media language

Question 1

what is the setting for the video?

Answer 1

an American urban environment

Question 2

what is the setting of the video familiar from?

Answer 2

80s movies like The Warriors and Do the Right Thing

Question 3

though it was shot in a number of cities, where was the majority filmed?

Answer 3

the majority was filmed on the 20th Century Fox ‘NYC’ backlot in Los Angeles

Question 4

what is the location where majority of the video scenes were filmed a reminiscent of?

Answer 4

a stereotypical ‘ghetto’ often associated with American Black and Latino culture

Question 5

what does ‘uptown funk’ conforms to the music video convention of?

Answer 5

focusing on performance: - a fun group dance routine and singalong on the street

Question 6

what does ‘uptown funk’ conforms to the music video convention in a nightclub?

Answer 6

followed by a live performance with full instrumentation in a night club

Question 7

how does the video potentially adds to it ‘authentic’ appeal?

Answer 7

There is very little narrative or concept compared to other contemporary music videos

Question 8

what are most shots considered as?

Answer 8

medium or long shots

Question 9

who are in most of the shots? (2)

Answer 9

Mars and members of The Hooligans (Mars’ band)

Question 10

what are the people doing in the shots?

Answer 10

dancing and having a fun time

Question 11

what is the dance routine like?

Answer 11

There is some synchronicity to the dance routine, but individuals regularly break into their own style, whilst staying in rhythm.

Question 12

what does the ‘unpolished’ choreography make Mars and his friends seem?

Answer 12

‘identifiable’

Question 13

what does the video mainly function as there is little narrative to engage the viewer?

Answer 13

to accentuate the beat of the music, the fun atmosphere and, later, an exciting live performance

Question 14

what makes audience feel as if they are dancing with them?

Answer 14

In the first verse, Mars and his friends dance towards us as the camera dollies back

Question 15

accentuate

Answer 15

to make (something) more prominent or noticeable

Question 16

what does the fast and funky rhythm accentuated by?

Answer 16

the performers’ handclaps and finger clicks

Question 17

how is the artist framed?

Answer 17

at the centre of the shot

Question 18

camaraderie

Answer 18

mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together

Question 19

what is the artist’s camaraderie with the others shown by them?

Answer 19

his camaraderie with the others is shown by them regularly leaning into shot to deliver a line along with Mars

Question 20

what is the artist’s camaraderie with the others shown links to?

Answer 20

the collaborative writing of the song: along with Mark Ronson, eleven other writers are credited

Question 21

what are the many conventionally urban’ elements to the video, familiar from?

Answer 21

the ‘Blaxploitation’ film genre: brownstone houses, men playing dominos on the sidewalk, fast food diners, fire hydrants etc.

Question 22

what are the costumes of the performers like? (4)

Answer 22

shades
suit jacket over t-shirt
single chains
hats

Question 23

what are the costumes of the performers familiar from?

Answer 23

urban crime dramas from the 80s such as Miami Vice, reflecting an element of intertextuality

Question 24

what happens in the second part of the video?

Answer 24

the performers dance and sing around a stretch limo

Question 25

what does the 2nd part of the video symbolises?

Answer 25

a symbol of ‘conspicuous wealth’.

Question 26

conspicuous

Answer 26

clearly visible
attracting notice or attention

Question 27

why are limos often hired by groups of male friends?

Answer 27

for events like stag parties, so this also fits in with the atmosphere of ‘feel good’ male friendship

Question 28

what does the final part of the video moves into?

Answer 28

a nightclub

Question 29

how is the viewer positioned in the audience in the final part of the video? (3)

Answer 29

by low-angle shots
silhouettes of other crowd members dancing occasional cuts to on-stage shots of the performers playing the instruments that have been audible throughout.

Question 30

in the final part of the video, what does the live performance accentuates?

Answer 30

the ‘authentic’ nature of the song as well as the skill and status of the performers.