2. Industry Information &
Narrative Theory
* Alicia Keys is an American solo R&B female singer.
* Her music genres are R&B, soul, neo-soul and Hip Hop.
* Her single ‘Teenage Love Affair’ from her album As I Am, was released in March
31, 2008 and the video in April 23, 2008.
* The structure of the music video is composed by a narrative theory playing a linear
story from beginning until the end. It starts by the protagonists having a phone
conversation, which switches backwards and forwards from scenes and conversations.
The middle of the narrative plays the events that happened between the protagonists
in chronological order. It includes a series of real time events by the use of writing and
dates in the video. It also utilises flashbacks of previous past events throughout the
video to remember the audience of what happened. A performance section of the
video also occurs when the protagonist performs to an audience as part of the
narrative of the video.
3. Real time narrative
The time of narrative is set by the use of time writing. It portrays a sense of real time and story
telling.
4. Genres Conventions
The genre of her song is R&B, neo-soul and soul and her video meets a variety of conventions
that are stereotyped and used in these genres.
Right at the beginning you have
the retro television which
associates with the soul music
genre and feel of the era. It
also sets the time of the story.
5. Stereotypical boy’s
room, influenced by
American culture and
values. This is called
Americanisation.
The basketball poster, the
basketball signed shirt
and the fan banner
portrays a love for sport
which stereotypically
associates with boys’
interests.
Again, the retro radio gives
a feel of the soul era as
well being associated with
the urban culture and
music.
The urban art associates with the
raw talent of R&B artists and their
creative side.
6. The old style microphone, really
The ‘get together’ in groups, associates with associates with soul and jazz
the R&B, urban socialization of the people artists. Gives a feel of the era and
with one another and what they call ‘homies’. their mellow style of music.
Gold jewellery is really
stereotypically
associated with the R&B
fashion commonly used
by girls.
7. Can't wait to get home I wrote your name in my book
Baby dial your number You last name my first
Can you pick up the phone I'm your Mrs.
'cause I wanna holla?
Daydreaming about you all day [Chorus]
In school can't concentrate
Want have your voice in my ear Hey boy
'Til ma comes and says it's too late You know I really like being with you right?
Just hanging out with you is fun
[Chorus:]
'cause the lights are on outside So maybe we can go to first base
Wish there was somewhere to hide Because I feel you
'cause I just don't want to say goodbye Second base
'cause you are my baby baby
Nothing really matters
I don't really care
Want you to feel me too
Third base
Better pump the breaks
Lyrics
What nobody tell me
I'm gonna be here
It's a matter of extreme importance
Well baby slow down
I gotta go home now &
My first teenage love affair
Another secret meeting
[Chorus]
My baby baby
Visuals
On the 5th floor stair case Nothing really matters
I'm gonna give you this letter I don't really care
Of all the things I can't say What nobody tell me
Want you to be my first, my last, my ending and beginning I'm gonna be here
It's a matter of extreme importance
My first teenage love affair
8. ‘Jus’ talkin’
on the
phone with
you’
“Can you pick up the phone
'cause I wanna holla?”
It links with the shot presented and it matches with what they’re doing as they’re
chatting on the phone.
“Nothing really matters
I don't really care”
The shot links with the lyrics as she
shows a confident and determined
attitude towards anything. She
portrays these feelings by dancing
and having a laugh with her
girlfriends.
9. “Another secret meeting
On the 5th floor stair case”
This shot links with the lyrics as the low angle
shot, heightens the staircase portraying they’re on
‘the 5th floor’. The contrast of light coming through
the window and the dark at the bottom, gives a feel
of secrecy to the scene which portrays their secret
meeting in the picture.
“I'm gonna give you this letter”
As she sings this verse, she performs the
action of handing a note/letter to the boy
she’s meeting with. Actions and the lyrics
match with one another at the same
timing.
10. “I wrote your name in my book”
She motions the screenshot
above, demonstrating writing his name in
her book. Again the lyrics and visuals of the
video link with each other in correct timing.
This therefore makes the narrative run
smoothly and easy for the viewers to
understand the story.
11. Camera Work
(editing, angles, transitions)
A vertical panning shot was used for
the opening scene of the video to
establish the opening setting of the
video.
A fairly medium shot was used to fit all
the building in the video frame as well
a slightly low angle shot to make the
building look taller and bigger.
12. The use of still animation/cartoon
catches the viewers attention. It changes
A close up shot of the written message allows
the narrative to a cartoon, fun
the viewer to be in the male protagonist
narrative, making it stand out from the
shoes and read the message too.
rest.
This shot shows a four camera shot because it
has four people in the frame shot. The use of
chiaroscuro lighting in the image portrays a
mysteriousness and silhouette outline of the
four girls. This is done by the back lights
producing deep, distinct shadows/silhouettes.
Rim lighting is also used where the sources of
lighting are aimed at a low angle at the girls and
these hide behind the girls, forming deep
contrast of light.
13. The use of lenses focus of the camera
makes the male protagonist the main
subject of the shot. Rule of thirds is also
applied where the subject is placed in the
horizontal right side axis making him the
focus on the shot.
A two shot is used in this image. Their eye level
makes a direct angle which shows they’re closeness
and love for each other.
14. The use of editing in the end scene is really effective on the narrative. A use of a circle motion
closing editing transition is used to close up the scene. It gradually closes in into the subject, into
a black screen. This transits to the following scene, where the circle gradually opens the scene.
15. Representation
In the music video, females
are portrayed positively.
They’re represented as fun,
outgoing and full of life. This is
reflected through the dancing,
laughter and interactions with
others.
16. Females are also represented as
glamorous and sophisticated. This is
shown by the use of clothes she
wears. The full gown dress and
jewellery make her look classy and
elegant, emphasizing a woman’s
beauty.
17. Girls are represented as
being the centre of
attention, which could be
suggested as being negative.
In this shot, she confidently
flashes her coat open and reveals
a silky mini dress. This shows
women being flirtatious as well
as confident, making her stand
out from the crowd with no fear.
She walks through the middle of the
dance floor; again confident showing
a positive self esteem about herself.
18. Through the letter, girls are seen as being romantic
through the symbolic language in this note. It
suggests and shows the kind, loving side of females
showing her caring personality.
19. In this shot, men are represented as
being leaders and fighting for serious
causes. This shows men as determined
and being the voice of the people and
community. He shows this as he wears
the hat and talks in a horn speaker to
amplify his voice to the public.
The badges on his coat also
shows his leadership roles.
This representation breaks stereotypical representations of male protagonists and characters in R&B
videos, as being ‘hustlers’ and ‘players’. The positive representation in this video, shows men as being
responsible and mature and concerned with welfare issues.
20. Boys are being represented as fun as they’re
dancing and showing off a little bit for the girls. It
is not a negative representation, as they’re
having fun and acting boyish as they should.
Representation of boys in this shot is positive as
they play cards and chat over boy’s matters and
topics.
Males in this video are portrayed as
being stereotypical boys and having
boyish behaviour and hobbies.
21. In this shot, the male protagonist is being represented as
being a gentleman as he kisses the girls’ hand. This is a
positive representation as it shows boys being polite and
respectable to girls.
22. Ideas I want to take for my video
From analysing this video, it gave me ideas to put in my video. I like the use of editing and lighting
used in this video as it gave distinct shots and high contrast between light and dark areas. Also the
use of two shots and close up shots, were well executed which I would like to use in my video for
the scene of the girl and boy in the basketball court, showing their relationship with each other.
Also the use of stereotypical boys and girls bedrooms’ is something I’m going to include in my
video. This is going to be when the girl is in her bedroom; her room needs to look stereotypically
girly. This is going to be done by girly colours and girly objects such as teddies, photos, pillows, etc.
Also the narrative structure is very well
constructed, showing the order of events and developing
the story through them. It’s something I’d like to also use
in my video as it helps the audience to understand the
narrative.
Synching some scenes of the protagonist singing the lyrics
of the song is also going to be included to break the
narrative a little bit as well to show the audience the
protagonist’s relation to the song and its meaning.
