This document provides analysis of several shots from Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" music video. It discusses how the shots portray Miley's new persona as a promiscuous woman, help tell the story and emotions of the song, and appeal to different audiences. Specifically, it analyzes a shot of Miley nude on a wrecking ball to signify her pain over a past relationship, and another shot of her walking with a sledgehammer to represent her strength and empowerment. The analysis discusses how these shots help portray the song's narrative and elicit sympathy from audiences who can relate to the emotions and experiences.

2. In this shot, Miley sits on a wrecking ball nude while caressing the chain.
She sits in the midst of solid grey walls, the ball represents her and
connotes how she has tried to break the walls of her ex partner. Her
eyes are closed which signifies her deep pain and anguish over her past
love, so at this point the viewer feels sorry for her. Furthermore, her
nudity positions her in vulnerable state as it connotes how loving
someone has stripped her of everything she is and has. Using cultural
theorist Stuart Halls model the audience may read this text in two
particular ways. So her dedicated fans within the audience understand
the videos message and therefore feel sad for Miley - dominant reading.
This would appeal to them as they can connect with the artist on a
personal level due to the seriousness of the song and her creative way
of portraying her emotions visually. However, other viewers will strongly
disagree with the idea of explicitly exposing your body as the disjuncture
has no relation to the theme of heartbreak that the song expresses oppositional reading. Therefore, this would not appeal to the viewer as
the visual content holds no meaning and instead is just a publicity stunt
to gain attention for her new star persona.
In this shot the artist holds up a sledge hammer above her head
and looks off into the distance. This prop is stereotypically used
by men as it represents hard work, so when the artist holds it
above her, it connotes her strength and determination to come out
this situation with her head held up high. This empowers the
female audience especially, as she is represented as being
powerful and in control. This appeals to them as she takes on the
position of being a role model and so inspires females to also be
confident. This is further connoted through the use of the low
angle, which puts her above the viewer and causes them to fear
her because she is in a dominant position.

3. The institution wanted to change Miley's star persona of being the innocent Disney
girl who appealed to a young audience of 7-13 year olds. This video clearly indicates
Miley's new persona – a promiscuous objectified woman. This was done because the
artist wanted to show her now older target audience that she has grown up now and
wants to be taken seriously. The video helps to visually signify the artists new
persona to her target audience. For instance, in this shot Miley is nude, she leans
back using the wreaking balls chain as support. The camera language used sexually
objectifies women, as the shot type emphasises her figure and she is stripped of her
clothes in front of the publics eyes. Miley would appeal to her now older target
audience ( particularly females) because she has clearly gone through some tough
life experiences, which the target audience may be able to personally relate to as the
artist highlights issues such as love and heartbreak which the audience may have
experienced as well, therefore they see her as a mature women that they can
connect with. Furthermore, Miley changing her star persona means she appeals a lot
more to males due to her new sexual appeal which is connoted through her body
language. Additionally, her confidence is further connoted as she does not feel shy
about being represented explicitly and this therefore attracts the male audience.
Theorist Steve Archer states that a good music video will 'amplify the songs
original meaning' and so through using the style of a narrative Miley Cyrus's
video has achieved this. For instance, in this shot the artist slowly walks
forward with a sledge hammer in hand, while the concrete walls collapse
behind her. The location (walls) metaphorically connote her ex partners
'walls' and the visual aid helps put into perspective how difficult it was to
break down his solid exterior. The fact that she walks away signifies defeat
and how she is done fighting. This is further connoted through the lyrics 'All I wanted was to break your walls'. This dramatic shot causes the
audience to feel sympathetic towards the artists tragic situation. This
appeals to the target audience because they may have gone through
similar love issues or may know someone who has, therefore they can
personally relate to the artist (U&G) and the emotionally deep lyrics.

4. Theorist Roland Barthes proposed the grain of voice theory. This is
when the singers voice is the most important instrument and the video
focuses solely on the singer - this theory is evident within Mileys music
video because the song is a story and she is the storyteller. The theory
is specifically evident in this shot because the artist breaks the forth wall
as she is looking straight into the camera at the viewers. Also, she is
crying and a single tear drop falls down her face. Even though she
seems to be in an emotional state, by directly addressing the audience
it connotes how she is fearless and tough enough to freely express her
emotions to the public. In addition, a close up is used in this shot. The
song itself is very emotional and so by using this shot type the audience
gain intimacy with the artist as the viewer can concentrate on her facial
expression. This is very effective as it causes the audience to feel
sympathetic towards Miley.
The artist is wearing bright red lipstick that instantly grabs the
audiences attention and forces them to focus on her. Since red is an
outspoken colour, it could signify danger and mystery as it emphasizes
that there is an edgy side to her character which is evident through her
hairstyle - a short blonde do that is influenced by the 70s where glam
rock was the fashion. Lastly, red can be associated with love therefore
the use of the lipstick could signify her passion for this mystery man
whom she sings about.

6. This is a mid shot ( 3.22) from Katy Perry’s video, California girls. Katy Perry looks
directly into the camera with her mouth slightly open. This facial expression is a strong
flirting signal which draws in the audience (mostly male) and connotes how sensual
she is. The artist is wearing a red glittery outfit which has silver details on it. Her tight
costume reveals her body and emphasises her sexual appeal. The artists outrageous
sense of style connotes that she is confident in her on skin and this is empowering for
her audience, specifically females as they see her as a role model and aspire to
posses her self confidence. The colour red connotes danger and how as an artist she
is not scared to push boundaries, this is further connoted by her stance which signifies
she is dominant and in control of this situation, as well as the dark orange sky which
connotes that she is a fierce woman. Furthermore, her red costume appeals to her
audience, mostly men because it’s a colour that men find highly seductive as it carries
a sexual meaning that grabs a mans attention. Lastly, the ‘Alice in wonderland’ candy
background, yet again establishes her child like fantasies and emphasises her music
as being extravagant and energetic.
This is a close up ( 0.19 ) from Katy Perry’s video, California girls. The artist
looks to her side with wide intrigued eyes and raised eyebrows. This close up
highlights her facial expression and connotes how playful and child like she is,
as there is a look of surprise on her face. Also, her mouth is open with her
tongue is out. This could may be, be the first time she has tasted ice cream and
so her reaction connotes how she enjoys exploring her environment. She sports
a lilac hair do with a dark purple heart on the side. Her classic retro hairstyle
signifies her innocence, this is emphasised as she avoids looking directly into
the camera which connotes she has a cheeky side. She wears jewellery made
out of real sweets - a light pink gummy ring and a colourful necklace. This
connotes how she is playful as the accessories are something you would expect
a child to wear however it highlights how she is not scared to express herself .
The setting references ‘Charlie and the chocolate factory’ and so the audience
get an insight of her wild imagination. Furthermore, it emphasises how her music
is far from reality, very imaginative and exaggerated.

7. This is a mid shot from (0.41) California Gurls Video. The setting creates a sense
of surrealism as the idea of a world made out of candy is something you would
dream about and this is evident through her body language as she stands
amongst the trees of candyfloss and looks up at the sky in amazement, as if in
trance by her surroundings. This appeals to the target audience as they get to
escape reality into this visually intriguing video. Specifically it would appeal to the
younger audience, as candy is popular amongst them, due to its taste and
vibrant bright colours. So the idea of living in a illusory world grabs their attention
as it’s a chance to get lost within the video due to their interest in sweets. This is
further reinforced by the lyrics ‘Greeting, loved ones, lets take a journey‘, the
words are a direct invitation to the audience and this makes the viewing
experience much more realistic for the viewer as they feel like the artist is talking
to them. The location connotes Katy Perry as being this girly girl and this further
connoted by her costume which is creatively made of sweet wrappers. This is
conventional of a Pop music video as artists always take the opportunity to break
boundaries and make a wild fashion statement in order to make their video
memorable. Her appearance is very unique and this appeals to her target
audience – specifically females as they may see her as a fashion icon and so
install the artists confidence within themselves by being more daring with their
own style.
This is a long shot of a yellow and white stripped snake slides down a tree to
Katy Perry. This image references the bible - in particular the story of Adam and
Eve. In this shot the snake persuades Katy to climb up it and says she will be in
paradise if she does, Katy listens and climbs the snake only to lose her clothes
in the end once up in the candyfloss clouds. This signifies how women are
submissive and powerless. This connotation is anchored by the lyrics - ‘we freak
in my jeep‘. The sexual undertone that is felt throughout the video contributes to
the misconception that women are willing and eager to have sex at any given
time. This representation disempowers the female audience as it signifies them
as being a weak gender.

8. This is a straight on mid shot which moves into a high angle and
then cuts to a close up - 0:00 to 0:07. The rappers arms are
stretched out and in front of him lies a miniature version of the
main location used in the music video - Candy land. Moreover, the
miniature model is a board game, he is the player and Katy Perry
is a game piece. His confident body language signifies how he is in
control of his empire but most importantly how he is in control of
Katy Perry - he only features in this song and yet he plays a more
dominant role then her. Theorist Laura Mulvey introduced the term
male gaze, which suggests that 'audiences view the female
character through the eyes of a heterosexual male'. This
suggestion is most patent through the lyrics, he raps 'Toned tan, fit
and ready and also 'All that a** hangin out', the lyrics comment on
a females appearance which sexually objectifies them.
Furthermore, Mulvey's theory is visually evident in the video as
Snoop Dog picks Katy Perry up and moves her around like a chess
piece throughout the course of the whole video, this forces the
audience to view this fantasy world in a males perspective which
connotes that women are simply toys for males to manipulate and
play around with. Also it highlights how women are submissive
and weak. Looking at this music video in a feminist perspective
reveals many stereotypes that contribute to how society sees
women, for instance this text represents women as being trophies
- only good for their looks. Additionally, it emphasises the gender
roles and how women can not think for themselves and need men
to dictate their actions. This representation disheartens the female
audience as they are shown off to be worth nothing. In contrary,
this would appeal to the male audience as the representation
encourages men to play the authoritative role.

10. A little girl takes a look out her classroom window and watches
the other children playing. A high angle is normally associated
with making a character seem more power but in this case the
high angle is used to connote how lonely and alienated the girl is
from her peers. This is further connoted through the use of a
long shot which signifies how distant she is from everybody else.
She looks down with sad and an almost jealous expression at
the children enjoying themselves, this again connotes how she
is the odd one out and also how she is unwanted. This shot
holds a lot of meaning and emotion that the audience can relate
to personally because the issues highlighted happen in the real
world, therefore they may have experienced being left out. So,
they can sympathise with the little girl as they understand the
theme that is being highlighted though out the text - bullying.
In this long shot we see the now grown girl weighing herself in a bathroom.
She is wearing very little clothing but it is not done intentionally that the
viewer see her as a sex object. Instead it is a hard hitting scene that
establishes her health condition which is evident as she weighs herself,
this is a stereotypical event that people with eating disorders go through. So
along with the location, the shot type connotes how frail and weak her body
is, causing the audience to feel sad. Additionally, the shot is framed in such
a way that it makes the audience feel like they are intruding in the girls
private affairs because the camera is positioned at a distant and her back is
turned to the viewer. People who have gone through or are currently
battling an eating disorder can relate to this video personally as they know
what it feels like, therefore they can connect with the videos content.
Having said this, this is could also appeal to other member of the
audiences as its an educational video that gives a very detailed and graphic
insight into eating disorders.

11. The mother drags her daughter out of the house into a car
to drive her to school. The long shot sets the location as
this peaceful home environment but this is then contradicted
as the shot type also establishes the relationship between
mother and daughter which is bad, this is evident through
their body language - the mother angrily walks in front while
the daughter trails helplessly behind. This signifies how
behind every household lies many problems and this
message appeals to the audience because they go through
many situations and for them its nice to see that they are
not alone, this is further evident in the lyrics which directly
address the audience and makes tem feel understood 'Pretty please, don't you ever, every feel, like your less then
perfect'. These lyrics motivate and give confidence to the
audience as well as reassuring them.
The teenage girl is locked in a bathroom cubical, bent over and
sniffing drugs. The high angle establishes how she is not in the
right state of mind and gives the audience and insight into the
world of drug use. Yet again the high angle does not put her in a
powerful position, but instead the angle connotes how weak she is
and also how gritty the situation is. The tint of blue connotes
sadness and so is designed to make the audience feel sad for her
as she has hit rock bottom. Furthermore, the graffiti on the wall
adds to the unpleasantness of the situation. The audience could
relate to this, particularly the young viewers because the video
highlights issues like drugs which is most commonly used by
teenagers, therefore they understand what the character is going
through. Also, the video is very educational as it promotes the bad
effects of drugs and puts off people (teens) from using it.

12. The character leans by her child and hands her a
teddy bear which she once found comfort in when
she was younger. The two shot indicates that they
have a close relationship as the women cowers
over the child in a protective manner. There are
further connotations through her expression, she
smiles slightly obviously proud and hypnotized by
the child innocence as she sleeps. The natural
lighting creates a calm atmosphere of warm tones
of browns, which are humble and peaceful colours
that go against the blue colours in pervious scenes
which connoted sadness but instead the browns
connote stability and comfort as well as
happiness.The teddy is a symbol of all events the
character has gone through and so by giving it
away connotes how she has overcome the many
difficult situations she faced such as bulling and
self harm. This scene is a satisfying ending to the
sad and emotional narrative as the character
comes out healthy and gets everything the
audience wish for her. This appeals to the audience
as it motivates them to keep fighting their problems
because it shows how there is a light at the end of
every tunnel.

13. Overview
Miley Cyrus: I love how raw the music video is and how close ups are used
to portray deep emotions which emphasize the meaningful lyrics. In my
music video I will definitely use close ups in order to connote how much the
artist loves her man since they lyrics are about how amazing it is to find love.
I will use various camera movements to signify sex appeal but not in such
an explicit way of course, but just elements such as fragmented body shots
and slow movements across the body so that is appeals to the male
audience as well as the female audience.
Katy Perry: The video is very creative and it's amazing how it fires up the
imagination! This video has inspired me to be creative with my music video
and not make the conventional sappy love video. I can do this through
choosing creative locations like maybe the beach! And have the artist
wearing glamorous costumes that connote she is a fierce diva.
Pink: I liked how the artist was not involved as much in the narrative aspect,
she just took a step back and let the lyrics be emphasized by such an
emotional narrative. Maybe I might do the same and have a narrative about
a couple that grow old together like in Justin Timberlake's music video for his
song 'Mirrors'! I also like how the artist had an edge to her brand. When
building my artists brand me and my partner must defiantly focus on creating
something unique so that when the audience see a logo they instantly think
'ahh yes, that's Kim King' - for example Rihanna's globally iconic red hair that
ran through all her media texts!