Media Messages - Section B Music Video (Heaven)

Question 1

What are the main themes of the lyrics?

Answer 1

Temptation and Redemption

Question 2

How do the lyrics and music contrast?

Answer 2

The lyrics are downbeat whereas the music is upbeat

Question 3

What does the media language reflect ? (Three things)

Answer 3

Gritty social realsim, downbeat message of the lyrics and images of transcendence (Heaven)

Question 4

How does the camerawork reflect the social realism?

Answer 4

Mostly handheld and not always in focus

Question 5

How does the setting and actors reflect the social realism?

Answer 5

Set in the gritty East End of London with naturalistic looking actors constructing a feel of documentary-realism

Question 6

How does Sande contrast with the actors?

Answer 6

She is wearing make up and looks more glamorous

Question 7

How does the video construct the idea that Sande is part of the narrative rather than a performer?

Answer 7

She does not dance (a convention of upbeat music videos) and she often does not directly address the camera

Question 8

The editing is very jumpy (though not jump cuts!!). What is this trying to construct?

Answer 8

A kaleidoscope of people and their experiences of temptation and redemption

Question 9

How does the video construct the idea of transcendence (Heaven)?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What do these images of transcendence combined with the fast paced editing, bring connotations of?

Answer 10

Freedom and joy

Question 11

How could we describe the narrative of this video?

Answer 11

Narrative disruption - through the shots of people being continuously let down in the video

Question 12

How does the video end in terms of narrative?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Why does the video end like this?

Answer 13

To reflect the theme of inner conflict

Question 14

The video implies a world of different stories. Give 3 examples

Answer 14

Sad people, toddler playing, the man in the scarf who dances

Question 15

What intertextuality is there?

Answer 15

The idea of “the street” established in media which is rich in variety and character

Question 16

What is the main viewpoint/ideology?

Answer 16

the desire to be better; redemption

Question 17

How does the media language incorporate the main ideology?

Answer 17

Social realism - depicts the sorrows caused by temptation but also suggests the power of redemption

Question 18

What does the video celebrate?

Answer 18

Street life

Question 19

How are consequences of temptation represented?

Answer 19

Sad faces, Black and White, the red dress

Question 20

What was the representation strategy on the music video?

Answer 20

Including all representations - different genders/race/class

Question 21

Where is her video shot?

Answer 21

East London a traditionally working class area

Question 22

What does the video represent as the norm?

Answer 22

Youth - nearly all characters are young adults or children with important exceptions

Question 23

How is temptation represented?

Answer 23

The woman in the red dress - a rare sexualised image of women in the video

Question 24

How is sexuality represented?

Answer 24

It is ambiguous showing that sexuality is fluid and not fixed (are there two men kissing? Are the two women in a sexual relationship?)

Question 25

How does the video represent class?

Answer 25

The video is celebrating urban working class.

Question 26

How does Sande herself represent class?

Answer 26

She is represented as belonging to the working class world through her unglamourised costume, location and performance style

Question 27

How does the video represent everyday life?

Answer 27

As a struggle

Question 28

How does the video construct reality and social realism?

Answer 28

Use of real locations, non-actors, naturalistic miss-en-scene, authentic performance style

Question 29

How is multiculturalism reflected in the video?

Answer 29

Through different races and ethnicities

Question 30

How is feminism reflected in the video?

Answer 30

Featuring female singer who wrote the song and her lack of sexual objectification

Question 31

How is celebrity culture reflected?

Answer 31

Through the primacy accorded to the performer

Question 32

Why are stereotypes used in the video?

Answer 32

Because the montage required quick identification

Question 33

What is the main positive stereotype?

Answer 33

The authenticity of the “street”, a notion linked to a positive view or ethnic and racial diversity

Question 34

Give examples of stereotypes used.

Answer 34

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

Question 35

How does Sande position the audience?

Answer 35

As identifying with her and her struggles to cope with the pain she feels she inflicts on others

Question 36

What is the main discourse?

Answer 36

A religious discourse; the world is full of temptation but also innocence and good

Question 37

How does the video invoke a left-leaning ideology?

Answer 37

By suggesting sympathy with the underdogs and outsiders