1. Sigma ft Paloma Faith – Changing
ThroughoutSigmaand PalomaFaithsmusicvideorepresentationof womenisevidentwithinthe
mise enscene.The musicvideoisheavilymale dominatedeventhoughPaloma,the leadsingeris
the mainprotagonist. Twoshotsof the artistsfromSigma are used,these show the male characters
walkingthroughthe Americanstreets.Longshotsof Palomaare usedinthe scenesinwhichthe
musicvideoisperformance.Wearingboldcolours,limitedclothingandjewelleryPalomastandsout
fromthe male characterwho are all dressedindarkercolours,makinghermore prominent.
Thisalsoportrays the differencewithinclassandethnicity.Palomaissee drivingthrough asuburban
area withinAmerica. The male are all of a differentethnicitytoPaloma,mostlyBlackAmerican.
These charactersare all dressedinsimple clothingsuchasplain T-shirtsandshorts.Thiscontrasts
withPalomawhoiswearingexpensivelooking jewellery andmakeup,linkingto stereotypes of the
popmusic genre.
Suburbanareasin Americaare oftenstereotypedtobe violent,poorandcontainlotsof crime.These
stereotypescome mostlyfromfilmsandvideogames,suchasGrand TheftAuto.These negative
representationsare deconstructedwithinthe mise enscene.Althoughthe charactersare dressedin
poor lookingclothes,theyare still seeninthe videolaughing,smilingandhavingfun.The graffiti in
the videoisalsoportrayedinan artisticway,rather thanvandalism.Withinthe shotof Paloma satin
the car a large piece of graffiti isseeninthe background, the coloursof the car and graffiti
purposelycomplimenteachother.Thisisdone tomake the audience realisethe stereotypesof the
area are nottrue.
2. Long and extreme longshotsare usedtoshow the setting.Shotsof palmtrees,Americanflagsand
skylinesof Americamake clearthatthe settingisa suburbanarea inAmerica.Shoeshangingfrom
telephonewiresoftenlinktocrime andviolence,the opposite of thisisportrayedwithinthe music
video.The contrastwiththe trainersandhighkeylightingmakesthe audience ignore the
stereotypes,ignoringthe negativerepresentation. Scenicshotsemphasise the settingof the video,
emphasisingthatthe area isn’tactuallyrough,violentorpoor.
Representationof classisalsoshownthroughmise enscene.The style of car isoftenlinkedtorough
areas andcommonlystereotypedtobe a man’scar. This contrastswhen Paloma’s shinypurplecar
drivesthroughthe poorareas of America,contrastinginclass.But thisalsogoesagainstthe
stereotypesof the carbeinga man’scar. The boldpurple coloursmake the car standout fromthe
greybuildings.
I feel the musicvideoisshotandeditedjusttomake the characters seemasthoughtheyare
enjoyingthemselves.Itismade clearthat the characters are havingfunthroughtheirfacial
expressionsandactivities they’re doing.A groupof youthsare seenridingbikesdownthe street,this
showsthat withinthe suburbanareayouthshave freedom.Suggestingthattheyare able tobe freee
and enjoy themselves.Throughout the whole videorepresentationof class,gender,ethnicityand
age isused.There are no negative representationsused,whichemphasisesthe funandlively
soundtrackplayedoverthe top.The videoisshotinboth a narrative and performance style.
Althoughthe narrative isfragmented,itisstill made clear.The narrative followsPalomathroughthe
streetsof suburbanAmerica.
