The music video for Madonna's song "Hung Up" draws from the conventions of 1970s disco and dance genres. It features dance routines, colorful lighting, and a range of camera shots. Madonna is depicted alone in a dance studio at first, dancing seductively in pink leotard. Later she joins others dancing in a disco, signifying her moving on from a past relationship. The video utilizes the "male gaze" through sexualized camera shots of Madonna's body. It also contrasts Madonna's initial isolation with her eventual incorporation into a dancing community.

1. Madonna- Hung up by Johan
Renck

2. Madonna’s track Hung up was stimulated by the
1970s disco era, thus her music video displays
the conventions of a disco/dance genre:
• Dance routines and largely performance
based but can have some narrative.
• Male gaze or female gaze. (Laura Mulvey
theory)
• Bright lighting and very colourful scenes.
• Range in camera shots.

3. • At the start, the viewer observes Madonna switching on the lights
of the dance studio. Bright lights flicker on and this kind of lighting
is certainly typical for the dance/disco genre. Subsequently, she
begins to dance in the isolated studio in solitude, wearing a pink
leotard with high stilettos. The mise en scene here is significant in
female representation; it represents Madonna as being feminine,
as well as sexualising her, making her look seductive which
promotes her star image. Her outfit also resembles fashion in the
1970s.
• The choreography of the music video too resembles the moves in
the 1970s, films such as ‘Saturday night fever’ display this. The
radio also flickers with various colourful lights, which adds to the
light-hearted tone of the track, the viewer gets a sense that
although Madonna is getting over a guy; she is trying not to let that
get in the way of her mood.

4. CAMERA
• There are various different shots of the artist,
from long shots to close ups, giving the video
its music video quality and makes it more
exciting. There are also different angles; the
low angles in the video represent Madonna as
being influential and important, exerting a
kind of power over the audience.

5. GENERAL
• There are cuts between Madonna dancing in the studio to the actors dancing and
free running in the outside world. Outside it is sunny and seemingly there is a
whole community of people dancing together, thus the cut back to Madonna in
the studio is important as the two different locations are juxtaposed in a way
which highlights Madonna’s isolation.
• Here, the viewer might then conclude that Madonna is secluded as so although
she claims to be ‘hung up’ on this guy and ready to move on, she may not be as
strong as she suggests. The music video then takes a drastic turn and we see a
progression in Madonna’s character, slowly reaching to this independence that
she claims to have shortly after she says ‘I’m done/ I am hanging up on you’. She
leaves the studio with a change in attire, wearing a tight leather jacket with jeans,
walking directly towards the camera, conveying her confidence. It is also typical
for the main star to change costume in music videos, especially in pop, dance and
disco genres.
• There are also various quick shots capturing all parts of Madonna’s body, which
supports the male gaze theory by Laura Mulvey. The camera does in fact put us as
the viewer into the perspective of a heterosexual man.

6. Examples of male gaze
The front view, back view and side view of
Madonna gives a feel as though a male
spectator is watching her. Especially the low
angle in the top left corner only shows her
body which sexualizes and objectifies her,
supporting the male gaze theory by Laura
Mulvey.

7. • There is then yet another change in location, which is common in
many music videos. She now meets the rest of the people in what
appears to be a disco with red lights and glowing white circles
prancing around the room and a strobe light (flashing lights),
giving a disco vibe. The music slows down at this moment so
simultaneously the cameras also goes onto slow motion, which
conveys the dance moves more clearly. It also captures and
dramatizes the intense moment, where Madonna has seemingly
moved on for she is getting close to another guy. When the beat
quickens again to its fast tempo, it is also reflected in the music
video, for we see a return to normal motion and Madonna dancing
amongst a large crowd, fulfilling each and every moment. Unlike
the beginning, she is now dancing within the community, which
shows how she is not alone in this process. All the dancers at this
point begin doing the same choreography as Madonna. The fact
that the viewer witnesses the actors in the video dancing and
feeling the beat in encourages them to also get up and dance.
Therefore, the choreography in this disco genre is important in
promoting the artist and the song as such songs would be played
in discos or in clubs.

8. Theme
• Reoccurring theme of time being wasted.
• Shown through mise-en-scene. There is a road
sign saying ‘SLOW’. We then see a cut to a
man working in the restaurant looking at the
clock, suggesting that he is wasting his time.