The video analysis focuses on Ciara's song "Like a Boy" through 1:36 of the music video. Several shots are used to portray Ciara taking on masculine roles and behaviors. This includes her slouching on a chair like boys do, spelling out her name to assert power over a man, and dancing like a boy with other women dressed masculinely. The black and white filming and Ciara's changing outfits emphasize her desire to experience what it's like to be a boy. The video uses close-ups and full shots with minimal editing to tell the story of Ciara competing against herself as both a girl and a boy.

1. This power point consists of a video analysis of the song ‘Like a Boy’ by Ciara. Analysis from the start until 1:36

2. The camera begins with a shot of ciara's hands and then goes to a full shot of ciara sitting on a big chair, where we can see she is slouching down like boys do and then it switches to a medium close up as she says ladies i think it’s time to switch roles which tells us she is being serious and also relates to the name of the song. The camera very often changes from full shots to medium close ups back to full shots which show ciara is serious about changing roles but the guy may not be. There is then a close up of ciara fingers moving and also doing violin movements to represent the sound of the song. It focuses on a close up of the side of the face of the lad and ciara whilst ciara spells out her name, which is done clearly so we know ciara is in charge. As the song properly starts we see a full shot of ciara again on the chair slouching down just like a lad, although at this point we can’t see her shoes but that emphasizes the name of the song, it then zooms out a bit more to the point where we can see her shoes and this is the time where she sings ‘take out the trash’ which is something men normally do. It then moves to a shot where ciara’s body is on the shot but not her face, whilst the lad is sitting down which tells us ciara has more power. Once again it then moves to medium close up of ciara sitting on the chair, then switches to a close up of the tattoo which men normally have. After that we can then see ciara standing over the lad saying she wants to be like a boy, and basically be approved of saying it’s ok to be a tom boy.

3. From then it just flicks backwards and forwards using many more full shots and medium close ups and then goes back to a close up where ciara is again talking in the guy’s ear. The camera then goes onto another full shot where ciara is dressed as a girl and as a lad and it’s like the camera stays on a full shot so we can see both of them together but then changes occasionally to a medium close up of herself and then back to ciara as we see it is like she is competing against herself in both genders. The camera changes from ciara back to her overlooking the lad which tells us she wants to be like a boy so she could do all the things they do to girls; to them. The camera then slides onto ciara dancing with some other girls in an open space. Each girl is dressed like a boy which once again emphasizes the song title. We see medium close ups of ciara to show that she is still the main person but we also see full shots so we can see each person. The camera stays on a long shot to show us how they are dancing, which are like boys. The camera then goes onto a medium close up of ciara laying down on the lad and the camera rises up which shows us that maybe she can’t become like a lad but still shows she wants to be

4. At the start there is no music but ciara does start with an opening sentence which sets off the atmosphere because by saying ‘2007. Ladies, I think it’s time to switch roles’ relates to the title and also shows that ciara wants to switch roles and wants to get the message across. The music starts off by the sound of violins which gives it a sinister sound and then ciara spells out her name to tell us it’s her that’s the main story line in this song. The beat then kicks in as the song properly begins; it’s at normal pace so it’s just like its telling a story. Throughout the extract the pace stays the same. When ciara sings it sounds like a sweet voice which can contrast with the story of the song and can show that she is unsure of what to do because she really wants the lads to feel how we do at times.

5. First of all we see ciara’s hand which has a tattoo on it which lads usually have those sorts of tattoos. Also ciara is wearing clothes and a hat that are lads which emphasizes the name of the song. The lad featured in the video is sitting on a chair in the middle of a room with a couch in the corner; this can show that ciara has placed him there so she can tell him she wants to be like a boy so she could treat him they treat girls so they would know how it feels. The big chair that ciara sits in is like a kings chair because it is big and bulky, this can show that ciara wants to be noticed and get her point across. The surroundings are plain and simple with no colours or pictures which are stereotypical of lads because women are the ones that usually have all the pictures etc. Further on we then see ciara acting as a boy and a girl, we can see this clearly by what she is wearing. The stick is used to go with the guy outfit but she changes who holds it which can suggest no matter if she tries to be a girl all she wants to do is get one chance to be like a boy. The hat is used as a prop whilst dancing but gives away the effect that she is attempting to be a lad. Next we can see the necklaces and ‘bling’ ciara has on which once again are things that lads wear so it relates to the song title. Throughout the chosen scene ciara is competing against herself as a lad and a girl, each doing their own moves and acting in the way they should,

6. Throughout the whole video the effect is black and white which makes the light difficult to compare to what it would be if it was in colour. This could suggest that ciara is confused about the boy and girl situation because she is a girl obviously, but wants to be a lad so she can show them how it feels. Also the black and white could represent that she isn’t a lad. At the start when ciara is sitting on the chair we can see a glimmer of light shining on her to show that she is the main person. The light focuses on the chair no matter who is in it so that shows they are the main person in relation to the lyrics.

7. The video doesn’t use much editing, but the main one would be changing the colour to black and white. The camera doesn’t really fade into any other screens.