2. STARBOY-THE WEEKND
• Starboy is a song by American artist “The Weeknd”. The genre is a mix of Hip hop and R&B. The video is a hybrid
of both performance and concept based music videos. The video starts of like a typical Hollywood thriller. We see
shots of a huge house in Los Angeles.
• We see two people sitting at the dinner table through a long shot and things take a twist as the person on the
other side of the table suffocates and kills the weeknd(artist). Things take another unexpected twist when the
killer is revealed to be the weeknd supporting a fresh new look. His hair cut and his clothes more pop star like
(black leather jacket). This is hinting at the star reconstructing his image. This is where Richard Dyer’s star theory
comes into play. The Weeknd was previously very popular for his signature hairstyle which he has now cut off. The
star is rebranding himself and promoting a new image of himself. The low camera angle and close ups are showing
him to be powerful while also promoting his image. The mise en scene symbolizes power and wealth. He is also
seen wearing a cross around his neck and later he uses a larger illuminated cross to destroy his old self’s house.
This symbolizes Rebirth.
3. STARBOY
• There is an element of mystery and darkness throughout the video. The lyrics talk about
artists wealth (cars especially). However the visuals are contradicting the lyrics as in the video
the artist continues to destroy all his material possessions. He is trying to show that he is
above all these possessions however the lyrics state that wealth is the only thing that
matters. At the end of the music video he is seen leaving in a lavish car with an exotic animal.
This connotes that he is leaving his old life behind.
• Sven E Carlson’s theory of performer as an electronic Shaman can be applied here because
he is projected as someone who has mythical powers, a cryptic aura and him having a God
complex.
