Culture Club's "Karma Chameleon" music video from 1983 uses a linear narrative structure set in 1870s Mississippi. The protagonist's flamboyant style with dyed hair, makeup, and accessories represents the new wave and punk genres of the time. While the video portrays some racial diversity and female empowerment early on, it later objectifies and sexualizes women as exposed party dancers. The representation of masculinity in the video incorporates traditionally feminine characteristics for the new wave style of the era.

1. Culture Club –
Karma Chameleon

2. Industry Information &
Narrative Theory
• Culture Club is a British pop band and it’s composed by four members Boy George (lead
vocals), Mikey Craig (bass guitar), Roy Hay (guitar and keyboards) and Jon Moss (drums and
percussion).
• Their genre are British New Wave and American soul with Jamaican reggae and also other
styles such as calypso, salsa or country.
• Their song ‘Karma Chameleon’ was released on September, 5 1983 and the video on 1983.
• The narrative structure of the video is persistently linear, illustrating the beginning, middle and
end of the story. The narrative is set in a periodic time, as it’s set in 1870’s Mississippi. The
narrative runs smoothly, cutting from one scene to the other. This creates an action code,
driving the audience in anticipating what is going to happen after an action’s resolutions.

3. Genre Conventions
The British New Wave genre is often described to be used quirky and eccentric music. These
would also be catchy and pop art songs, incorporating clear melodious chorus and hooks.
• In Culture Club’s song ‘Karma Chameleon’ a great amount of racial diversity is shown, as
there’s black and white groups of people grouped together, showing the importance of the
arts and styling.
• A link made with New Wave genre and Culture Club’s video is in tha era, hair was dyed red,
gold and green, which the protagonist of the video repeatedly sings and shows in his
hairstyle.
• Pop Punk also has its conventions which links in with the video. The protagonists’ flamboyant
style and hairstyle, convey to the audience his genre of music. This is because he wears
eyeliner and lipstick. These are often associated with the punk look ,as well as his clothing
and accessorising, as he wears fingerless gloves.
• The bright, high contrast colours such as red and purple but also dark colour such as black
and dark blue also associate with the pop punk genre.

4. Is there loving in your eyes all the way. I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know
If I listened to your lies would you say how to sell (to sell) a contradiction.
I'm a man (a man) without conviction, You come and go, you come and go.
I'm a man (a man) who doesn't know
how to sell (to sell) a contradiction. Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon,
You come and go, you come and go. you come and go, you come and go.
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my
Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, dreams,
you come and go, you come and go. red gold and green, red gold and green.
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my
dreams, Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon,
red gold and green, red gold and green. you come and go, you come and go.
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my
Didn't hear your wicked words every day dreams,
and you used to be so sweet, I heard you say red gold and green, red gold and green.
that my love (my love) was an addiction.
When we cling (we cling) our love is strong. Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon,
When you go (you go) you're gone forever. you come and go, you come and go.
You string along, you string along. Loving would be easy if your colors were like my
dreams,
Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, red gold and green, red gold and green.
you come and go, you come and go.
Loving would be easy if your colors were like my Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon,
dreams, you come and go, you come and go.
red gold and green, red gold and green. Loving would be easy if your colors were like my
dreams,
Every day is like survival (sur-vi-val), red gold and green, red gold and green.
you're my lover (you're my lover), not my rival.
Every day is like survival (sur-vi-val), Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon
Lyrics and
you're my lover (you're my lover), not my rival. You come and go....
I'm a man (a man) without conviction,

5. “You come and go” As she says the word ‘go’ “Red, gold and green” As he repeatedly
he does the gesture of going with his hands. sings the chorus, the visuals of the video
This links with the lyrics as the visuals portray focus on the three colours he mentions.
what he’s singing. This emphasizes these colours and makes
the audience alert on them.
The visuals and lyrics do not match mostly throughout the song. This makes it hard to the
audience in knowing what the song is about through the lyrics.
The shots are quite long making the music delayed in order to accompany the story.

6. The harmonic sound that the man plays
overlaps with the harmonic background.
This makes the audience believe that the
man is the one playing.

7. Camera Work
(editing, angles and
transitions)
Close-up shots are used to show the
An established shot is used to make the emotions and feelings of the protagonist.
audience aware of the setting and where the
video takes place.

8. A high angle is used to make the
girls look tall and confident.
A pale brown fade out is used to give the
sense of antique and of an old memory.
Each transition uses a
straight cut, going from one
shot to the other or
smoothly fade out to the
other.

9. Representation
Despite the protagonist being a male, his visuals and looks portray more female characteristics
such as the ones pointed out below.
The dyed hair is
often associated The eyebrows
with girls dying and make up are
their hair in characteristics
different colours associated with
in order to fit females beauty
hairstyle trends regimes.
The ‘feline’ and
seductive eyes is
often associated
with the female
charm and
The representation of masculinity in this video is portrayed through the New Wave seduction
fashion and style codes which corporate more female characteristics than masculine through her eyes
ones but portrays how New Wave/punk musicians would be characterised by.

10. Few masculinity characteristics can be seen through
the protagonist. His posture is much like a ladies'
posture of sitting down and crossing his legs while
admiring the view.
A man’s posture would be more wide and open, portraying
a confident persona, rather than crossed legged portraying
a more reserve and feminine dignified personality.

11. The representation of
women in this video is
shown at the start of the
video, as they’re shown
as being ladies and
reserved as they’re both
wear long dresses
covering themselves.
This shows their dignity
and respect, unlike the
other women in the
video.
However, women’s portrayal is still
shown as being exposed and degrading.
This is evidenced by the picture above
and in the left, as the woman is shown
wearing a bra and a mini skirt, half
showing her cleavage and body.
In the picture above, women are shown
as party dancers and wild. This is shown
through their exposure of underwear
and stockings.