1. Music videoanalysis using SvenCarlsson’s theory
Cher – Believe (1998)
Commercial exhibitionist
- Dancing andperforming.The cameraisfocusedonChershowingshe isconfidentatwhat
she isdoingand she iscomfortable inthe environmentthatshe isin.
- She iscreatinga newimage asthisas was a ‘come back’ videoaftershe haddone acting.She
isputtingherimage across showingwhoshe isinthe musicvideo
- There isa lotof close upand mediumshotsof Chershowingthatshe maybe 40 butshe is
still prettyandbeautiful.She hasa lotof confidence whichcomesacrossinthe video.
Televisedbard
- Cheris inand out of the musicvideo.She appearssometimeswiththe girl andboyhowever
sometimesshe isn’tthere showingthatshe isguidingorhelpingone of them.She islooking
overthem.(she isa part of the narrative)
- She issingingandperformingsothe spotlightisonhermost of the time so that she can get
herstar image across
Electronicshaman
- In andout of the story. She appearssometimeswiththe girl andboyhoweversometimes
she isn’tthere showingthatshe isguidingorhelpingone of them.She islookingoverthem.
(she isa part of the narrative)
- At the endof the videowhenthe girl isaboutto commitsuicide Cherappearslikeaguardian
angel andstops heractinglike the girlsstrengthshowingherthatshe doesn’tneedhimto
be able to live.She alsoswapsplaceswiththe girl whothenwalksbackdownstairsand
leaveswithherfriend.
- At the beginningof the musicvideoCher’sface islitupwithwhite lightsmakingherlook
mythical andmysteriousyetheavenlyatthe same time.
- WhenCheris on the rooftopshe isglowing
- Changesshape andappearance throughoutthe musicvideo
