Language and Communication
All information from this section, referring to the original music video is backed up on https://www.popbuzz.com/music/artists/little-mix/nicki-minaj-woman-like-me-video-meaning/
The girls being in the back of the van suggests that they are being detained, or punished. This is suggested as the girls are sat on boxes, the van is dingey and the windows are small. The leotards and fishnet tights are things the girls have previously been criticised on, therefore suggesting that they are being punished for being themselves.
The scenery here (of a library) suggests that this scene is taught as practice as people learn through books. The books on their head and their posture is a direct reference to etiquette classes which women used to have to partake in to be a respected lady.
The pavement is made to look like a ruler, this is to show that “a woman’s worth can’t be measured” as women in the past were only seen worthy enough to be a housewife and a mother.
The scales here suggests equality between genders. This is because men aren’t criticized for what they wear like women are. Nor are they criticized for the way they act. Women are frowned upon if we do not use the correct manners, for example if we swear, but men can say or do most things without people giving a second glance.
The setting is a period mansion, it suggests a grand profile for the residents. Here Perrie is doing the ironing, but ends up burning the fabric with the iron. She gets frustrated that she has damaged the item of clothing, therefore pushes the ironing board over! This scene is meant to represent that women should not have to fulfill housewife stereotypes.
Form and Meaning (based on a Hitchcock film)
I think Hitchcock used lack of sound to make it more realistic. You can hear her turning the tap, and stepping in the bath, as well as hearing the patter of the water hitting the bottom of the shower. It draws the audience into the scene as you begin to expect that there is going to be some form of scare. It creates an , very heavy, erry kind of atmosphere.
I think that Hitchcock made the scene seem as though it is difficult for the woman to hear by using the patter of water to show that she is completely oblivious to the danger that awaits her! I think that it’s also meant to indicate that she is an innocent woman.
Nakedness indicates vulnerability. You are most vulnerable when you have no clothes on because when you’re dressed, you are always covering up and somewhat “hiding” away which implies safety. When you are exposed you’re more likely to end up being available to dangers.
The facial expressions on the woman’s face in the shower, lowers the audience into a false sense of security. It also makes the audience question whether it is normal to be that calm or happy in the shower, therefore you expect something will go wrong.
Narrative
Narrative is about making sense out of chaos. Our brains naturally crave narrative to make sense of things which is where narrative helps us.
Levi-Strauss believed that in narrative, this is an essential ingredient for conflict. Examples of this is Rich/Poor, North/South, Black/White, Up/Down, Slow/Fast etc.
Binary Oppositions is the system by which language and thought, two theoretical opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_opposition)
An example of a music video that uses narrative theories and storytelling is the DNA music video by Little Mix. Below I will insert some examples of the storytelling that the music video uses, alongside a brief description of what is happening within the scene.
In this scene, Perrie is kidnapping a man called Ryan (the name Ryan appears numerous times in the video), who the girls have been stalking.
In this scene, Jade is standing on a building ledge spying on Ryan which the girls have been stalking.
In this scene, Jesy is trying to escape and distract the police in order for the kidnapping to take place.
In this scene, Leigh-Anne is the main stalker, she has created a board, tracking where Ryan has been, who he’s been with, when he went to these places etc.
In this scene, the girls have successfully managed to kidnap Ryan and have him tied up on a chair as they walk towards him.
Semiotics
In this image, we can interpret the imagery as being cute, girly and fun! For example, the kitten can be used as a signifier for cuteness, being sweet, innocence and girliness. From the hairstyle, we can see that the video is based around the 1950s/60s; we can also see jewellery in a woman’s hands which may suggest beauty pride and romance. On the other hand, these signifiers could suggest less positive things. The kitten could represent cattiness, being rude and shadiness. We could also view the jewellery as representing a woman being a gold digger, or as being an uppity individual. Either way, the imagery represents the lyrics as women can be both nice, or obnoxious.
In this image, we can interpret the imagery as being romantic because of the red lips. The lips as well as the style of the phone indicates once again that it is set in the 1950s/60s. The phone and mouths’ connotations may suggest speaking up! The lyrics shown also backs this up. We could also interpret these images, alongside the lyrics as representing a woman being gobby, spiteful and argumentative, as if she doesn’t stop talking.
In this image, we can understand that it is about relationships and romance from the couple kissing on their doorstep. The mise-en-scene suggests that the image/video clip was taken in the 1950s/60s due to the clothing which the couple is wearing; The windows to their home also suggest this as they are wooden and painted green, whereas nowadays our windows are mainly white and made from PVC. The border is also creating the illusion of an old tv screen, suggesting it is set in the past. The lyrics however, in contrast with the imagery may suggest that a relationship could’ve turned sour. It could also suggest that the woman has made mistakes in her past however her partner still accepts her.
In my example, we can understand that the scene is scene is set in the past. We can see that it is a happy video, due to facial expressions and the colours used for the background and text as the colours are bright. I thought the lyrics are backed up well with this imagery because to most children, their mothers are their mothers are their biggest role models/inspiration.
Values and Purpose
Values within the Woman Like Me music video by Little Mix is about empowering women to be themselves, they believe in confidence and not surrendering to old fashioned views on women and their rights. My music video for Wasabi by Little Mix is also about women’s confidence, and not letting negative comments get to you. The purpose of the Woman Like Me lyric video is to aid people with the lyrics whilst they’re trying to learn the song. Different pictures within the video, such as the clip of women on a boat from around the 1950s/60s which could be there to represent that women are stronger when we’re together. The purpose of my piece (lyric video) is to also teach people the lyrics, my pictures also have purpose, such as the woman from the 1950s/60s in a bikini is there to represent body confidence.
I will use Language and Communication of the lyrics to pick out the best pictures possible for each line of the song. For example “Wake up, Change your mind and drop me” will be shown through images suck as a wide eyed woman, and an alarm clock. I will also highlight the word “drop” by using a falling effect for the transition of that line. I will also be influenced by some of the Semiotics (used in the Woman Like Me video) such as the mouths and the phone as it clearly suggests being talkative, the red lips also give an indication as to which era the video is based in. I also want to use the rose/ flowers as it suggests ‘femininity’ which is good for a female anthem.
Cultural and Ethical perspectives
Call the Midwife shows what England/Britain used to be like in the 1960s. It shows how fathers were not allowed to be at the births of their children. It also shows how different life was and still is for nuns, as opposed to a person who wasn’t a nun. It highlights the high levels of homophobia as it was illegal in this era. It also highlights the racism of this era such as how black people had to work harder to gain respect. In Call the Midwife, this was shown when the new black midwife arrived at Nanatas House. It also shows the difference in the way class were tret and the way wealth affected them. It is a good example of how the UK has moved on in the past 60 years. Freedom is now a right we take for granted, not something we always wished we had.
Social perspectives (shaping and representing society)
I looked at Sheridan Smith for social perspectives, I looked at her life as she is a well known actress who acts out others lives. Sheridan looks at things she did in her past (especially with her parents) as being “cool,” whereas she used to think of it as being uncool and embarrassing. As she’s grown older, she has realised that she is most happiest at in her hometown of Epworth, Lincolnshire. She has always adored her family, and friends and is very grateful for her upbringing. In ‘Sheridan Smith- Coming Home’, an ITV and Black Label documentary on her life, Produced by Steven Cappin and Directed by Tim Pope, Sheridan talks about how she likes to play other people because it gives her something else to look at, and a way of escaping her life for a while, rather than looking at her own life as if she’s “looking in a mirror.” Sheridan also mentioned about always believing “the show must go on” no matter how difficult things get, as she doesn’t want to let people down. The documentary was filmed in London, Middlesex and Lincolnshire.
Professional contexts (workplaces, organisations and careers)
Music video producers manage the operations of of making music videos, from pre- to post-production. They not only work with budgets, but also creatively work alongside the director and artists. Info from https://study.com/music_video_producer_career.html On average, video producers earn £10.18 an hour, £26,876 in a year. Info from www.payscale.com/research/UK/Job=Video_Producer/Salary
My video is linked to culture due to it being related to the 50s/60s. My video doesn’t have a lot of references to culture or ethics as the lyrics didn’t relate to either of them. The closest relation to ethics is that the pictures which includes people, are all or nearly all female (baby’s gender is unknown), this was to represent female rights, empowerment and confidence, which back in the 50s/60s was low as they were mostly housewives, and mothers. My video somewhat links to social perspectives as specific images relate to what they would’ve seen, for example the baby and mother, as the baby would see their mother as being their inspiration.
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