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TV Logo Analysis

Textual Analysis: Goldie - Inner City Life

Goldie - Inner City Life

Analysis

Inner city life has a main theme of portaying how life is for people who live in the inner city, giving the audience a point of view of how poverty effects residents and how they may deal with it for example in the video there is a mom who has children but has many problems such as not being able to pay bills, consequently leading her into prostituiton to pay them as scenes where the camera is in a bird eye view position and we see the woman with a man in a bed but are not really intimate or close which may suggest that this is what has happened.

An establishing shot is used to help introduce the setting for the video, what we see is an urban area which can be said to be in poverty e.g. council flats, in addition the setting which is shown is in black and white thus adding to the effect of poverty. The mise-en-scene which is shown signifies many things such as the shots of the BMW's on a rough state which stereotypically has negative connotations of how the person may have bought it, for instance drug dealing highlighting who may have power in the area.

The messages which are evident in the text are that everyone has problems have thier own way of dealing with them such as playing sports or going to clubs; giving them a escapsism of reality allowing them to keep their problems to one side.
Marxists would argue that these are realisitic messages of how life is in the urban area as the lyrics and images suggest serious matters i.e. the lyrics "i long to be free" highlights the fact that life is not pleasant for these people and they long for something different.

This text challenges the hegemonic control as it gives a different prespective of how inner city life is represented; it depitcs key problems of poverty and allows the audience to interpret them in their own way, its giving the audience to see the problems which exist and they need to be solved.

The taget audience for this text is mainsteamers as it relates to them, therefore giving an adding meaning to it as they can see themsevles in their 'shoes'; it provides them with a familiar feeling to it as they can relate to it.

   

Textual Analysis: Michael Jackson - Thriller

Generic codes and conventions in the video of thriller is much different from what you would usually see in its decade as the costume designs and amount of performers in the video are significantly different. As celebrities are usually known for being the fashion icons of this world, the costume design of Michael Jackson’s red suit stood out from the rest as it was much more unique and eye-catching then others. Furthermore as this was a pop music video the amount of performers being in sync and dancing to the same moves was at a larger scale, making the video much more entertaining and matchless. 

The relationship between sound and images have been used exceptionally as well for example scenes such as the graveyard coming to life a voiceover also being included really sets the atmosphere and mood giving added depth to the track, this particular scene makes the whole video seem like a horror film as the voiceover explains what is going on giving the video a gothic and horror theme.

Additionally the use of camera shots and angels is varied, in the beginning of the video we start of with a long shot / tracking shot of Michael Jackson and the actress, this allows us to see costume design and body language of the two, the actress in the video is shown to be fashionable and glamorous as the high-heels and coat/jeans suggests so.

The video also features aspects of horror costumers and characters that are depicted in this to be superior and important; by having rapid zoom in and low angle close-up shots it is straight-forward to the audience that this is a visual change in the leads characters appearance which has a dramatic relevance to the lyrics on of the song giving emphasises that this is a ‘scary’ video. We also encounter many long shots in this video as well thus allowing the video to give a much greater visual impact as the audience can see the mise-en-scene in the video such as the gothic settings of graveyards and deserted houses.

There are many low angle shots of the zombies in the video which shows them to be superior as they are chasing Michael and the actress; this helps us to understand that they are isolated and venerable to them.

The intertextuality included in this video such as the evil laugh and American ware wolf also signifies the theme of the video as a ‘horror film’. Lastly this particular video is narrative, concept and performance based mixing up all elements of music videos appealing to a much wider audience and giving much more to see and admire by the viewer. The choreographed dance performance is an iconic routine of Michael Jackson and can be seen in any of his music videos, additionally the horror aspect gives it a concept as well as the beginning scene of Michael Jackson with the woman adding a narrative.

Textual Analysis: Rihanna feat Jay-Z - Umbrella

The generic codes and conventions which can be seen in this video are very traditional to what you would see in a R&B singers music video for example there are background performers which are in sync to the dance moves Rihanna is doing; this helps the music video look more professional and entertaining as there is much more to see for the viewers rather then one moving image which can be boring if not executed in a proper manner and category.  As we go through the video we are immediately introduced to Rihanna with tracking mid shots; the costume which we see Rihanna is wearing can be seen to be ‘seductive’ as the clothes that are worn are leather which is used to plead the male audience watching the music video.  Furthermore as the video progresses the use of props expands as we see an umbrella held by Rihanna and background performers which is expected thus linking up with the song lyrics making it easier to understand the meaning of the song and video. In addition to this prop we see effects which are associated with umbrellas such as water and rain, the effects show water which is being “manipulated” by Rihanna’s movements, in addition to this there is actual rain dropping whilst they are dancing. This may be a recognizable scene for some audiences who are familiar with the song ‘im singing in the rain’; this can add a nostalgic and familiar feel to the video.

There are other effects which are also used in the video which are being utilized more frequently in music videos such as the blur effect which blurs everything on screen for a second but then returns into normal imaging, this process makes the camera seem handheld and adds a unique effect to the video making it seem ‘distorted’ thus engaging the audience to keep looking to understand what is going to happen after the image has been un-blurred.   Moreover as we go towards the end of the music video there are effects such as green screen this allows the background to be adjusted to what the creator wants it to be, this particular video adjusts the background to be grey/ white alternatively adding a ‘luminosity’ effect of what is being seen as Rihanna is painted in silver making the images stick in to the viewers mind, making it a very unique and distinctive image; the image is of a triangle with Rihnna posing with it, the triangle it self is a sign  which Jay-z  uses frequently making it a icon or recognition of him.

Editing includes fade in/out and a quick cut which is the basic concept of how a music video should be constructed making it easy to follow the narrative and allowing the audience to know when the next scene has started. Lastly the video is mainly performance based as we see Rihanna miming the lyrics, there is no narrative at all.

As there are two versions of this music video one featuring jay-z there are slight differences, Jay-z featured in this video allows the song to be much more popular as a much wider target audience is attracted because fans of both artist would then want to listen to this song. As jay-z is seen to be one of the best rappers in the world it was a key point to have him in the video as he introduces rihanna to being the song. Jay-z is shown for a brief 20-30 seconds within this time there are shots such as close ups and and mid shots, this allows us to see what costume is being worn for example there is a close tracking shot going up to show all the clothing, the trainers are in gold which connotes his wealth, the brand seems to be ‘rocawear’ which is jay-z own clothes store/brand which can be adverting his branch of fashion, Jay-z is shown to be a confident and famous person as the lyrics suggest so ‘you know me an anticipation, for precipitation’ this could be a stereotypical view of how rappers persona may be like. 

Textual Analysis: Snoop Dogg - Sensual Seduction

The narrative is playing on the fact that Snoop Dogg is a ‘pimp’, the lyrics signify this clearly for instance, the verse “she might be with him, but she thinking off me” connotes that Snoop Dogg is a playa and has won this women’s heart. The imagery which we are shown when this lyric is heard links in as well, the image of snoop and a woman on the bed with a green screen effect of space, thus implying that he is that ‘good’ in bed that the woman is sent to the heavens or sky. 

In the video sensual seduction women are represented stereotypically from the point of ‘view’ of men, there are several images which are shown in the video which portray woman to be dominatrix and connect to the scenario of Snoop Dogg being a pimp, the controller of these women for example in the video at 3:41 the women are seem to be passive as they stroke snoop dogg whilst he sings in addition to this the attire which is being worn by the women is stereotypically prostitutes attire for example knee-high boots short skirts and very tight leggings.

Sensual seduction represents men to be ‘pimps’ as the ‘playsheets’ are loaded with sexual innuendo. Intertextuality is also used to represent men in this way such as the outfit which Snoop Dogg is wearing at one point references to the Starksky and Hutch character he plays called HuggieBear who is an actual pimp (afro hairstyle, orange suit etc...).

Certain gender stereotypes are confirmed in this video but I believe only in a man’s point of view as women stereotypically won’t think that other women are ‘prostitutes’ or ‘sex kittens’, however men may think this as male’s are subjected to this imagery such as the ‘pimp’ status which snoop dogg is portraying, men who watch the video will think that this is right and they are pimps themselves as stated in hegemony the media can influence the manner in which society view things.

Woman stereotypes that are shown are: Sex kittens.

Men stereotypes shown:  Men are pimps.

Stereotypes may have been used as they go in sync with the lyrics of what is being sung by Snoop Dogg, this provides the creator of the video an easier option to create imagery of how the video will look like. Snoop Dogg may also have influenced his opinion in how he would want the video to look like. Using stereotypes also gives the audience a familiar look of how people are represented making it easier to follow the narrative of the music.

The use of mise-en-scene plays a big role in how the representations are shown. The costumes which are worn provide us with a clear and easy image of how the director wanted to represent woman and men for example the woman in the video are wearing tight clothes and boots which is viewed to be prostitutes attire, also connecting with the songs title sensual seduction which actually means the act of sexual action. The costume design of Snoop Dogg also represents him to be a pimp as the clothes are mainly white or orange suits, shades and actions which imply to the audience that he is in control of these women.

Female audiences may respond to this text differently, some may find it to be normal and others offensive. People may find this video to be normal because it is what they expected to see from it as the title of the song actually implies it, thus making the audience aware that the video will be of women being sex kittens. However some may find this to be offensive as it represents women as objects and tools for men.

The target audience for this song would be the mainstreamers as they most likely would enjoy this type of song as it adds an element of two types of music, thus enabling them to target a wider audience.  

The text is conventional of its genre as generally in rap videos this is what is expected of how women and men should be shown as audiences would expect this to happen, making the video successful in making its aim.