The document analyzes the music video for Miley Cyrus's song "We Can't Stop", noting its representations of drugs, relationships, drinking, fun, and sexualized images of women. It discusses how the video uses lighting, costumes, and shots to portray a dark, rebellious atmosphere and establish Miley's new image as a sex symbol, in contrast to her previous Disney persona. Product placement, ambiguous symbols, and censored imagery further emphasize the video's edgy tone and distance from Miley's past as a role model for children and families.

1. We can’t stop by Miley Cyrus
music video analysis
Charlotte Timson

2. Overview
• We can’t stop features many typical
representations of pop music including:
- Drugs
- Relationships
- Drinking
- Having Fun
- Sexual presentation of women

3. • The start of the video shows a close up of
Miley with her name written in bold yellow
letters across it. This highlights the purpose of
this video which is to show Miley’s new image
and her transformation from Disney idol to sex
symbol. Yellow is a word that connotes danger
and this is possibly what she wants to
represent herself as; as some of the leisure
activities she partakes in (eg drugs) are
dangerous. The close up shot also draws our
attention to how she looks and shows us how
Miley’s image is what is going to promote her
and not necessarily her singing voice.
• Product placement is also used to make the
video even more relatable for the audience.
For example a close up of a beat pill is shown,
which is a particularly favourable brand within
the music industry and youth culture.
• Contrasting to the previous shot the lighting
and mise en scene of the costumes and walls is
dark and disrupted by the fog. Again this
suggests danger, but also creates a dark and
ambiguous vibe.

4. • A two shot is used to show a typical
scenario of a couple at a party. It links to
the representation of Miley’s new image of
rebelliousness and sex appeal. Again the
shot is darker and is made to look almost
like footage of a real party and suggests
that something secret and sexual has
happened.
• An unconventional shot is shown of
roasting marshmallows. Unusual concepts
is something particularly used in music
videos as they do not have to make sense,
but also relates to Miley’s new image in
the real world and how she is forever
doing and wearing random things. The
lighters relates to her new self image that
enjoys smoking marijuana juxtaposed with
the childhood innocence and bright
colours of roasting the marshmallows
relating to her old self as a Disney star.

5. • Another close up is used to show
events of the party. A food is
sculpted into a skull which could
signify death, rebellion or toxic
substances. The idea of
something innocence being used
to create something with a darker
tone symbolises how Miley is
trying to rid her old image
without being too explicit.
• Mid shots are used of Miley
allowing the audience to see her
proactive posing and dancing. The
setting of the shot and outfit are
all white so that her face and
tattoos are empathised.
Conforming the genre of music
again, Miley is shedding her good
girl image and fulfilling the idea of
the male gaze.

6. • The slow editing of the knife being
drawn across the fingers hints towards
violence which is an issue in youth
culture. The video is extremely
relatable to the younger generation as
issues featured are relevant. The pink
liquid mimicking blood is seen as
humorous and a joke suggesting how
these issues are not taken seriously in
society.
• Another pun made is the dancing
teddy bear. The long shot highlights
Miley at the front and centre of the
frame as she is the star. The innocence
is taken out of the bears due to the
dancing and relation to the rest of the
video. It highlights the rejection of
Miley’s old image and welcoming of
the new one.

7. • The contrast in this medium shot
between the blue of the water
and the black of the swimsuit
and glasses show the corruption
of the party and edginess of
Miley’s image. The censored tag
also physically shows the more
explicit imagery Miley’s video
contains and how it is not
appropriate to her old fans.
• Direct mode of address is used
in order for Miley to connect
with the audience. Her sultry
look of red lips empathises her
lusty image and highlights her
mouth when lip syncing. The
make up, hair and tattoos are all
conventional to pop music.

8. Editing
• Slow motion and normal passed editing is used in order to keep in
time with the slow beat of the song. Frantic images are made to look
conformed and less eccentric. However there are a variety of
different setting and scenarios edited together to create one big
party.

9. Camera
• A variety of shots are used in order to
highlight key themes within the music video
and market Miley’s new image.
• For instance a lot of close up shots are used to
present Miley and her new attitude to the
audience.
• Long shots are used to present the scene and
party vibe to the audience.