The music video features many conventions of pop music videos. It represents the female gender as desirable objects for men and promotes an idealized standard of beauty. Throughout the video, there is a clear narrative of a forbidden love story that can be analyzed using Todorov's narrative theory of disruption and repair of equilibrium, though applied in reverse order. The cinematography uses techniques like panning shots, close ups, and tracking shots to engage the audience and focus on the artist.
1. B Y : K L A U D I A G I L
Ariana Grande Music Video
Analysis
2. Representation
There are many pop promo features that are within the video and fulfil the 'norms' that a pop
promo is expected to have such as shown in this Ariana Grande Music Video:
o The video opens up straight away with the title of the song making it known to it’s audience’s that
the video will promote the song. However, the name of the artist doesn’t appear due to the fact that
we can assume that she has already created a brand around herself as well as establishing herself
well. Her face can be used as a promotion of the pop music promo – she shows her positive face to
the audience to make herself be liked and in a way that predominantly the female gender can relate
to her, she sexualises her persona with the minimalistic and tight costume she is wearing. She has
been placed as an ‘sexualised object’ - sexualised and objectified. Ariana is represented
stereotypically by being, young, slim, conforming to the media’s vision of ‘ideal beauty’ - perfect
hair, make-up, skin, the way she gesticulates herself – idealising her. This conforms the idea of ‘the
glamorous ideal’ where woman themselves believe that, that is what beauty looks like and if you
don’t go along with these beliefs you don’t and aren’t conforming as to what is expected of them to
be. It represents the female gender to be something that is desirable by the man and something the
woman want to become. Therefore, it creates a ‘stereotype legitimize inequality’ because
stereotyping of threating personal identity
between the artist and the female audience genre
can confine to be part of what we see as being a
convention of this particular genre. The audience
watch something that they would expect to occur in
the music video for example boy meets girl. The
song opens up and she begins to sing - there is a
close up of her giving her recognition to the
audience of who she is and what she wants to
present herself to be seen as. (image 1)
3. Representation
There are many pop promo features that are within the video and fulfil the 'norms' that a pop
promo is expected to have such as shown in this Ariana Grande Music Video:
o It represents the female gender to be something that is desirable by the man and something
the woman want to become creating personal identity between the artist and the female
audience. Therefore, it creates a ‘stereotype legitimize inequality’ because stereotyping of the
genre can potentially become a convention of this particular genre. The audience watch
something that they would expect to occur in the music video for example boy meets girl. The
song opens up and she begins to sing - there is a close up of her giving her recognition to the
audience of who she is and what she wants to present with herself. (image 1)
You can say the music video is
characteristic of Ariana Grande’s ‘style’
because the overall her music video’s have
the same feel, the pink filter effect (image
1)– for example the song is effective and
the editing of the video goes to the beat of
the visuals, when the music video opens,
the transition's are flashing and changing
alongside the beat of the music. (image 2)
4. Narrative All throughout the video there is a clear narrative structure that shows and tells the story exactly. At the
beginning you might think that is a love story, but end up being a forbidden love story, you can tell this through the
facial expression of the characters. When they are together they are ‘happy’ and once they get separated form each other
and can’t be together they are ‘sad’.
This can be done through the Todorov’s theory: however, I think that this theory has been applied but
in a reversed order…
1. New equilibrium - The forbidden couple are together and ‘living their life’, the desert is
connoted to be a place where no one goes there, and you have the freedom and open space, it shows
that this is the place that the couple can be alone and together by themselves because there is n ne
who is watching them. (this goes on for most of the video) (image 1)
5. Narrative All throughout the video there is a clear narrative structure that shows and tells the story exactly. At the
beginning you might think that is a love story, but end up being a forbidden love story, you can tell this through the
facial expression of the characters. When they are together they are ‘happy’ and once they get separated form each other
and can’t be together they are ‘sad’.
This can be done through the Todorov’s theory: however, I think that this theory has been applied but
in a reversed order…
2. An attempt to repair the damage – The love interest runs after the protagonist to ‘save her’,
his non-verbal communication show a concern for her – showing is worried and wanted to help her.
Considering the position of the camera when he is in the main focus of the scenes showing to be very
masculine and someone the artist can rely on to help her. (image 2)
6. Narrative All throughout the video there is a clear narrative structure that shows and tells the story exactly. At the
beginning you might think that is a love story, but end up being a forbidden love story, you can tell this through the
facial expression of the characters. When they are together they are ‘happy’ and once they get separated form each other
and can’t be together they are ‘sad’.
This can be done through the Todorov’s theory: however, I think that this theory has been applied but
in a reversed order…
3. Recognition of the Disruption – There are flashbacks of the ‘reality’ and what is could be like,
this is like a realisation part that the protagonist (the female) doesn’t have to be treated the way she
currently is by her partner but she can be happy and adventurous with the love interest. (image 3)
7. Narrative All throughout the video there is a clear narrative structure that shows and tells the story exactly. At the
beginning you might think that is a love story, but end up being a forbidden love story, you can tell this through the
facial expression of the characters. When they are together they are ‘happy’ and once they get separated form each other
and can’t be together they are ‘sad’.
This can be done through the Todorov’s theory: however, I think that this theory has been applied but
in a reversed order…
4. Disruption of the equilibrium – The main female role (the artist) is sitting on her own while
her partner is having ‘fun’, she is only needed when her partner needs to ‘appear’, objectifying her to
be an ‘icon’ that the antagonist want people to aspire to be like – having the fame, the money and a
‘perfect’ partner by his side. (image 4) the camera positions her in the centre of the screen o capture
her emotions as well as show.
8. Narrative All throughout the video there is a clear narrative structure that shows and tells the story exactly. At the
beginning you might think that is a love story, but end up being a forbidden love story, you can tell this through the
facial expression of the characters. When they are together they are ‘happy’ and once they get separated form each other
and can’t be together they are ‘sad’.
This can be done through the Todorov’s theory: however, I think that this theory has been applied but
in a reversed order…
5. Equilibrium – The protagonist is like a ‘puppet’ attached to what seems to be her partner, it
shows him to be a stereotypical man, being the one that is in charge of the relationship and him having
more power compared to the female (main artist) It shows the relationship t be patriarchal which
doesn’t challenge the readers views to show a more modern type of relationship. (image 5)
10. Narrative Themes
o “Violation: The antagonist disturbs the peace, poses a threat.
Can be a real or perceived danger.” – the artist’s partner (at the
ball) seems to be quite controlling of ‘the artist’, shows he has
‘power’ and dominates over the girl. (image 1)
11. Narrative Themes
o “Villainy and Lack: The antagonist threatens or harms
someone important to the hero, or something else which
affects others is suddenly missing.” – the ‘hero’ comes to the
rescue when the protagonist goes missing and he goes to find
her. (image 2)
12. Narrative Themes
o “Victory: Our hero beats the bad guy, but his victory may only
be temporary and actually strengthen the antagonist.” – it
seems that there is a ‘cliff hanger’ at the end therefore making
us unsure which male the protagonist ends up being with,
considering that the re is a plot twist and the narrative goes
back works. (image 3)
13. Narrative Themes
o “Acknowledgement: The hero is seen in a new light and his
heroism is recognized by everyone else.” – with the plot twist
the acknowledgement happens at the end with the narrative
flowing in reverse of the music video. (image 4)
14. Ideology
o Ideology in this music video is about getting something that ‘you can’t get’. There is a
forbidden love that the protagonist wants to achieve, she seems to be too weak to be
able to get away from her partner and therefore stays with him. In pop music overall,
the ‘aim’/’ideology’ most times is about love since this sells well, so this music video
like many others uses ‘love’ as a foundation to the music video and the song lyrics.
o Generally, the ‘prettier’ the characters the better the music will sell, the characters in
the video including the artist are wearing fashionable clothes and are shown to be on
‘trendy’.
o Ideologies such as a typical heterosexual relationship are in this music video are
fulfilled like – holding hands, being together, being adventurous. Overall, having a
high exposure with the theme of love.
o However, each individual can see these texts differently depending on their age,
gender, sex, ethnicity (reception theory), there are 3 readings that audiences that can
take from this: preferred reading – which is also agreeing with the producers ideas
and messages, which is the idea that I’m suggesting. Negotiated reading – audiences
with some of the messages but maybe not all ideas in film and lastly oppositional
reading, when we totally disagree with the narrative ideologies. And optional reading
here the audience decide on how they would like to read and interpret the media text.
15. Cinematography
o There are a lot of fast pace moving imagery beginning with the introduction.
Cinematography in this video, is slow moving with a lot of panning, (image
1) there are close ups/medium shots imagery where the camera is slowly
panning with camera tilted (image 2), it’s effective because it shows and
established the setting very well. The positioning of this camera leads to
female gaze being fulfilled trough the focus of the camera.
16. Cinematography
o There are a couple time-lapses (image 3) of the sky which are effective for
the video to express passing of time with the pink filter. There are also many
tracking shots (image 4) which imitate the characters running which is
effective because it targets passive audience and gets them engaged and
makes them feel like they are in the video. There is great focus on having the
artist centrally positioned so that all the attention is put on them, with high
key lighting.
17. Mise-en-scene
Setting – the setting of this video varies between two main settings at the desert
and at the club, which is effective because it reflects on different lifestyles that
audiences can relate to as well as the many faces that the artist can undertake. The
desert creates a dramatic effect which is commonly used in pop music videos as well
as the luxury of a club. (image 1 & 2)
Lighting - high key lighting with a colour filter on top, effective because it sets a
feel/scene that wouldn’t be possible with natural light.
Make-up – typically of the genre there is heavy makeup, a significant look that she
is associated with, she has established a typical ‘brand’ image of herself (image 3)
Costumes – outfits are revealing and show a lot of skin, fashionable clothing that is
trendy and reflects on the popular music, against the genre of music.
Props – the main prop for the video is a motorbike that creates a significant image
and creates a highlight for the video. It leads the audience through the video, that is
clearly presented through a long shot that shows the scene and helps establish the
scene and setting of travelling. (image 4)
19. Editing
There are many pop promo features that are within the video and fulfil the 'norms' that a pop
promo is expected to have such as shown in this Ariana Grande Music Video:
o Ariana’s video has fast paste editing with a pink filter, which is a nice ‘girly’ colour that is
nice and delicate, feminine and cute that connotes love, that later changes into a cold ice
blue colour. This blue brings sadness and loneliness for many – that changes the mood and
feel of the video. (image 1 & 2) Once the music video opens the editing goes in the beat of the
music with the flashing delicate transitions into other scenes, beginning with a nice
introduction to the scenes. Low angle shots that are in slow motion, emphasising on the
wind being blown through Ariana’s hair, are adequate I then identifying of the role of the
main artist showing their confidence. There is a nice contrast between the close ups,
medium shots, time lapses and long shots combing everything together into one piece.
20. Editing
o The artist is constantly performing all throughout the video with single scenes of
herself on the desert as well as scenes with her co-star, the actor that also plays a
main role alongside her, before it switches to a more crowded place in the
ballroom. The ideology is clear and relevant expressing emotions and showing
well how the lyrics, music and visuals come together very well. Editing is done
well, especially through the filter put among the video creating a specific feel and
atmosphere, I think there is a very creative way where the time lapse is used and
created, using the same colour theme (image 3) and creatively, once there is a
problem the transition scene changing from a cloud time lapse into ‘lightening’.
(image 4)
