Media Messages - Section B Music Video (Heaven) Flashcards
What are the main themes of the lyrics?
Temptation and Redemption
How do the lyrics and music contrast?
The lyrics are downbeat whereas the music is upbeat
What does the media language reflect ? (Three things)
Gritty social realsim, downbeat message of the lyrics and images of transcendence (Heaven)
How does the camerawork reflect the social realism?
Mostly handheld and not always in focus
How does the setting and actors reflect the social realism?
Set in the gritty East End of London with naturalistic looking actors constructing a feel of documentary-realism
How does Sande contrast with the actors?
She is wearing make up and looks more glamorous
How does the video construct the idea that Sande is part of the narrative rather than a performer?
She does not dance (a convention of upbeat music videos) and she often does not directly address the camera
The editing is very jumpy (though not jump cuts!!). What is this trying to construct?
A kaleidoscope of people and their experiences of temptation and redemption
How does the video construct the idea of transcendence (Heaven)?
Recurrent, low angle shot of Sande on a rooftop showing the sky, long shot of clouds rolling in the sky, a shot of birds taking off, a medium shot of a man dancing with his arms outstretched
What do these images of transcendence combined with the fast paced editing, bring connotations of?
Freedom and joy
How could we describe the narrative of this video?
Narrative disruption - through the shots of people being continuously let down in the video
How does the video end in terms of narrative?
It has an enigmatic ending - there is no satisfactory conclusion. Sande walks away from the man who is seen waiting for her at the end of the tunnel.
Why does the video end like this?
To reflect the theme of inner conflict
The video implies a world of different stories. Give 3 examples
Sad people, toddler playing, the man in the scarf who dances
What intertextuality is there?
The idea of “the street” established in media which is rich in variety and character
What is the main viewpoint/ideology?
the desire to be better; redemption
How does the media language incorporate the main ideology?
Social realism - depicts the sorrows caused by temptation but also suggests the power of redemption
What does the video celebrate?
Street life
How are consequences of temptation represented?
Sad faces, Black and White, the red dress
What was the representation strategy on the music video?
Including all representations - different genders/race/class
Where is her video shot?
East London a traditionally working class area
What does the video represent as the norm?
Youth - nearly all characters are young adults or children with important exceptions
How is temptation represented?
The woman in the red dress - a rare sexualised image of women in the video
How is sexuality represented?
It is ambiguous showing that sexuality is fluid and not fixed (are there two men kissing? Are the two women in a sexual relationship?)
How does the video represent class?
The video is celebrating urban working class.
How does Sande herself represent class?
She is represented as belonging to the working class world through her unglamourised costume, location and performance style
How does the video represent everyday life?
As a struggle
How does the video construct reality and social realism?
Use of real locations, non-actors, naturalistic miss-en-scene, authentic performance style
How is multiculturalism reflected in the video?
Through different races and ethnicities
How is feminism reflected in the video?
Featuring female singer who wrote the song and her lack of sexual objectification
How is celebrity culture reflected?
Through the primacy accorded to the performer
Why are stereotypes used in the video?
Because the montage required quick identification
What is the main positive stereotype?
The authenticity of the “street”, a notion linked to a positive view or ethnic and racial diversity
Give examples of stereotypes used.
A woman in a red dress signifying sexuality, innocent children playing, mothers caring for children, carefree young woman in a white dress
Working class do drugs
How does Sande position the audience?
As identifying with her and her struggles to cope with the pain she feels she inflicts on others
What is the main discourse?
A religious discourse; the world is full of temptation but also innocence and good
How does the video invoke a left-leaning ideology?
By suggesting sympathy with the underdogs and outsiders
