We Can't Stop analysis

We Can't Stop - Miley Cyrus

Singer - Miley Cyrus
Genre - R&B, pop
Label - RCA
Writers - Mike L. Williams, Ricky Walters, Miley Cyrus, Douglas Davis, Theron Thomas 
Producers - Mike Will, P-Nasty, Rock City

Relationship between lyrics and visuals
In "We Can't Stop" we denote Cyrus perform the song, she is lip-syncing whilst performing in a room. The video was put out to introduce Cyrus' new look. In 2011 Cyrus changed her look dramatically and came out with this music video that effectively stopped social media in it's tracks. Fans and others were not sure how to act. In the initial shot we see a close shot of Cyrus and there is large yellow text saying "Miley Cyrus" this emphasised Cyrus' new look. There is also a connection between lyrics and the visuals. The song is upbeat in some sections, then gradually decreases in pace. When the music decreases in pace we see Cyrus acting more sexual and the movements of the characters in the music video are slower; for example at 2:14 when Cyrus is laying on the couch and then in the swimming pool looking directly at the camera. The pace of the music slows down and the audience are connecting with Cyrus due to her looking directly at the camera and stopping the fast pace partying. However there isn't a direct connection between what Cyrus is singing and the visuals that the audience are denoting. For example when Cyrus sings "waiting in line for the bathroom" we aren't seeing anything to do with the bathroom or people waiting. The audience are denoting Cyrus with a dog behind her.

Genre Characteristics
The pop genre generally involves performance and narrative, the narrative is most often 70% of the overall video. In "Can't Stop" we see Cyrus basically having a party and throughout the video she is lip-syncing the lyrics and looking at the camera. This is showing the audience a non-linear narrative and then also a performance due to her singing at the camera. The first shot is Cyrus singing in a white room looking directly at the camera, this is a typical performance style in pop music. Where as in rock generally there would be a band and also there may be references to audience. I "Can't Stop" we denote Cyrus singing on her own looking at the camera. The music then goes on to be an open narrative of Cyrus holding a party and dancing around with the other characters. The music genre is also classified as R&B. The video involves topics such as; violence, drug use, relationships and drinking. These are all typical conventions of a R&B music video. However throughout the music video these are represented subtly and in unconventional ways. We then denote a two shot. In this two shot we see a typical shot of a couple at a party. We can connote that this shot has links to Cyrus' new image of rebelliousness and the sex appeal. The music video also has the typical genre characteristics of a pop song due the fact that Cyrus is drawing attention to herself throughout the music video. she does this by wearing minimal clothing and overall being in the centre of the screen at all times. The audience can connote that Cyrus is showing her confidence. The audience is also able to connote it being a pop genre because of the close up shots and the shots of the dancing, keeping to the tempo of the upbeat song.

Intertextuality
Cyrus uses Intertextuality in the music video by using products such as 'beats pill' and 'EOS lip balm'. She uses the beats pill initially to play her music. The music begins softly and not that loud. We then denote her turning the volume of the speaker up. Her song is being played through the speaker in the music video. This allows the audience to connote that Cyrus is showing us that the speaker is loud enough to play at a party. Showing the pill  in a positive light; therefore her audience will want to buy one. This is an example of an advertisement within a music video. The audience also denotes the EOS lip balm being used Cyrus. Again this is an example of marketing within a music video. Her audience will see one of their idols using it, and therefore want to go an buy one. We can also denote that Cyrus has a lot of them, allowing the audience to connote that they are affordable.  

Performance/narrative
The initial shot in the music video (of Cyrus) is a close shot of her singing directly to the camera. This is a performance of her singing the intro to the song. As the music video prevails we denote that the video involves an open non-linear narrative as well as a performance. The narrative is open because we cannot connote a beginning, middle and an end. The narrative is also non-linear because there are sections in-between the narrative that are performance of Cyrus signing. There are a variety of shots throughout the music video. We are able to connote that the music video is sexual. Through the music video there are many mid shots. In on if the mid shots we see the top half of Cyrus' body and it is panning over her. The angle is used so the audience is able to denote her body. Throughout the video we are able to denote that she is wearing little clothes. We are able to connote that she is implying she can do whatever she wants and is comfortable with her body. The angles allow the audience to notice her body and they highlight the details. Cyrus is implying she wants to be desirable to the audience. When Cyrus starts to dance in the music video, the audience are able to denote that there are more long shots. This is because the long shots get the whole of Cyrus' body in one shot. She is dancing in a seductive manner and this again is highlighting the fact that Cyrus is comfortable with her body and wants to be desirable to her audience. This also has a direct connection with the lyrics "shaking it like we at the strip club". This once again emphasises that she is acting sexual. There is also a scene in which there is a hand held shot. Cyrus is on the floor with her fans. The hand held shot is slightly shaky; emphasising that they don't care about how they are acting and this allows the audience connect with Cyrus and understand. The audience feels involved. The use of the had held shots allows the audience to feel like they are apart of the party. Finally there are also several close shots of Cyrus' face; the audience is able to denote her singing the song. We can see her facial expressions and she is performing the song looking directly at the camera. If there were no close up shots of Cyrus is would be hard for the audience to decipher who the dominate figure is.

Mode of address
Cyrus looks directly at the camera in the beginning close shots as well as in the mid shots when she is laying down and dancing. Cyrus looks at the camera to let the audience feel involved in the music video. The video also makes the audience feel involved in the way that there is hand held camera shots. The gratification theory is at play here. Cyrus is making a direct connection and relationship with the audience.

Star Treatment
We see star treatment in the music video throughout. The use of close shots are used so we are able to denote who the star of the music video is. We are able to denote that Cyrus is the dominate figure in the music video. If she didn't look directly at the camera we wouldn't  be able to see who was the dominant figure due to the fact all the characters in the video wearing similar clothing. There are a lot of characters in the music video because the audience is wanted to be able to denote that they are at a party.

Audience in video
We see a lot of characters in the music video who are dancing with Cyrus. They are all of similar ages; therefore I don't think that there is much audience in the video due to Cyrus' main audience being in the younger to late teens. However the music that they are all dancing to and the clothing that they are wearing; could represent her new audience being more mature.

Representations
The audience can denote that there is a group of people of similar ages. The video  is representing how the younger generation is always partying and having a good time. Women's sexuality is also being represented through the use of the small amount of clothing. The audience is able to connote how the sexual dancing is seen and how easy it is for women to be objectified by people even though they are having a good time. Some of Cyrus' lyrics are represented through the visuals. "Cause we can have so much fun now". We then see people emerge from the bushes and are laughing, we are able to connote that they are prepared to have a good night.

Male Gaze
The audience is able to denote that the characters in the music video are wearing little clothing. They are showing their legs and other parts of their bodies in sexual ways. We denote Cyrus dancing in a sexual way (twerking) and looking directly at the camera. This is making the audience feel involved and have a direct connection with Cyrus herself. The camera is also voyeuristic over Cyrus' body. As she is dancing sexually in the mid and long shots. The camera gets closer to her body showing the details. The wide shots are making Cyrus look irresistible to the audience. This attracts the male audience, making Laura Mulvey (a feminist film critic) status that women are on the screen to be eye candy and are often objectified. Mulvey also stated that shots are often on their legs and other close shots of their body, We denote that there are wide shots of Cyrus sexually dancing and the camera gradually gets closer to individual body parts. We are also able to denote that there are also panning shots of Cyrus' body whilst she is in the pool wearing sheer clothing.

Pace
We can denote that when the pace of the music slows down we denote that the shots last longer and the movement in the shots are slower. For example when we see Cyrus in the pool and at the beginning and the end of the video. The music is slower and Cyrus doesn't twerk or dance as sexually than in the other shots. she is looking directly at the camera and there is close shots. The pace is manly upbeat, due to the fact it is a pop and R&B song. They are often dancing to the song as if they are at a party therefore it has to be fast paced.

Shots
Overall the music video focuses on sexual aspects of the party scene. Throughout there are many mid shots. There is a mid shot that focuses on the top half of Cyrus' body, the angle is used to show off her body and let the audience connote that she is comfortable with her body. Throughout the video Cyrus wears minimal clothing to show off her body; this is allowing the audience to denote her new look and possibly get new audience. We are able to connote that she is flaunting her body to show that she shows she can do anything and be anything. When Cyrus begins to dance the shots change to long shots. This is so the audience is able denote her whole body. This is to highlight Cyrus' body once again and sexualize her. This adds to the aim of the video. She is trying to show her audience and get new audience to understand the new Miley Cyrus. Like I said earlier in the analysis there is also a handheld shot. This is to enable to audience too feel apart of the music video and get involved. The shot is of Cyrus and her friends having a good time, this implies that she doesn't care what she does anymore and is going to be who she wants and do what she wants. This is also a sense of intertextuality, due tot eh fact outside of this video, Cyrus herself was going through changes in personality and showing her audience who she really is. She stopped pretending. to be something she wasn't (so she claimed).

Effects
The editing puts everything together so that the visuals match the lyrics. There are many quick cuts throughout the music video. The use of the quick cuts draw attention to the variety of scenes and what is happening in these scenes. The music video is swift moving and the audience are able to denote that the clips fit well together and all the shots are cut quickly. The use of quick shots allows the audience to denote the many personalities of Cyrus and we see her being crazy, seductive and funny. She sings "we can do what we want". This has a direct connection with the visuals of Cyrus acting crazy. Through certain scenes we can see jump cuts. The jump cuts are used to show that there is a variety of things happening throughout the video. We can denote that there is drugs and alcohol references in the video. The jump cuts could be used to allow the audience to connote that the characters are on drugs or drunk. There are many random topics that are in the jump shots. there are a lot of irrelevant and random scenes. These make the scenes look like hallucinations. The scenes change from innocent dancing to sexual dancing because the drugs and or alcohol has changed them. The music video also appears to have quick editing. Some of this quick editing is to occur to match the lyrics and the visuals. We can denote that a lot of the visuals match the lyrics. "So la da da di we like to party" we then denote the characters in the video partying in the pool and dancing. the quick editing also implies to the audience that time is going by quick and they aren't paying attention to the time. Time flies by when they have fun.

Mis-en-scene
In the establishing shot we see a pink pair of scissors. Other pink items that we see throughout the music video are the EOS lip balms, beats pill and the pink goo that represents blood. There is also pink dimmed lighting throughout. The colour pink could be represented as youthful and feminine. Therefore could represent the youthful partying in the video. Cyrus is constantly wearing little clothing or tight clothing. This represents that she is comfortable with her body and she is showing herself in a sexual way. Because this was one of her first videos after having a change in appearance; she was showing the audience her new self and how she is now more mature. She is gaining a new audience. We can denote Cyrus' facial expressions throughout the video are constantly smiling and her being happy. This is the new her and she is happy with it. she doesn't care what people think of her anymore and is enjoying herself. Throughout the video she ears two predominant colours; black and white. This has been used to contrast the rest of the music video, using bright colours and bright lighting. For example we see a bright coloured donut and bright backgrounds. By Cyrus wearing small simple clothing, this doesn't fit the general conventions of the pop genre. Generally they wear over dramatic clothing. However with Cyrus wearing simple small clothing she stands out in comparison to the other characters in the music video.

Toatal eclipse of the heart analysis

Toatal eclipse of the heart - Bonnie Tyler

The music video was filmed in 1983

Relationship between the visuals and lyrics

The location is at a private school in america and there is a dark emo theme. The lyrics sing 'turn around bright eyes' and in the initial scene there is a male character walking through the door in which Tyler in upstairs. His eyes are bright and glowing. There is a direct connection between the lyrics and the visuals. It is a narrative video however Tyler is miming the lyrics at 1:25 for the chorus and this is a performance from Tyler. The performance is in the same location as the narrative. Everything that occurs in the video occurs in this private school; however there is cut away shots between performance and narrative. At 3:05 we see Tyler running through the halls of the private school and there are no lyrics being sung. This is a narrative that she is trying to find someone or running away from someone. There is then the backing track "turn around bright eyes" and we see a choir of people with literal bright eyes singing and then Tyler begins to sing again. She is singing amongst a group of dancers. The lyrics are about a vampires love and Tyler said in an interview that "it is all about the darkness of love, the power of darkness and how love is in a dark place". From the audience's point of view we are able to connote that there "total eclipse of the heart" is a dark love song due to the location being in an abandoned private school. Also the lyrics "total eclipse", and eclipse is where the moon covers the sun to create pitch black throughout the world at different times. This allows the audience to connote and denote a sense of darkness and how the song is about dark love. The visuals of the men with the bright glowing eyes allows us to denote a vampire theme. The songs writer (jim steinman) planned the video so that the lyrics and the visuals would be directly connected and it was very much intended.

Genre characteristics

The genre of "Total eclipse of the heart" is a slow rock/pop song. The ballad is about a dark love and it has a slow pace. However it made it to the top 40 in six different countries and it was the Tyler's first hit. Typical genre characteristics for rock would involve a performance from the artist and in the music video there are several clips in which tyler is performing in the private school, this is breaking up the linear narrative. Pop music is short for popular music therefore the genre characteristics vary. Because is it a dark ballad (within the pop genre) the characteristics are usually involving a dark location and with low lighting giving the music video a creepy dark effect. In "total eclipse of the heart" these genre characteristics have been applied. The music video is set in an old abandoned private school in America and the lighting is minimal. Mainly set by the lightening strikes outside and the dark chandeliers above. The low lighting helps emphasise the bright eyed characters that are sung about in the song. Most of the characters are wearing dark clothes as well; therefore the blend into the background. This once again helps the bright eyes be emphasised and stand out. We can connote that the bright eyes are a key and it is a typical convention in a love song to sing about the eyes. However tyler is singing about the bright eyes but hey are like supernatural bright eyes and don't fit the typical ballad genre characteristics.

Intertextuality 

There are aspects of a wilder culture that are in the music video. Tyler is singing about vampire love and this would be the intertextuality. Not only is Tyler singing about love; but she is singing about vampire love which is a dark love.

Performance or narrative 

In the beginning of the music video we see a wide shot of an old private school. The camera is zooming into a window in which Bonnie Tyler is in. The room in which the camera is zooming in on has light whereas all the other rooms are dark. This allows the audience to connote that there is something happening that is relevant in this particular room. We see a wide shot of Tyler with her head bowed down and she is not singing to the lyrics implying that this is a narrative video. There is then a male sining "turn around bright eyes" as if they are having a conversation and we can denote a man standing in the doorway when the male is singing, then the camera switches back to shots of Tyler when she sings. The video is telling a story. There is then a classroom full of biys in uniforms. This is a open non-linear narrative. We then see Tyler performing the song half way through the video. There is limited location variation. However because it was set in a school there is a wide variation of shots due to it being a large location within it's self. The audience see's several different classrooms within the school and we see halls and a large cathedral area in which tyler is performing. There isn't any movement surrounding tyler in her first performance, however later on in the music video we see tyler surrounded by vampire dancers, they are dramatically dancing and this creates a sense of drama and supernatural themes.  The audience can connote that this isn't real life and that  there is emphasise of the over exaggeration of movement to imply how much love effects someone.

Narrative

There is a non-linear narrative. From 0:00-0:50 we see Tyler by herself. Then by 0:51-2:58 there is the first fantasy the from 2:59-4:40. Finally we see the daytime until the end of the music video.  In the first section we see Tyler on her own in a room and she is singing "turn around, every now and then i get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round". The setting is romantic in which she is surrounded by candles and blowing curtains. There is then a shot of a full moon which allows the audience to connote a gothic feel to the music video.  We then denote a dove trying to fly into the building through a window. We can denote a struggle for the dove. The dove is a symbol of love and because there is a struggle we can connote that it represents the struggles of love. We then see a male student walking through the door with glowing eyes. There is then a cross dissolve of Tyler and the boy. This signifies that Tyler is getting wrapped up in the fantasy because she is desperate for love and she is lonely. The connection between he student and Tyler is emphasised by the lyrics 'turn around bright eyes'. The second fantasy kicks off by an open door with blowing curtains this matches the bass drop of the song. Tyler then leaves the lonely room and runs down some corridors. Tyler then looks through a door and a group of students look up at her and look at the audience which lets us connote that we are now apart of Tyler's fantasy. We are following her fantasy. We then see a small student who looks like a demon or a dark angel who then realises a doge from his hands. When she leaves the chamber she is free to explore her fantasies. She then walks into a room and there is a bright light shining behind her, denotes a sense of power and she becomes a silhouette. The light is a continuation of the original headlights and eyesight that penetrated her private chamber and let her imagination run further and further. One of Barthes codes is the semantic code that points to an element in a text that suggests a particular, often an additional meaning by the way of connotation which the story suggests. Therefore in "total eclipse of the heart" the school boys that have bright eyes re symbolising the fantasy that tyler is seeing and how there is such ting as a supernatural love and how there is a dark love.

Mode of address 

We see a group of student looking up at tyler as she walks past their classroom. The audience denote that the students with the glowing eyes are looking at tyler and registering that she is there, however the audience also feels like they are following her fantasy and living it themselves therefore the students look like they are braking the fourth wall and looking directly at the camera. There is a direct connection between the characters in the music video and tyler and the audience. Th audience is being made to feel as one with tyler and like they are living her fantasy.

Star treatment

Th singer (Tyler) is singled out through costume. She is wearing a long white dress that stands out in comparison to the rest of the characters in the music video. The rest of the characters are wearing school uniforms and they all look the same. Most of the other characters are of male gender therefore Tyler stands out in comparison. Thiis alows the audience to denote that Tyler is the main charcter and the song is about love and her type of love. We can denote ths because we are following her fantacy and tha she is the main character.  There are more shots of her than anything else in the music video. There are several tracking shots and panning shots of Tyler whereas for the rest of the characters there are single shots and most of them are medium shots therefore we cant denote detail. We can connote that they are not as important than Tyler. 

Representations 

The music video is representing dark love and vampire love. Tyler said that the music video was meant to represent dark love. The audience denotes the full moon and the full moon is associated with the supernatural. There is male gaze, due to Tyler being the main character in this music video she is wearing a long white dress which is seen as being formal and feminine. She is represented as being along and innocent. The colour white is representing purity enabling the audience to connote that she js pure. However there aren't any single shots of legs. She is not on the screen for sexual titillation but to sing the song and for us to live her fantasy.

Pace

The pace doesn't vary throughout the music video. The music pace stays the same throughout. We see that there are four sections to the music video (in which i stated earlier) in the beginning there is a slow pace in which Tyler is standing alone in a room singing about how she is alone. The we see her fantasies in which she leaves he room and runs around. The pace of her actions increases without the pace of the music increasing.  We continually get long takes of Tyler which are usually tracking shots of Tyler running through corridors or panning low shots of Tyler performing the song. We then see short takes of students and longer takes of Tyler letting the audience connote thaT this story is focused on Tyler and the students are in her fantasy and probably not real, however she is creating them in her mind because she is alone.

Shot variety 

There are several set ups within the same building. In the first scene we see Tyler alone with candles and blowing curtains. We then see her running through the corridors of this school and looking in classrooms. Then finally we see her in a larger room, which looks like a church room. This is where Tyler begins to sing and perform the song.  There are several types of shots throughout the music video. Te reoccurring shots are mainly tracking shots, panning shots, long shots, medium shots and a long medium shot in the beginning of the private school. There are no close shots in the video, this is letting the audience not see the detail of the films.  Tere is also a arc shot of Tyler when she is performing in the church of the school. This shot is usually used in music performance because it gives the singer or band member power. Especially if they are playing an instrument the audience is able to denote how they are playing and the emotions are put across. 

Mis-en-scene

There was one main location that was the private school. The video was shot in different sections of the private school. The lighting is dark, most of the rooms are lit by candles.  This connotes that the song is about dark love and when the audience sees the visuals and lyrics they can connote that it about dark love and how love isn't always what it is. The dark lighting is anchorage for the dark love and the vampire love that Tyler explained in interviews. The glowing eyes also allow the audience to denote vampirism. There is enigma all the through the song and the music video. We are u sure about why Tyler herself is singing about vampire love. The narrative is confusing and although it fits with the lyrics this doesn't explain why Tyler is creating these fantasies in her mind and sharing them with us. We don't get to understand why this is happening or the reason behind Tyler being at the private school in the first place. The only thing that comes clear to the audience is that Tyler is alone and therefore we are bale to infer from what we have seen that she is creating these fantasies and fake people to keep her company because she is alone. 

 Costume is key in this music video. It allows the audience to connote that there is difference between the other characters and Tyler herself. Tyler is wearing a white flowing gown and the other characters are wearing black or dark colours which blend into the background. We only really notice their eyes. They all look the same, this signifies that Tyler is special and we are following her story and her fantasy. 

Effects

There is a cross over fade of the bright eyed boy and Tyler i  the beginning. This gives the effect that they have a connection and that they have met before or something has brought them together. His two bright eyes are in her left eye, possibly representing that she was thinking or hoping for him or someone in particular to come for her and give her company. Now that he is there she has someone and there is hope. 

Take On Me - Analysis

Take On Me - AH-HA

1985 - AH-HA

Producer - Alan Tarney

MTV picked it up and it quick became a number one on October 19thof the same year.

Relationship between lyrics and visuals

At 00:36 the lyrics begin and we see a female character when the lyrics begin "We're talking away". However the female is sitting alone reading a comic in a coffee house. The animation we see in the first 00:36 seconds is the comic she is reading. When the chorus begins "take on me" the audience see's the females eyes meet the animations eyes and there is a shot reverse shot of the characters eyes meeting even though one of them is an animation. This allows the audience to connote that there is a connection between the animation and the female. She isn't just reading the average comic; it means something to her. The animation then comes out of the magazine towards the female. This is occurring whilst the chorus is continuing. The female protagonist then looks around the coffee shop and there is a medium shot of the people in the room. They aren't taking notice of what is happening; we can connote that the female is in her own world seeing this and she is intrigued by this comic. The lyrics are "take on me, I’ll be there". She then grabs the hand coming out of the comic quite literally. We then denote that she then gets taken into the comic by the man in the comic lifting her down. We can then also denote that he is holding her hand and leading her around the comic. We then denote there is a large doorway and the male character walks behind the picture frame. The comic animation of the male character then turns to a real life character; much like the female character in the beginning of the music video.

Genre characteristics

The genre of 'Take on me' is pop, chart. Pop genre is an abbreviation of 'popular music'. In the 1980's, when 'take on me' was released pop music was often crafted from films or rock music. Pop genre characteristics in the 80's were mainly rock. Therefore they could be pulled from films and the music videos, such as 'Wake me up before you go' (WHAM!) involve protagonists. 'Take on me' however doesn't involve a performance from AH-HA, unlike in 'Wake me up before you go' and 'eye of the tiger' music videos. Therefore 'Take on me' doesn't follow the typical conventions of a 1980's pop genre.  However there is some shots of the band performing the main singer isn't singing, we only denote the band playing the instruments in half cartoon and half realistic. 

Intertextuality

There is some intertextuality in 'Take on me'. The comic book theme shows some intertextuality. This shows a wider culture than just music. The art of comics and storytelling through animation is also shown. We see the drawings telling a story between a woman and a man who belongs in the cartoon. This could represent how a book or comic can bring you deep into the story line. In the end we see both the female and male protagonists coming out of the comic and ending up together. This allows us to connote that the whole time we are watching the non-linear animation and real life shots that they have been trying to end up together. She has fallen in love with a character in a comic and felt a connection. She is deep into the book. There is a sense of narrative enigma throughout because we are unaware as to why they are together and trying to be together the whole time. 

Performance

In this music video we see a narrative throughout, watching a male and female trying to be together and going into each other’s worlds. However at 2:02 we see AH-HA perform, playing the drums and the keyboard. This is a general convention for a pop song in the 80's. Often pop songs were rock therefore were mainly performance videos. 'Take on me' wasn't a rock song however they took notice of the characteristics and parts of the music video were performance. There is a heavier balance on the narrative of the music video. We can infer from this that the point to this music video is to focus on the narrative and the shots of the performance are short, usually lasting 0:03 seconds.

Performance style

The short clips of the performance from AH-HA were all in the same place in the two times we see them perform. They are in a white room with wall paper in the background. The clips are short and they are medium shots of the band members looking directly at the camera whilst playing the instruments. This is breaking the fourth wall. Denoting a break in the narrative. There is someone playing the keyboard and someone playing the drums. 

Narrative

Take on me has a linear narrative; it has a start, middle and an end. In the beginning we see a girl reading the comic about this man and then falling into the story. The middle is us following the story of both the girl and the boy together in the comic. Finally they end up together out of the comic. There is also a proairetic story line meaning that there is protagonist and an antagonist. This means that the narrative creates suspension through action. Todorov's theory can be applied here. We see a beginning of equilibrium; the girl is reading the magazine and drinking coffee like a normal person. This state of equilibrium is then disrupted by the event that she gets lifted into the comic by the artist in the comic. They are then chased and she gets out of the comic. The artist in the novel then also makes it out. We see fiction being restored after a state of nonfiction. 

Mode of address

The artist never looks directly at the camera. However the artist in the animation looks at a mirror then walks around the mirror, this mirror then becomes a window and through the window is the performance. We see the real life through the window. However the female protagonist then walks through the window and this is makes it look fourth dimensional in the animation. The audience doesn't build a relationship with the artists. But we are able to denote are the artists building a relationship together; we follow their story.

Representations

There are representations of the female being attached to the male in the comic. She is getting involved in the comic; this implies that she is interested in comics and that she has fallen for a nonfictional character. The male in the comic is represented as a typical male protagonist. He is found attractive by female by just reading about him. The female protagonist enjoys reading about him so much; that by the end of the music video we see her cry due to the fact she is out of the comic and is reading to the end to see if he dies. However the audience denotes that they end up together out of the comic. The two shots below represent where the tempo increases. The shot on the left is where the video starts and represents the speed and agility of the motorbike race. The second shot is where the tempo is at its highest; where the antagonist is chasing the protagonists. There is then the performance and we see the angry woman crumple up the comic and put it in the bin. This is when we see the antagonists enter the later scenes. There is a representation of love throughout the music video. It is clear that from the beginning of the music video the female protagonist has a crush on the male protagonist in the comic. She is reading the comic to find out specifically what happens to the male character. The shot in which he takes his hand is representing how much trust she has in the male character. There is then the shot in which the male protagonist is holding her and their eyes meet for the first time. When the female protagonist walks towards the window with the male protagonist is on the other side, it lets the audience connote that the male protagonist wants her to trust him. There is then a shot in which one of the antagonists grabs hold of the female protagonists and the male protagonist then punches the antagonist in the face; this lets the audience connote how he will do anything to protect her and earn her love. They continue and then end up getting trapped. He saves her representing his love for her. 

Pace

There are several shots that show the variety in pace. The shot below is when the pace and the tempo of the music are at its highest. This is when the protagonist is getting chased by the antagonists and there is a strong sense of narrative enigma. There are several long tracking shots of the protagonists being chased. This allows the audience to see what his happening clearly.

Shot variety

There are several shots throughout the duration of the music video. The Norwegian pop group were able to mix narrative and performance in the music video. There were mainly close ups and extreme close shots to emphasise the artists for promotional uses. There are also several panning shots and tracking shots of the artists to follow them and the story.

Effects

The transitions were usually jump cuts; this allowed the editors to switch between the narrative and the performance.

Mis-en-scene

Initially there is the location of a coffee house. The female protagonist is sitting reading the comic that the male protagonist is in. She then gets dragged into the comic and this is the location in which most of the music video occurs.

I'm yours analysis

I'm yours - Jason Mraz

Relationship between visuals and lyrics

The relationship between visuals and lyrics in 'I'm yours' are direct. The singer (Jason Mraz) also stars in the video. We can hear the lyrics implying that if you let go of your life a little to you will live a fuller and happier life; enabling you to see things which you wouldn't see if you don't free your mind. The song is about not questioning things and living life being spontaneous. For example a quote is 'I won't hesitate no more' and we can see within the first 40 seconds that Jason has left his house got on a plane and is now hitch hiking around a foreign country. We can denote that he is living his life differently now. We can then connote from putting the lyrics and video together that Jason in the video is living a new life and seeing the world. Jason is singing about how he has spent too much time trying to be perfect for other people and he wasn't truly happy. The lyrics at the end go 'open up your mind and you'll be free'. Jason is letting go and having fun in this video. No one is perfect.

Genre characteristics

The genre of 'I'm yours' is pop. Generally pop songs are about love and or heartbreak and they can be rather sad, however Jason has written a song about initially being in love and then moving into what he loves to do. It is a song about love; however it is a happy upbeat song. The camera shots are mainly wide shots of Jason’s surroundings and locations showing how his locations are changing and the people he is with are changing. The shots are mainly slow panning shots to give the audience a sense of where Jason is. We see Jason in the back of a pickup truck with the sunset in the background and it implies to the audience the feeling of a happy ever after. He is on his way to happiness. In the rest of the video he is experiencing happiness wherever he goes.

Narrative

There is a linear narrative in 'I'm yours'. We first see Jason in his house packing to go somewhere and in the first verse there is the line; 'I tried to be chill but you're so hot that i melted' implying that he is in love with someone and then the song progresses to lines that involve his love for the world. We see in the music his love for the world by him travelling around on his own and having a good time. He then comes back to the personal love in the first verse later on the song by quoting 'it's our god-forsaken right to be loved'. Bringing the personal love back to light; whilst the music video still progresses in the love for the world. Overall allowing the audience to connote that the song is a happy, upbeat song about love. The linear narrative is strong. The audience is able to see a clear connection between the beginning and the end of the music video. With the beginning being Jason leaving his home with a large bag; letting the audience connote he is going travelling. We then see Jason on a plane on his own (this is before the lyrics have begun). The lyrics begin and we see Jason standing at the side of the road hitch hiking and he gets a ride from two men. His journey begins and we see him travel through the world and making friends wherever he goes. The song ends with a montage of clips from the earlier adventures we saw in the music video and Jason is singing 'I'm yours'. The final clip is Jason sitting on his own on a small wooden boat and the sky is dark. The ending is implying a sense of serenity for Jason.

Performance style

There is lip syncing and a performance from Jason whilst he is on his journey. We see him lip syncing, then he begins to make friends with the locals and we denote Jason is having a discussion with them. There is quick shots in the beginning of the video showing Jason in is house and his fish tank. The fish tank implies that this has potentially been his inspiration for the rest of the video and it links to the rest of the video. The shots are quick and generally medium shots of his apartment and them him on the plane waiting to leave.

There is then a medium shot of Jason in the back of a pickup truck lip syncing the lyrics. There is no live performance in this music video due to it being pop; it isn't conventional for there to be a live performance.

Narrative

The narrative of 'I'm yours' is a linear open narrative. As the audience we can denote that we are following Jason on his journey around the world. However we cannot see an end to this journey. The last clip ends with him on a boat in a lake; therefore implying that he could stay there forever and never return home. Leaving the end to suggest that the world is offering never ending opportunities. I can apply the soviet montage theory to this video. There is metric montage in the beginning of the video. Where there are quick cutting shots which usually last from one second to three seconds; and it is irrelevant what is happening in the shots but they are being cut and put into a montage of events. This is letting the audience connote that nothing much is happening here at his apartment. Further on into the video i can also apply the soviet montage theory, (where editing is an important factor in the intended effect for the video). Later on the video there is tonal montage. This is when there is editing of the shots based on the emotional meaning in the shot. The lengths of the shots are varying. For example when we see Jason breaking the fourth wall and looking directly at the camera and singing these shots usually last three of more seconds, however when we are following him on his journey the shots can vary depending on whether it is a wide panning shot and then the audience can denote the location or if it is of him and his friends walking to the location. However either way the shots are short cut and fast pase. This helps with the upbeat theme of the lyrics and the beat. Overall there is a sense of over tonal montage in the video, combing the metric, tonal and rhythmic. Meaning that it is more complicated to watch. This applies to the video because the video is a fast paced linear montage of the events and his journey. The video 'I'm yours' is able to apply to the Todorov theory in which a video begins with a state of calm and equlibrium. Then as the video moves on we can denote and connote a sense of disequilibrium. Then followed by a renewed state of serenity. I'm yours follows this story line because we initially denote Jason in his apartment with nothing new happening. The audience can connote there is no sense of future there. We then denote a large change in Jason’s life; when he gets on a plane and begins his journey hitch hiking and making new friends. By the end of the video we can denote Jason on a boat in the evening time alone. This implies a sense of serenity and true happiness for Jason. He has found a new happiness after a big change in his life.

The entire video has a sense of enigma. As the audience we don't know why Jason has decided to leave his apartment and his belongings behind. He doesn't state why in the lyrics of why in the video. This applies to one of Barthes five codes. The Hermeneutic code (enigma code). This implies that at some point in the video something is not explained leaving the audience with a sense of mystery. We see this in the initial 20 seconds of the video; with Jason packing his bags and leaving. He is also singing about love at this point in time. Therefore providing the audience with even more enigma. He then (in the second verse) sings about his love for the world, showing a direct connection between the lyrics and the video. This helps the audience clear up the sense on enigma slightly. Because he is singing about his love for the world, letting the audience connote that is why he left.

Mode of address

The singer doesn't look directly at the camera until one of the final shots in which he looks then looks past the lenses, implying that the singer is aware of the camera being there. There are many direct close shots of Jason however he is swinging his head to the beat and purposefully not looking at the camera. We are building a personal relationship with the singer in the video because we are following his journey around the world however we do not have a direct connection because we can connote that the singer isn't paying attention to the camera therefore we are just following him.

Star treatment

There is star treatment in the video of the singer (Jason). Most of the shots include him and the camera giving us tracking shots of his journey. There are also a few panning shots of the location. We can infer that there is star treatment of the singer because most of the shots are on him and following him. When the shots do include the people he is surrounding himself with the shots generally are showing them in a good light; for example in the first shot of the man who Jason gets a lift with. The man is smiling and going Jason a lift to wherever. The man then appears later on in the music video. This has a direct connection with the lyrics of the song. About how he has a love for the world. Jason has left his apartment and he is meeting nice friendly people wherever he goes. Initially it was a personal love. But now he has decided to leave he has found that there are nice people everywhere. Even though there is slight star treatment in the matter that this is the singer’s journey and we see him and his journey. We also see other characters and they are all on the same level of happiness. The audience can denote that Jason isn't implying that he is above them in any way. Everyone is equal in the video.

Representations

The representations in the music video 'I'm yours' are that there are nice people wherever you go. The audience can denote that the singer and the other characters are all the same on some level. He is making friends wherever he goes suggesting that you can make friends wherever you go. The rest of the characters in the music video are being represented as being kind and nice. The singer is joining in with activities that he never would've done if he hadn't gone on this adventure.

Pace

The music video has a fast pace and is an upbeat pop song. We can denote the fast cutaway montage of Jason on his adventure. The montage of shots generally are a mixture of panning, tracking, close and medium close shots of Jason and the location he is in. Each clip lasts around 2-4 seconds. Apart from the very last shot of Jason sitting on the boat and this shot lasts around 6 seconds, slowing down the pace. Throughout the video there are short takes of the location and of Jason. There are minimal long take. The only long take is at the end. This lets the audience see the whole of Jason’s adventure in the time frame of a music video. The short takes and fast paced montage of clips lets the audience connote that his adventure was fast paced and there was never a dull moment. Because it is an upbeat song and fast paced. Some of the shots are also in slow motion or get faded into being blurred by the end. This gives the effect that what was happening in the shot was relaxing and gives a sense of serenity. Allowing the audience to be inspired and make them want to go travelling and let go. The editing of the video is quite harsh. Between the clips there aren’t any transition shots but because it is fast pace, it works well and you want to keep watching to see where Jason goes next. The pace doesn't change throughout the music video. There is a constant pace that is fast.

Shot variety

There is a lot of shot variety in 'I’m yours'. The first shot we see is an establishing shot of an aeroplane which allows the audience to connote that the song is about traveling and a journey is going to take place. This shot took place in an airport; which is location one in the music video. We then see Jason on the aeroplane and then an establishing shot of the ground below from the perspective of the aeroplane. The second location was in Jason's apartment. The colours are white and bland. Implying that his life at home is bland and boring and he has taken inspiration from his fish tank to travel. The fish tank is the only bright colourful thing in his room. We then see a sign saying 33 MPH. There are several locations in the music video. I would say that there were about 11 different locations in which filming took place; involving a plane, two cars, skate park, his apartment, waterfall, forest and a lake. The shots are fast paced and flick through these shots in a non-linear narrative however overall the video has a linear narrative due to the fact that we see the beginning of his journey and then we see him arrive at his destination whilst seeing his journey to get to his destination.

Effects

The visible effects are mainly the colouring and filters on the images being shot. In the second shot of Jason riding in the back of the pic-up truck the audience can see the corners of the screen are faded. This gives the effect of a dream and a warm atmosphere.

Mis-en-scene

The location of the video is important in 'I'm yours'. The song is about finding you and living life and learning to let go. The location is showing how he is travelling around the world and meeting new people. We can denote mountains in the background and we can denote a waterfall in which they are jumping into and walking around in forests. These locations all are what the audience can understand as being the typical dream holiday. Most members of Jason's audience are early to late teens who dream about going on adventures and he is showing these locations in a positive light. The location clears up the enigma that is; Jason is singing about letting go, however the audience may think how you let go. Therefore the visuals show that he is travelling from location to location.

There aren't many props suggesting that Jason is travelling with little and still having a good time. The audience can infer that you don't need much to be happy. Jason left his home with one bag.

Stan - Analysis

STAN - EMINEM

Relationship between visuals and lyrics 
The relationship between visuals and lyrics have a direct connection. The character of Stan is miming the lyrics, the lyrics that Stan sings are the words that he is writing to Eminem and how Eminem has read his letters. Half way through the song it changes to Eminem in a his tour bus and he is rapping the words of his replies to his fans. The lyrics are connected with Eminem rapping along to them in the setting of the video.
Genre characteristics
The genre of the video is 'horrocore'; a mix of hip-hop and based on a  horror theme, hardcore rap. We can denote this form the music video through the dark lighting and the semantic field of the lightening and thunder and rain throughout he windows of the house. The setting below in the still image is a medium shot of Stan's 'work' area in the basement. We can see in the window that it's raining and the scene is poorly lit with one light in the corner and no natural light.

Intertextuality 

The wider reference in the music video is Eminem's fan mail and the scene in which he surrounds himself. Stan is about multiple fans and their fan mail that Eminem has received over the years. It is a dark story about how many fans are getting too obsessed with him and that they can  go too far.

Narrative

There is a non-linear narrative in Stan. From the beginning there is the progress of how Stan becomes overly obsessed about Eminem and how he is becoming more like Stan. It goes from Stan changing his hair in the mirror to bleach blonde like Eminem's hair at the time. 

The next progressive scene that enabled the audience to connote what was  happening was when Stan was looking in the full length mirror and not seeing himself but seeing Eminem, he already connects himself with Eminem on another level. It is a behind the shoulder shot of Stan and we can see the reflection of Eminem, which is from the perspective of Stan as a character. There are also images of Eminem in the corner of the mirror, connoting that there is more of Eminem in Stan than Stan himself. Stan is slowly loosing his own personality.

The  non-linear narrative continues to which him and his wife are asleep in their bed and she decides to adventure into his shrine to Eminem in the basement. Here she finds the picture of Eminem taped over her in a picture of the them. She is horrified and then he comes down and is angry, connoting that she isn't allowed in  the basement, the shrine is for him and Eminem to bond.

This shot is from her perspective we are seeing what she is seeing. The shot then changes to a lower shot and we can see her reaction to the image; meanwhile we see Stan coming behind her and we know that something bad is about to happen because Stan isn't mentally stable. 

We then see Stan driving in the car and he is shouting into a recorder but still speaking to Stan, as the audience we can connote  that this is a heated situation and Stan is loosing control of the car, which could represent him loosing control of his thoughts and the obsessing over Eminem and not getting anything back has driven him to insanity. 

As the audience we again see an over the shoulder shot of the view that Stan can see, all he can see is the reflection of himself and Eminem still hanging down looking at him. The windscreen is blurred with rain representing that Stan's vision is blurred and that he can't see what is happening right in front of him. During this we hear his pregnant girlfriend in the car screaming, we are unaware of where she is. However by the final scene of the car going of the bridge the audience can connote that she has been forced int he back of the car and both have now died.
The shots then move to Eminem after the car had run off the bridge, he is reading all of Stands letters and replying to them. We also get cutaways of Eminem throughout the music video of receiving Stan's letters and replying, showing that it takes time and energy. The purpose of the music video is to show Eminem's fans that he isn't ignoring them, it just takes time. Because there is flashbacks and cutaways of Eminem whilst Stan is writing the letters this means that the music video doesn't have a linear narrative but it has a non linear narrative due to the fact we are unaware id Eminem is receiving the letters during of after Stan has driven off the bridge. By the end Eminem says how he heard about a guy to drove off a bridge with his pregnant wife in the car; then Eminem realises that it was Stan who the article was about. Showing that Eminem was trading and writing these letters too late.

The final scene that we see is Eminem being an actor, playing himself in his tour bus, we then see stan in the window as the lightening strikes. The pothook fallacy of the scenes throughout is important. the weather plays a role of the mood of the video being dark and a tense situation.
Mode of address 
There isn't a direct mode of address through the video due to the fact that Eminem and Stan are actors and they are playing a role. Eminem is playing himself however he is playing the life of a famous singer and how replying to fans takes time. We know that he is acting because this video is based on several stories that Eminem has been involved in with fans not just just one.
When Eminem get dragged away by the bouncers and shows that he attempted to see Stan and Stan's nephew Eminem is portraying the life of a famous musician is difficult and that fans have to be patient with him.
 There are references to the character of Stan looking in the mirror which helps the audience connect with him through the eye contact. Initially we see Stan look in the mirror after dying his hair from the perspective of the mirror, Then we see Stan with an over the shoulder shot looking in the mirror, this gives the audience a stronger more powerful look at Stan. There is a sense of direct connection between Stan and Eminem through Stan's point of view. When Stan looks in the full mirror and doesn't see his reflection but sees Eminem thats when as the the audience we can connote his is loosing the sense of real life and the aspirational lifestyle; that is being with Eminem as one.
Star treatment 
We see Eminem on posters surrounding Stan's desk and surrounding him initially. This is connoting that because his face is on posters that he is famous and that people know him and are willing to pay money to have his face on their wall. He has fans. Whereas when showing Eminem the video portrays him as trying to connect with he fans but getting dragged away,which can make the audience feel sorry for Eminem trying to meet fans but it isn't his choice. We also see cut aways if Eminem sitting at a mid shot in his tour bus on his own. Connoting that he feel lonely and has no one around him even though he has fans begging to meet him he feels alone. The video is portraying that even though Eminem is famous and Stan wasn't they lyrics and the, music video are connecting them on a another level. they are more similar even thought they live different lifestyles.
Audience in the video
there are representations of the audience in the music video 'Stan'. Stan and his nephew are in a crowd of girls repressing that girls are Eminems target audience. By being surrounded by girls Stan stands out in the crowd. The video shows that Eminem wants physical contact with his fans however he gets dragged back and isn't allowed to meet them even though they were 'waiting out side in the blistering cold'.

We also denote that Eminem and Stan have met before at a book opening, but Eminem doesn't remember because he says 'make me not wanna meet you' whilst there is a flashback of Eminem hugging Stan at a book opening. the image is blurred connoting that it is a flashback of the two of them meeting with Stan's nephew.

Representations 
The visuals of the video are mainly focused around Stan who is seemly in his 20's. However the lyrics of the song are about Eminem and the stories of his fans and how it effects him in the big picutre. We denote a man who looks up to Eminem and his lyrics, Stan has an understanding with Eminem and what he has been through. As the audience we can connote this through the lyrics (that Eminem is singing but Stan is lip syncing), 'my dad was just like yours' and 'people like us'. The audience can already within the first few minutes connote that Stan is loosing himself to Eminem and becoming too involved.
Male gaze
Throughout the video there is minimal views of the woman in the story, however we understand that Stan is married and he is verbally abusive relationship. This is a typical convention of a dark music video, with the man being in power. He ends up putting her in the boot of the car and driving off the brindge denoting that he had the power in the relationship even though he had little self contorl over his own thoughts and ations. Stand wife wasn't shown in a sexual way, she was wearing baggy clothing and was pregnant suggesting that their relatioship didn't have much substance or happienss to it. Both Stan and his wife were unappy and unloving towards eachother. Stan was more in love with the idea of Eminem than his wife and baby.
Pace
Throughout the video there is the beat in which Eminem is rapping and the pace is faster anf the shots usually last around 10 seconds, thi is medium pace for a music video. However the beat changes when the 'wife' beings to mime the singing part of the song. Here the shots are longer and slower, letting the audience take a break form the fast pace tense scenes of the rapping. The audience connotes from the slower pace that it brings back to the reality that the music video is a sad dark song. Because of the different pace in the rapping and then the singing it shows a variation in the pace and the different sides to the story. Each time the woman voice enters the pace slows down and we generally see a woman figure in the shot, whether it's Stans wife or his sister with his nephew at his grave after they have driven off the bridge. This helps the audience connote that it is a woman singer and it brings it all together in the reality of the situation.
Shot variety
In the first scene there is an over the shoulder shot of Stan looking at himslef in the mirror and smiling when he has bleached his hair to look more like Eminem. This helps the audience get a sense of his reaction to what he has just done. He is happy witht eh result. The shot then pans down a floor in the house, this is breaking the 180 degree rule in that the camera is going in-between floors. We then see a wide shot of Stan going into his shrine of Eminem and there are panning shots of his desk surrounded by posters of Eminem and letters all over his desk. There is then a short depth of field shot of a letter with Stan (blurred) in the background walking towards the desk. The letter was addressed to Eminem. The short depth of field enables the audience to denote the letter and that Stan is continuously writing letters to Eminem. So far the video has been a linear narrative, However there is then a cut away shot of Emiem in his tour bus recieving fan mail, suggesting that Stan's letters are in there. It then goes back to Stan, therefore making the video a non linear music video; due to the editing of the cutaways and the flashbacks of Stan and Eminem meeting, at his concerts and when Eminem is reading and writing back to Stan. However we know by the end that this is after Stan had driven off the bridge.
 There is a lot of mid shots throughout the video, when filming Eminem; this allows the audience to see Emimens facial expressions but not get too close, this could be a representation of how his fans feel. Close enough to see him but not close enough to know what is really going on. This wasn't enough for Stan and he wanted to get even closer. There are fade in and outs between each camera angle change when filming Stan, this gives the effect that time is passing quickly and that everything is fast pace even though his thoughts may be slow like the lyrics.
Each time the woman begins to sing there is a flashback to before Stan is writing all the letters. The flashbacks ahppen in chronological order. Therefore the audience are able to connote waht led up to Stan loosing sense of reality. There is a lot of variation in the number of different shots.
Mise-en-scene
The mise-en-scene stays the same throughout the whole linear video; however in the flashbacks although the mise-en-scene is silmilar it isn't as powerful and overwhemling. For example in Stan's house there is thunder and lightening throughout the first scene, and then when there is a cutout scene with Eminem in the tour bus it is still raining and dark outside suggesting that Eminem is reading and replying to Stans letters the same night that he looses the plot. Where as in the flashbacks of waiting in the cold and at Eminem's concert the lighting is slightly blurred to signify and make it clear that it is a falshback for Stan and possibly Eminem. However in the basement where the shrine is, there is one light in which is lighting up the whole room (which is by his desk). This suggests the most imporatnt part of the room and the house is this corner in which all the Eminem posters and where he writes all his letters.
The lightening also lightens up the side of his face on the occasion giving the shadow to the otherside of his face, denoting a slight creepiness and tense situation. It is naturally lit apart from the small oil light in the corner symbolising the fact that Stan may not have a lot of money. The light is lighting up Eminem rather that Stan. Showing a stronger focus on Eminem himslef rather than Stan. Which again represents how Eminems life is more important and valuable to Stan that his own.
Notable shots
There were many notable shots involved in the video. The shots in which Stan is looking in the mirror and the reflection in Eminem is clever in which it signifies and connotes to the audience clearly that Stan is loosing his personality and values Eminem more than his own life and his wife and child. I also noticed the shot in which Stan appears in the window of Eminems tourbus as the lightening strikes at the end, connoting that he will haunt Eminem for a long time and Eminem won't forget about Stan and his story.