Janelle Monáe - Turntables Media Lang

Question 1

Visual codes - How is costume used?

Answer 1

• Janelle, 1940’s army style uniform, relates to national identity but her hair contrasts this, reflects POC are part of US culture, they shouldn’t be erased from that.
• Range of clothing styles, some traditional African some modern, shows inclusivity and diversity of community.
• Monáe outfit like storyteller, all-knowing, empowering.

Question 2

Visual codes - How is setting used?

Answer 2

• Archive, surreal, iconography and family home setting
• Archive shows impact of past, revolution and length of time of struggle, Janelle ‘the past is not the past’
• Surreal is current day protests, realism, awareness
• Iconography of American flag, ‘America you a lie’ , dragging statue out of ocean
• Family home, contrasts archive, shows there is a future when there’s equality, girls futuristic hair and dad cooking breakfast, mum reads newspaper

Question 3

Visual Code - Doll scene

Answer 3

• Young girl having a choice over the dolls suggests that inequalities extend to the toy industry, Clark-doll experiments, societal progression since the 40’s

Question 4

Visual Codes - Gesture Codes

Answer 4

• Gestures of power in archive, Black Power raised fist of Smith and Carlos at 68’ Olympics
• Chorus section, dancing, smiling, waving, symbols of positive

Question 5

Technical codes - Start and end shot

Answer 5

• Establishing shot of beach symbolize freedom, Janelle with statue, sound of waves, calm, audience positive change will happen

Question 6

Technical codes - Camera use

Answer 6

• Close ups of Monáe and determined expression connotes upbeat and engaging with viewers
• Long shot of their back turned to American flag and doing gestures, flag symbol of oppression for some areas of society
• Long shot girl picking doll and smiling, positivity
• Canted angle and fast editing towards end and chorus shows need to disrupt to status quo
• Birds eye shots of protest show amount of people, strength in feeling about inequality in America
• Editing cuts black and white, present and news, establish cohesive message reinforce message through visual signifiers

Question 7

Audio

Answer 7

• Start features voice of black American writer James Baldwin from 1968, remind audiences how long injustice has been happening.

Question 8

Narrative

Answer 8

• Non linear, combines elements of past, present, future
• Archive shows pain of past, still prevalent now but hope for future through happy children.
• Narrative strands held together by artist performing forcing them to engage with issue, Monáe like storyteller
• Structure to the narrative as the music video starts and ends in the same location. The narrative focuses on the central premise that there is a need for change and for the tables to turn
• Focus is related to the
  documentary for which the track was written
  and on voter suppression in Georgia. Visual
  signifiers of this event include images of black
  people casting their votes and Stacey Abrams
  speaking