Sun Goes Down - Lil Nas X Scene Analysis

Question 1

What does the opening scene of the eye suggest and connote?

Answer 1

Notion of looking - connotations of sight - ‘window to the soul’

Question 2

When he is meditating, we see him in a white suit - what does this connote?

Answer 2

God-like, magical. in control

Question 3

We see water bonding - what does this connote?

Answer 3

Holy water, life and purity

Question 4

We see Taco Bell in the music video - what does this have connotations of?

Answer 4

Burnt out teenager and the working class - normality

Question 5

What is Lil Nas X’s real name?

Answer 5

Montero Lamar Hill

Question 6

When did the song get released?

Answer 6

21st May 2021

Question 7

How many views does it have on YT?

Answer 7

48 million views and 70k comments

Question 8

What are 3 social contexts of the music video? SGD

Answer 8

Homophobia
Social isolation
Teenage experience

Question 9

What are 2 cultural contexts of the music video? SGD

Answer 9

Lil Nas X as a star
Intertextual references

Question 10

How LNX rise to fame?

Answer 10

Online specifically Vine and Twitter

Question 11

When did he come out?

Answer 11

June 2019 which lead to homophobia on social media

Question 12

How does magical realism get portrayed in the video?

Answer 12

Eyes changing, water manipulation and arm around his past self

Question 13

How does fantasy and sci-fi imagery get portrayed in the video?

Answer 13

Floating and moving the water, draws up different memories and colour scheme

Question 14

How does lyrics and visuals get portrayed in the video?

Answer 14

Lips in mirror, praying and room is shaped like a church
‘ run away’ - leaves prom

Question 15

How does nostalgic imagery get portrayed in the video?

Answer 15

High school setting, prom, 2016/17 references - vine

Question 16

How does mise-en-scene get portrayed in the video?

Answer 16

White suit - purity and religion

Question 17

What intertextual references were in this music video?

Answer 17

Past videos, Nicki Minaj, American high school experience

Question 18

We see him in the car with his dad, what does this represent?

Answer 18

Stereotype of black fathers leaving or being distant

Question 19

We see him praying in his room - what does this show?

Answer 19

Links to lyrics and visuals and shows us his thought process

Question 20

We see his bedroom - what does this show and connote?

Answer 20

Connotations of nostalgia and teenage life as we see polaroids and also sunset which is a self reference to the name of the song

Question 21

We see the shape of the room looking like a house - what can this suggest?

Answer 21

Can feel comfortable when he is at home - safe space

Question 22

We see a tracking shot from bedroom to classroom - what does this look like?

Answer 22

Looks like we are approaching him

Question 23

We see him on his phone in the classroom and what does this show?

Answer 23

Intertextuality to Nicki Minaj and Montero which is his real name maybe welcoming to the real him

Question 24

We see the locker long shot and how does this portray him?

Answer 24

As an outsider - looks isolated and everyone talking to people but him on his own

Question 25

When we see him walking through the school he is alone again, what can this connote and represent?

Answer 25

Teenage experiences - isolated and can link to his sexuality

Question 26

Now he is walking into prom alone - what does this connote?

Answer 26

isolation again - prom is normally a couple thing - heterosexual

Question 27

We see him in the toilet (W.C) - what does this show

Answer 27

W.C - Water Closet - he is in the closet - isolated and alone upset

Question 28

We then switch to him dancing and happy with a fitted suit - what does this suggest and connote?

Answer 28

That you should be your true self and surrounded with people - connotes love and support.