Beyoncé's music video "Hold Up" uses visual and audio techniques to tell the story of a woman leaving an abusive relationship. The video opens with Beyoncé underwater, representing feeling overwhelmed by her partner's mistreatment. She is then shown praying in a tilted shot, emphasizing her unstable mental state from the relationship. When Beyoncé walks through a set of doors, the editing, camerawork, lighting, and music all shift dramatically to signify her leaving the relationship and entering a happier phase.

1. Beyoncé- Hold Up
Textual analysis

2. Camera;
The opening to this video
includes Beyoncé jumping into
water. The use of a mid-shot
allows the audience to see the
impact it has when she jumps
in, highlighting the location of
where the video is set.
Sound;
The only sound at the beginning of
the video is the sound effect of
something hitting the water and air
bubbles floating up, this
exaggerates Beyonce falling in,
making us question what is going to
happen.
Editing;
At the beginning of the clip, there
are many fast cuts, almost like a
montage, with the clip where
Beyonce lands in the water, I feel
the fast pace exaggerates how
slow the part where she is
underwater, actually is.
Mis-en-scene;
In the introduction, the only
indication we get is that its
underwater and Beyonce is
wearing dark clothes. This setting
is almost a symbol for drowning
under with pressures of the
feelings she has.

3. Camera;
The use of a tilted shot shows
Beyonce looking almost dead,
this matches the prayer like
sound on screen as the prayer
says things like ‘ I swallowed a
sword, I levitated’ emphasising a
death like state, the tilted shot
shows the abnormality of this
Sound;
At this point of the video, Beyonce
seems to be chanting a prayer,
expressing how her partner mistreats
her, with words that symbolise the
meaning. For example, ‘I swallowed a
sword’ emphasising the extent she
went to, to make him happy.
Editing;
Throughout all of the beginning there
are many fast cuts, these cuts
contradict the beat as its very slow.
Mis-en-scene;
The low key lighting is
used in order to create
a mysterious
atmosphere and to
build up suspense.

4. Editing;
Once Beyonce walks through
the doors, there are many
slow cuts, which contradicts
the tempo of the song as it
begins to pick up the beat.
Camera;
The long shot allows the
audience to see Beyonce
walking out of the doors. This
could suggest she is walking
out of the bad relationship
with her partner and the
doors are a symbol for the
barrier she had.
Sound;
When Beyonce walks through
the door, the tempo
automatically picks up, becoming
much happier, this juxtaposes
the video at the beginning, with
the slow tempo and dark
features.
Mis-en-scene;
Beyonce goes from wearing dark
clothes to bright yellow, this could
suggest how happy she is to have
left her partner. Additionally,
once Beyonce walks through
these doors, the lighting becomes
much brighter, with the cars in
the background, and the people
around the area wearing bright
clothes.