Textual analysis of ed sheeran’s castle on the hill
1. T E X T U A L
A N A LY S I S O F E D
S H E E R A N ’ S
C A S T L E O N T H E
H I L L
BY K A M I L A G L O M S K A
2. WHY I CHOSE THIS MUSIC VIDEO TO
ANALYSE.
• I chose Ed Sheeran’s Castle on the Hill music video to analyse, because it uses
convention of things that I want to incorporate into my music video. This is how they
use flashbacks to when he was younger and how the lyrics are illustrated in the music
video. This is therefore why I chose to analyse this music video more, so that it can
inspire some new ideas for me to use in my music video. This music video is both
narrative and performance which is also something that I would like top do with my
music video.
3. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Location: field, countryside, ruins of a castle, pub, bus stop, club, race track, these
places are usually associated with what teenagers would do and the places they go
which suggests that Ed Sheeran is trying to capture that in the way his presented in
music video. Also by the character being in a playground could suggest how he is
even remembering back to the early years of his childhood and how he misses it.
4. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Iconography: pool table, beers in cans, cigarettes, beers, car. All these iconography
suggests that they are normal teenagers as teenagers drink beer and smoke, and by
using it in the music video it suggests that Ed Sheeran had a normal childhood that
similar of a normal teenager.
5. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Costume: the clothes that they wear in the music video are normal comfortable
clothes which is what teenagers would be associated with wearing, this therefore
means that the music video shows that Ed Sheeran was just like every other teenager.
Lighting: The lightning was bright when he was remembering happy memories and
when he was remembering sad memories the lighting was low key.
6. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Acting code: By the characters drinking beer and smoking it shows that they are
being normal teenagers and it shows that they’re happy by them laughing.
7. MISE-EN-SCENE
• Positioning: The character that plays Ed Sheeran is usually at the front of the group or
is in a clear shot to show the audience that he is meant to represent the young Ed
Sheeran.
8. CAMERAWORK
Extreme-close up
• This is used to emphasise an object or a person’s facial expression. In this music video it is used
to illustrate them drinking alcohol as the can is shown.
Close up
• A close up is usually used to show a persons facial expression. In this music video it is used to
show all the faces of the people starring in it to show all the friends.
9. CAMERAWORK
Mid-shot
• A mid is used to show the positioning of the artist or character. In this music video it is used
to show the way the characters are positioned.
Long shot
• This is used to show movement and to show you what the artists personality is like by how
they dress and what their image is.
10. CAMERAWORK
Extreme-long shot
• This is used to show the location of the music video, this usually sets the mood
depending on where it is.
High angle
• This makes the artist/ character seem less powerful and weaker.
11. CAMERAWORK
Low angle
• This makes the artist/ character in the music
video seem more powerful that another
character.
Point of view
• This causes the audience to have empathy
towards the artist/character in the music video.
12. CAMERAWORK
Over the shoulder
• This also allows the audience to relate to the character and feel like they are in the
music video with them.
13. STEREOTYPE
• In this music video Ed Sheeran is portrayed as being a bad stereotype because he is
showed as drinking alcohol as a teenager and smoking cigarettes, this therefore makes
the audience think that he is being portrayed negatively.
