Beyonce-'Run The World (Girls)'

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS:
There is structured choreography in this video as the viewer sees Beyonce and her back-ups dancing. This emphasises gender dominance, which of course relates to the title of the song 'Who run the world? Girls!' This video features women with provocative clothing this flaunts their sexuality as well as their power, which also links to the title of the song at it talks about women dominating men. Also, there are elements of performance in this video, which is of course typical of this genre as well as for Beyonce. In most R'n'B videos women are portrayed differently or inferior to men and this video subverts this code and convention as it of course shows women as a superior figure to men. Beyonce's change of costumes in every scene are very glamorous and her make-up is well made. There is a scene in the video where she is wearing a gold costume and looks sophisticated. The colour gold evokes the feeling of prestige which links to the theme of this music video.



There is also use of different props in the video e.g. Beyonce riding on the horse and her with the two chained hyenas, this connotes a sense of power.


RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS:
- When Beyonce says 'I think I need a baller' she jumps on man, which connotes power
- 'Who run the world? Girls!' here Beyonce lifts her hands up as if she actually owns the world. By placing her on top of the car it makes her appear dominant and as she is wearing a black dress; the colour black represents: elegance, power, strength and authority which are the main themes within the video.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC AND VISUALS:
There is a drum beat at the beginning of the video and as that is sounding Beyonce is banging her fist on the top of the car, her banging is in sync with the drum beat. There is a 'hahahaha' noise after and Beyonce is miming along to it as it is sounding. The switching shots of the girls and the police at the beginning are are on beat with the music.When Beyonce pumps her fist up the car behind her then explodes with fire which is again on beat with the music. The flicker (around 2:31) is in sync with the drum beat from the music.

REFERENCE TO THE NOTION OF LOOKING:
Perhaps when Beyonce and her back up dancers were dancing and then camera switches to armed police. On their shields we can see Beyonce and her back-up dancers.

USE OF CLOSE-UPS:
There are quite a few close-ups in this video to focus on Beyonce's facial expression and emotion as she is a powerful figure within this music video. Also the close-ups are used to emphasise her hair, make-up etc. and the black eyeliner makes her look very powerful and fierce.

INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCES:
-References to Cruella De-Vil. Her dress is 'Cruella De-Vil esque, by the way she raises up her hands it makes her look evil and the black eye make-up contributes this also, referring to the 101 Dalmatians character Cruella De-Vil. Also the gold shoes she is wearing late fashion designer Alexander McQueen is responsible for designing those type of shoes.

Genre Codes and Conventions

Analysis of 'Unfaithful' by Rihanna

• The video begins with the sound of a heartbeat which suggests maybe fear or a guilty conscience. Here the viewer sees a relationship between the music and visuals as each step Rihanna takes is in sync with the heartbeat.
• There is also voyeuristic treatment of the body, as we see the camera focusing on Rihanna's assets, curves etc. The viewer also see Rihanna putting on her lipstick and pulling up her lingerie which draws attention to her cleavage.
• The shots of her with the black guy make it clear to the viewer that she is cheating on her boyfriend. These shots of her and the guy change in time with the beat of the music. Also, these shots that are shown give a sense of the notion of looking as it is as if the viewer is spying/watching Rihanna.
• When Rihanna says 'I don't wanna do this anymore'-switches to the shot of her and the black guy. Even though she does not want to carry on cheating, she still carries on with it.
  
• 'I said I won't be long just hanging with the girls' looking at her phone, so it is as if she is texting the message to the person she is cheating on
• 'I'm about to go'- Rihanna pushes her hand to the side
• 'Die a little more inside'- Here, when Rihanna says this she clenches her fist and holds her arms closely to her chest
• This video also features codes and conventions used in R 'n' B videos as:
• Rihanna's make-up/Hair is well made
• Glamorous features e.g. her earrings, clothing
  
• There is a performance element to this video, when she goes on the stage and starts singing and the way she moves around, particularly on the piano is very dramatic
• The video is narrative based-as the viewer is let into the story of her cheating on her boyfriend
• There are also a lot close ups, and mid shots used to capture emotions and her body language.
  

Analysis of 'Telephone' by Lady Gaga

LADY GAGA featuring BEYONCE-'TELEPHONE'-Directed by Jonas Åkerlund.


This video contains elements of Goodwin's theory regarding music videos.

* Referencing the fact that she is a man
* The video is like a film
* Music-telephones ringing and viewer can also see the telephone (VIRGIN)
* Like the films 'Kill Bill' and 'Pulp Fiction' (Quentin Tarintino-elements of his style)
* The music video demonstrates genre characteristics as it is a pop video. So there is a lot of dancing, costume (of different outfits-which is focused on more in the video), the visuals don not illustrate the song-as she is singing about being in a club..'Hello, hello, baby; You called, I can't hear a thing. I have got no service in the club, you see, see…' whereas she is actually in a prison.
* There is also a relationship between the music and visuals as the visuals vibrate as the music jumps.
* Reference to notion of looking- CCTV type shots as if we are spying on her. there is also a blur of her bum.