The document analyzes Shawn Mendes' music video "If I Can't Have You" through its cinematography, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, genre, audience, representation, and narrative. The cinematography uses zooms, tracking shots, and bird's eye views. Editing creates a seamless, flowing effect between long takes. The sound solely focuses on Mendes' singing. Mise-en-scene features a simple costume in an empty warehouse setting. The genre is pop and the target audience is 12-40 years old. The representation explores feelings of separation and emptiness. The narrative structure lacks clear meaning and pattern.

1. IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU - SHAWN MENDES - ANALYSIS
BY: CADI GHANDOUR

2. CINEMATOGRAPHY
 Begins with extreme close up of eye and slow zoom outwards that begins to show the rest of his face
 The handheld camera turns when he gets up and continues to zoom out showing the studio setting
 Fast zoom into medium shot of him walking towards piano
 Turns into vertical then landscape again
 This kind of tracking motion speeds up and slows down with the speed of the song
 The shot of Shawn on piano rotates twice and eventually zooms into a high angle shot of him playing
 The transition between shots is a cinematography element since the camera man zooms into the white
piano then out again to switch scenes
 A bird’s eye view shot is used to show Shawn laying in bed with his girlfriend
 The camera zooms and swoops over the bed
 Close up shots of Shawn looking in the mirror and playing piano
 The medium tracking shot of Shawn walking in front of the gospel choir and singing as well as on the
treadmill creates more motion and excitement and therefore entertainment for the audience

3. EDITING
 Black and white filter creates a vintage feel and allows the viewer to focus and pay
more attention to the details and expressions rather than being attracted to vibrant
colors.
 The majority of the video seems to be one take, thus creating a seamless flowing
effect.
 The editing used creates this effect as it has been used to utilize transitions to blend
one shot into another, thus making them seem like the same shot.
 A blurry or pixelated effect is later added which makes the video feel even more
dated.
 Due to the use of long shots making up the composition of the video, editing used is
extremely minimal which, in my opinion, is refreshing when considering the highly
over-edited music videos frequently put out in today’ world.

4. SOUND
 Synchronous sound of the music with Shawn Mendes, the artist, singing in time is
used.
 The music fades in to create the effect of the video flowing.
 Shawn begins to play the piano which is heard through the recording of the song
previously made.
 A gospel choirs singing can be heard, which adds more of a soulful and meaningful
effect to the song.
 Throughout the whole video, the only sound heard is of the song.
 External sources of sound are rarely used. This aids in helping the audience’s main
focus remain to be listening to the song.

5. MISE-EN-SCENE
 Keeping in theme with the minimalistic essence of this video, Shawn’s costume
features a simple white vest, black plain jacket and black pants as well as white shoes.
Since it is a black and white video, color would not have visible.
 The lighting used is bright, high-key lighting.
 Shawn’s performance is jovial and does not match the reminiscent and deep lyrics of
the song, as he can be seen smiling in the last shot where as he is singing about not
being able to reach a lover of his. This may come across as random and irrelevant to
an audience member.
 There is no makeup worn.
 The only prop featured would be Shawn’s jacket which he put on to give him
something to do in the first scene, and a microphone.
 The setting is in an empty warehouse. This is a smart choice as it allows them allow
of space to film these complex long shots and fit in the treadmill, studio background,
gospel choir, etc. without facing any limitations that a simple studio would have.

6. GENRE
 The genre is pop since the song features a catchy melody
and up-beat chorus.
 There are not any sub-genres present.

7. AUDIENCE
 The target audience is anyone between the ages of 12-40. This is
because the catchy tune and appropriate lyrics makes the song
suitable and enjoyable for almost any age.
 In addition to this, the vague genre that the song falls under
means that people with different preferences will be able to enjoy
it.
 The song is upbeat and may have a positive impact on the
audience members as it may lift up there spirit.

8. REPRESENTATION
 People experiencing separations from their partners may feel represented by
this video.
 The empty and spacious warehouse may be symbolic of the emptiness
experienced when separating from someone; in this sense the video is
relatable.
 Stereotypes are not present.
 The uses and gratifications of Personal identity may come through the
representation used as people will feel like they can identify with the
sensation of feeling empty and ”can’t having someone”.

9. NARRATIVE
 The narrative structure is quite random since it features Shawn
waking up, singing, then sleeping next to a woman, then singing,
then running on a treadmill. It follows no specific pattern.
 The meaning behind the narrative structure is unapparent.
 Since the narrative structure holds no specific or obvious meaning,
I do not suspect that it would have any kind of impact on the
audience members.