Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
Written and Produced by Justin Timberlake
Channel: justintimberlakeVEVO
Published on 19 March 2013
Synopsis: The music video, dedicated to Timberlake’s
grandparents starts off with scenes in the 1950s where a couple meets. Life
events are shown throughout the clip, from teenage years to adult years to
where they are elderly. It is the couple looking back at their life together,
and acting as a ‘mirror’ showing how much they were in love to mirror each
other which is demonstrated through the elderly couple in the music video. All
scenes are mixed all around, but towards the end of the video
Conceptual/narrative/performance?: The music video is
narrative based as there is the story of the couple from how they meet to the
end where we learn that the elderly woman’s husband dies as she drops her ring
which Timberlake catches in the clip. This creates an emotional and romantic effect as the stages of a relationship is shown. However, the end of the clip is more performance
based as only Timberlake is shown dancing and singing. As well as the effect of the narrative, the performance adds more of a music video feel to it and brings the focus back to the song, setting a mixture of both narrative and performance to give an emotional effect in general. Timberlake does not take
part in the role play so there is not much representation of him however he is
still in the music video shown dancing and singing at certain times.
Themes/motifs: Theme of love is used throughout the
video, with a motif of mirrors that is consistent throughout the clip acted out
by the elderly couple.
Shot types vary from establishing shot to mid shot,
however mid shot is the consistent shot type throughout. Camera movement is
particularly important in this video with tilt up tilt down, and hand held movement
used showing teenage years which reinforces a feeling of happiness and
excitement, also creating a fun effect and a slightly 'hyper' effect, which is passed on to the audience. Mise en scene in the music video includes 50s vintage/retro
clothing, a funhouse, mirrors, a bedroom, mannequins, a wedding ring and many
more. The type of clothing reinforces the memories of the couple from the early years of their relationship. In terms of location, the funhouse also is significant as it is a conventional location as to where a young couple may spend time together with, at such a location. At this specific location, there are different types of lighting all around in different colours with limited brightness to add a colourful effect to not only the location but the couple enjoying themselves. There are limited special effects being used in the music video, but one
particular effect would be the elderly woman dropping her ring which Timberlake
catches changing scenes in between. Hardly any transitions are used in terms of
editing but this is to speed up the process of their life stages and show how
fast events happened.
Lip synching is used by the artist himself when he is
shown at various times, but not all the time as the music video is not purely
based on him, but also on the role play. The target audience may be any age,
and any gender mainly because it is explaining a story of both genders at different
ages. Showing the record in such way through different age groups encourages
people to buy it as every age group can relate to the music video.
Take Care by Drake featuring Rihanna
Written and Produced by Drake
Channel: DrakeVEVOPublished on: 23 April 2012
Synopsis: The music video is a mixture of a lot of
things where animals are shown in various parts including a bull, a blue jay
and a tropical fish. In other parts of the video Drake and Rihanna are shown by
themselves at times, and together at times sharing intimacy. Different
landscapes are also shown throughout, some that look calm and still and some
that being damaged.
Conceptual/narrative/performance?: This music video is
mainly conceptual with simplicity. It is performance based at times where Drake
is shown rapping on his own. There is no narrative to it however the conceptual
idea is love being shown through the environment and animals.
Themes/motifs: The main theme of the video is love as
both artists are shown as being intimate with each other. The bull may be a key
motif in the video as it is shown more than once and throughout which may be
there to represent something the audience is not aware of.
Artists are represented as lovers as well as the
singers in the music video. Camera angles take on different views, mainly
neutral, with shots from the back and front of the singers, which may be for the smooth running of the video. Close ups, extreme
close ups and mid shots are key in the music video with a lot of zooming in and
out, to emphasise simple detail and movement in the video, and significance of some of the motifs such as the bull. Some special effects
are the speed of the animals such as the fish and bull slowed down, the fast
pace of the music video overall. Mise en scene includes simple clothing, and the
animals, also used to reinforce simplicity and let more focus on the story of how the animals are acting and how that links to the story they are singing about. Also, lip synching is used and shown throughout the clip for an
accurate music video and to match the theme of love with the words being lip
synched. Lighting is kept consistent throughout, it is not too bright and is a little dim which sets a neutral mood for what is being sung.
The target audience may be teenagers and young adults,
and it encourages them to buy the record because the music video shows lovers
that are young adults singing about getting hurt by love and giving the general
idea of ‘taking care’ as shown on the song title, which may be something they
can relate to.
Ideas I can use in my own music video: I quite like the concept of simplicity with a mixture of other details. I also want a couple performance for my music video maybe with a bit of simplicity. I also like the dim lighting and zooming in and out used which may be something I can use in my own one.
Synopsis:
John Legend both sings and participates in the narrative as the boyfriend/partner of the actress featured. They are a couple who live together and spend time together. Many flashback's are shown without any clear narrative running.
Conceptual/narrative/performance: It is more conceptual and performance based as there is no clear narrative structure to the video. The only narrative elements it contains is when the couple is shown spending time together. The rest are different shots of both and Legend performing the song and playing the piano. The combination of the three make the video interesting and maintain audience interest as they complete each other. While some may enjoy the conceptual side of it, others may enjoy the narrative that tells them about the couple's story or the parts where Legend is perfoming the song and some may even enjoy watching the combination of all three. Many music videos today combine these different elements to keep audience interest but also to produce a music video that is appropriate for the track it is being produced for.
Themes/motifs: The theme of love and heartbreak is explored throughout. The music video directly matches the lyrics in most parts as we see the couple and then we hear the song or see the artist performing the song. The theme of love is combined with heartbreak as it is suggested in the video that the couple may be going through a break up as there are shots of both the artist and the actress with sad expressions or Legend is shown performing the song not happily but rather as if he is hurt. The piano may be one of the main motifs. It recurrs throughout the music video, and is an instrument usually associated with love which allows the audience to tell what the song and music video may be about as soon as the piano is heard. The house the couple are living in is also a motif itself as it is another motif that runs throughout the video and also is where the couple share their happy moments symbolising the key idea of the song/music video.
There are some postmodern elements in the video. For example there is an unusual narrative as there is a constant move between time. The audience does not know where the stucture stands. The camera angles are constantly changing as the camera is never positioned in the same position throughout and is constantly moving. Lack of a consistent camera angle that almost follows a 'wave' pattern may represent the couple's status at that current time. There are many mid shots and close ups of both the artist and the actress, constantly moving. In terms of mise en scene, clothing is simple, the artist is wearing simple clothes and the actress' costumes change throughout and goes through simple clothing to swimwear. Clothes may be kept simple because it is not the main focus of the music video. The location is almost just the house the couple live in but there are some parts near a river/lake. The location may be limited again to make the house a motif, the main focus. The piano is also the main prop used in the music video again may be this way for the focus of it being a motif. Special effects include some cutaways but the main effect is the greyscale effect that runs throughout the whole music video, giving a sense of nostalgia but also making the audience question what the flashbacks mean. John Legend lip synchs the song throughout and is seen at some points to be lip synching to the actress in a way "talking to her"
The target audience for this video may be both male and female teenage adults and adults as there are complex adult break up issues and sexual content involved . The target audience is encouraged to buy it mainly because the audience my relate to the theme of heartbreak and love. The audience may also be willing to buy it mainly because the video may be seen as realistic as the actress in the video is Legend's actual wife.
Ideas I may use in my own music video: I particularly like the greyscale effect and I think it will be useful for me to use it my music video as there may be some flashback elements. I also like the wave form of the camera movement as it explains the couple's heartbreak and the representation of them going through obstacles which may be relevant to the potential track I will choose with my group.
All of Me by John Legend
Written by John Stephens and Toby Gad, produced by Dave Tozer and John Legend
Channel: johnlegendVEVO
Published on 02 October 2013
Published on 02 October 2013
John Legend both sings and participates in the narrative as the boyfriend/partner of the actress featured. They are a couple who live together and spend time together. Many flashback's are shown without any clear narrative running.
Conceptual/narrative/performance: It is more conceptual and performance based as there is no clear narrative structure to the video. The only narrative elements it contains is when the couple is shown spending time together. The rest are different shots of both and Legend performing the song and playing the piano. The combination of the three make the video interesting and maintain audience interest as they complete each other. While some may enjoy the conceptual side of it, others may enjoy the narrative that tells them about the couple's story or the parts where Legend is perfoming the song and some may even enjoy watching the combination of all three. Many music videos today combine these different elements to keep audience interest but also to produce a music video that is appropriate for the track it is being produced for.
Themes/motifs: The theme of love and heartbreak is explored throughout. The music video directly matches the lyrics in most parts as we see the couple and then we hear the song or see the artist performing the song. The theme of love is combined with heartbreak as it is suggested in the video that the couple may be going through a break up as there are shots of both the artist and the actress with sad expressions or Legend is shown performing the song not happily but rather as if he is hurt. The piano may be one of the main motifs. It recurrs throughout the music video, and is an instrument usually associated with love which allows the audience to tell what the song and music video may be about as soon as the piano is heard. The house the couple are living in is also a motif itself as it is another motif that runs throughout the video and also is where the couple share their happy moments symbolising the key idea of the song/music video.
There are some postmodern elements in the video. For example there is an unusual narrative as there is a constant move between time. The audience does not know where the stucture stands. The camera angles are constantly changing as the camera is never positioned in the same position throughout and is constantly moving. Lack of a consistent camera angle that almost follows a 'wave' pattern may represent the couple's status at that current time. There are many mid shots and close ups of both the artist and the actress, constantly moving. In terms of mise en scene, clothing is simple, the artist is wearing simple clothes and the actress' costumes change throughout and goes through simple clothing to swimwear. Clothes may be kept simple because it is not the main focus of the music video. The location is almost just the house the couple live in but there are some parts near a river/lake. The location may be limited again to make the house a motif, the main focus. The piano is also the main prop used in the music video again may be this way for the focus of it being a motif. Special effects include some cutaways but the main effect is the greyscale effect that runs throughout the whole music video, giving a sense of nostalgia but also making the audience question what the flashbacks mean. John Legend lip synchs the song throughout and is seen at some points to be lip synching to the actress in a way "talking to her"
The target audience for this video may be both male and female teenage adults and adults as there are complex adult break up issues and sexual content involved . The target audience is encouraged to buy it mainly because the audience my relate to the theme of heartbreak and love. The audience may also be willing to buy it mainly because the video may be seen as realistic as the actress in the video is Legend's actual wife.
Ideas I may use in my own music video: I particularly like the greyscale effect and I think it will be useful for me to use it my music video as there may be some flashback elements. I also like the wave form of the camera movement as it explains the couple's heartbreak and the representation of them going through obstacles which may be relevant to the potential track I will choose with my group.
Duygu, you should have three complete case studies for your research, develop on eof the summer task ones based on my feedback and using the brief to expand. The JT analysis as some useful detail, try to explain how the narrative and technical elements have been used to create an effect. Also consider editing more carefully and how the narrative has been pieced together. The second case study has a little less detail but is still helpful for you to understand conventions and techniques. Be careful not to just describe, for example you list a lot of caerma shots but why have they been used? Also more on mise-en-scene and locations, lighting and costume and what effect is created. You have thought about how this research can help your own video but could go into more detail here too. Good work.
ReplyDeleteAmy