mind that relationships can be
formed/expanded on anywhere and that its possible to find
love from a “hopeless place” The main artist, Rihanna could’ve
had someone in mind during the video or it could just be from
past experiences.
Cinematography:
A range of shots including loads of close ups, medium shots
and medium long shots. There are establishing
shots, followed by the seemed to be couple having fun
Mise-En-Scene: creating a constant thought of a relationship being all about
Props are used constantly to give the impression that the couple is fun.
happy. However, there are a few blind spots. In one scene, both Narrative:
Rihanna and her perceived to be boyfriend take a pill that brings Follows the lyrics “we found love in a hopeless place” The
them into an illusion where its just the two of them; this suggests music video constantly throws the idea of happiness and fun at
that perhaps love is an illusion that can only be obtained through the audience. The couple are seen having fun and “finding
artificial matters. This illusion can be seen through the colourful love” in seemingly hopeless place, such as the skate park or
rainbow cigarette near this scene. Points that exemplify this further the supermarket.
are when the couple are at the supermarket buying alcohol and
when they’re seen gambling at a slot machine, again showing that
happiness can only be obtained through artificial matters. Representation:
Representation of youth and how there views may be distorted
and may be confused about the concept of love. Love in this
music video is almost seen to be fake as the couple are only
Editing:
seen having fun and mostly under influence. This music video
Cohesive, mostly fit for purpose. Some general effects
could be seen to attempt to rectify the youth of today’s
are used such as the random spectrum of colours on the
misguided views of love.
cigarette to exemplify hallucination (which may or may
not happen in some cases)

9. Music Video Analysis
Beyoncé, Single ladies Cinematography:
Constant use of long shots to show all three
dancers however most of the close ups are
forwarded towards the main artist Beyoncé to
perhaps emphasize her superiority (and the fact
that she’s the one singing)
Mise-En-Scene:
The lighting creates 3 distinctive points in this music video.
Firstly, the main light/key light which is used to light up all the
dancers in the video against the white backdrop (however
because the music video is in black and white, it appears to be
grey at times) This large light can be the main artist implying
that as dancers or women, they’re equal and all have similar
values. The second point is the fill light which is mainly used on
Beyoncé. This may be used to infer that even though they’re
equal as dancers, as a singer she is superior or the concept of
Primus inter Pares (first amongst equals). Finally the light is
Type of music video: used to make the dancers’ legs shine in an unnatural way thus
This music video is strictly a performance video with a message. attracting the male gaze in an attempt to appeal to another
The three dancers in the image (the middle one being the main artist Beyoncé) are audience besides young females.
featured throughout the entire music video performing their routine. Its
particularly awkward to have a music video that is completely performance based
however, it easily grabs the audiences’ attention but the complexity of the dance
and its allure to the male gaze.
Narrative: Editing:
The lyrics of the music video is meant to empower young Simple due to the simplicity of the music video.
females or the older audience by influencing them to be Cuts are frequent however they don’t break the
independent, this is exemplified through the sing title “single continuity of the music video. A couple
ladies” The constant message that women don’t need men is
techniques are used such as the pan and the fade
constantly thrown at the audience throughout the music video.
in/out.

10. Music Video Analysis
Pussycat Dolls, When I Grow Up
Cinematography:
A mixture of shots including close ups, medium shots and long
shots of the entire group. The positioning of the girls though is
rather peculiar. Nicole, the main singer is always in the middle
of the group which scraps the concept of a girl band and
theoretically makes the other four girls back up dancers
(effectively)
Representation:
This music video embraces the idea of self empowerment
within women. The lyrics “when I grow up, I wanna be a star, I
wanna be in movies” is implied towards the younger audience
suggesting that this is what younger females strive for (or
should) The view that when they grow up, they’ll be like the
Type Of Music Video: pussycat dolls (or effectively Nicole) is enough to empower
This music video is a performance music video type. them and make them strive towards excellence.
The dancing in this music video suits the typical style
of a girl band with a flux of sexually provocative Mise-En-Scene:
dance moves to immerse the male audience. This music video adheres to the general stereotypical
view of a girl band, the type of music and the clothing
Editing: they wear. All the females in the group are wearing
Editing is simple and keeps the continuous flow. Good scene revealing clothing and are pampered in make up, thus
selection also helps the video to flow (when Nicole mentions giving the illusion of a “perfect woman” or what is
cars, she’s actually standing on one) perceived to be a perfect woman in today’s
society, completely scrapping ones personal values.
Narrative: These clothing items are used to attract a male
The idea that young girls should strive to be superstars and audience and also used to empower the female
be proud of how the look, as seen through the clothing and audience suggesting that they should be proud of their
the lyrics. bodies and flaunt them.