Flo Rida's music video for "Whistle" features scantily clad women dancing sexually and Flo Rida rapping topless and muscled on the beach. Split screens and slow motion are used to exaggerate attractive poses. Close ups highlight seductive facial expressions. The natural high key lighting and expensive props portray a wealthy lifestyle. Both the narrative and performances synchronize with the provocative lyrics to promote Flo Rida's image.
ENGLISH 7_Q4_LESSON 2_ Employing a Variety of Strategies for Effective Interp...
Flo Rida's Whistle Video Sexually Objectifies Females
1. Flo Rida - Whistle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSnkWzZ7ZAA
Flo Rida’s song ‘whistle’ is his Latest single as of 2012.
2. Costume and Sexualisation
Throughout the music video, females are shown in a very sexual way. We
know this by what they’re wearing and by facial expressions, movements and
gestures. This image shows how female characters in the video are
represented in this way.
3. Costume and Sexualisation
The only male in the video which is the artist, is also seen in a very sexual way. He is
topless and muscly which is what aims this music video possibly at female teens. He is
wearing a very blingy necklace and sunglasses too which connotes he is wealthy. This
also meets the conventions of Hip Hop being wealthy and liking to show off.
Flo Rida being the only male in the video also links into the song because he’s singing
to get a girl to ‘blow his whistle’.
4. Editing:
Split Screen
A split screen shows how there is so much going on at one
time so it’s all shown at once.
This could also show how he has more than one woman.
As he is compositioned to be the centre of attention.
5. The editing is slow paced throughout. This was to
exaggerate what’s happening and shows the
attractiveness of the females.
There is an impact on the pace of editing as the
guys dive off the cliff in slow motion, as they land in
the water the pace all of a sudden gets faster.
As there are some fade outs and ins throughout,
the use of transitions too signifies the exaggeration
of some erotic gestures and movements.
6. Location
The location of this song challenges the conventions of a hip hop
video because usually hip hop videos are filmed in rural or urban
locations, not the beach.
The party scenes work well with the beach scenes too because
without them the video could become very repetitive and boring
to watch.
Other than just the beach, there is a few scenes at a club. This
connotes the busy lifestyle of the artist and how much he’s
enjoying life. This location meets the conventions of the Hip Hop
genre too as that’s usually a place where they’re filmed.
7. Camera
Many different camera shots are used in this
music video.
Close ups are used to show the expression on
each characters face. These expressions linking
with the song because the looks may been seen
as seductive.
8. Camera
Close ups and extreme close ups are also used on things
like phones and expensive objects which illustrates that
the artist has money which my be seen as attractive and
makes him look very wealthy! This meets the conventions
of a hip hop genre.
There are a few establishing shots throughout of the
beach and the club, to help the audience to know where
the video is set and creates an atmosphere.
Throughout the video mid shots are used on Flo Rida to
establish what he is wearing and the gestures he makes
to signify his personality.
9. Lighting
Throughout the video, the lighting is generally
high key and natural.
This gives the song an instant summery vibe.
This image shows the natural high key lighting
which is the same throughout the video.
10. Narrative, performance or based?
This music video is both narrative and
performance based. We know this because the
songs lyrics fit the narrative and stays in sync
throughout. This is useful because if it didn’t
stay In sync then the miming may lag behind.
It’s also performance based because of the story
that the females tell by acting flirtatious in the
background.
11. Featuring artist
This music video does include the artist, Flo
Rida. He is shown in a very provocative way. This
suits the song as the lyrics are also very
provocative.
I think that the music video promotes the artist
successfully because he is shown in a way that
makes us think everybody loves him.
12. Props
The props used throughout the videos are all
things that are expensive and what you’d expect
a hip hop video to include. These are things such
as mobile phones and other expensive bling.
This again, connotes that the artist is wealthy.
13. body language& gestures.
The body language from all the girl characters
throughout the music video, are very
provocative and erotic.
The artists gestures show that he has some swag
and also signifies how he does think greatly
about himself.
These gestures are all conventions of hip hop.