2. Introduction
• In this research task, I will be looking at how artists from
the genre I have chosen (house/dance) represent
themselves through conventions and signifiers such as
mise en scene, camerawork, editing and sound. I will also
look at how this also relates to similar theories based
around representation. I will be looking at Dillon Francis,
Charli XCX and Katy Perry and will be linking these to the
Male Gaze theory which suggests women are objectified
through media to be observed by women, the Hyper
Reality theory which suggests that media portrays events
or people beyond real that people begin to believe that it
is correct and the Media Legitimates Inequality theory
which suggests that media has the ability to make
something that would be considered causing inequality
legitimate.
3. Dillon Francis – Get Low
Props – cash, throwing it around to exaggerate wealth of artist to
create the representation of importance and high authority
Camera – low angle, makes artist look bigger
and creates the representation of respect
Women dancers,
exposed clothing
creates a
representation of
appeal to the
artist by making it
seem as though he
attracts the
women around
him.
Props – huge
speakers used to
create the idea
that they are
loud, suggesting
delinquent
behaviour to
create the idea
that the artist is
considered a
rebel.
4. Dillon Francis – Get Low
Editing : Title has been placed showing the artists name. This
creates the idea that the artist is highly important as his name
is centred over the whole shot, giving the effect that he is the
main focus in this video.
It could also be argued that the use of a woman’s bum has been used to
show Dillon’s sex appeal. The artist may have done this to improve his
personal image or recognition.
5. Dillon Francis
• From the music video I have analysed, I have seen
the use of hyper reality being used. For example,
the exaggerated wealth, the exaggerated amount
of women surrounding him and the behaviour
displayed, which could easily make audiences
believe that the artist actually lives like that. This
piece of media has been presented like this to
create the representation that Dillon Francis is
powerful and ‘does what he wants’ due to his
appeal from women and his high amount of
wealth.
6. Charli XCX – Break The Rules
Camera – low angle, makes artist look bigger
and creates the representation of respect
The artist here
is quite
exposed due
to her outfit,
this creates
the
representation
that she is
sexy and is
meant to
appeal to a
male audience
by using her
body.
7. Charli XCX – Break The Rules
• In the scenes
during the bus
ride, there are
many exposed
girls dancing
around her,
suggesting that
she is the lead
female in this
particular music
video, which
creates the idea
that she is the
most glamorous
and again by using
the male gaze,
creates the same
representation.
8. Charli XCX
• From the video I analysed, I have found that it is
common for Charli XCX to use the male gaze in
her music videos, the theory that suggests that
women are objectified in media to create visual
pleasure for men, by flaunting her body and the
bodies of other women. This creates the
representation of sex appeal and glamour in the
current music industry. She does this to appeal to
her audiences, for example, giving men
something to look at, as the theory suggests and
women something to wish to be.
9. Katy Perry – Dark Horse
Mise en scene – shows the woman to be placed higher up and the men are
working to be her servants, which contradicts typical music videos in this genre.
Camera – low angle, makes artist look bigger
and creates the representation of respect,
power and authority.
Mise en scene
– golden
throne,
expensive set
etc. Shows the
wealth of the
artist, creates
the
representation
of importance
and high
wealth.
10. Katy Perry – Dark Horse
The camera movement in
this scene emphasises Katy
Perry’s importance as she is
displayed in the middle,
showing that she is the
centre of attention in this
shot. I thin k she has used
this to create an image for
herself of being important
and well respected to gain
fans in return.
11. Katy Perry
• From the video I analysed of Katy Perry, I have
found that she challenged the Dyer theory that
media creates inequalities as she proves that she
is the most powerful in the situation which is
unusual in a music video, especially in the period
it is set in, it would be conventional for a man to
be the pharaoh and to have women servants, but
Katy Perry reverses this stereotype to create the
image that women are just as powerful and
changes the perspective in the genre.
12. Conclusion
• To conclude, I have found that in this genre, artist tend to represent
themselves as powerful, successful and glamorous. I have found
that women are used to create this effect a lot of the time, for
example, Charli XCX used extra women to dance around her to give
the effect that she was the centre of attention, making her look
powerful and glamorous, so she could be respected and appeal to
her audience. However, I did find that in some parts of the genre,
they like to question the theory of inequality by making women
more powerful than men, for example, Katy Perry’s video showed
men to be her servants and that she was worshiped by them. This
created the effect of her female status being encouraged.
• I have learned to use some conventions in my music video, for
example, I would like to feature the low angle shot on multiple
occasions as it has been featured in every music video I analysed.
However, I would like to use the idea that Katy did and challenge
the inequality theory and not create a male gaze.
