c:\users\morgan\documents\case study madonna like a prayer
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TRANSCRIPT
Track: Like A Prayer
Artist: Madonna
Genre: Pop
Genre characteristics
• Performance element – Madonna singing• Close up’s of female artist• Voyeuristic clothing and shots• Upbeat – although not all upbeat, but the choir
and the end being that it was all a show provides the audience with a sense of happiness. Whenever its one of the negative scenes such as the woman being murder the beat is still upbeat
Is there a relationship between visuals and lyrics
The lyrics are mostly illustrated within this video, the song is referring to many different things to do with religion and belief and the visuals link with this idea.
• Everyone must stand alone – she gets up looking in a stark environment by herself
• Feels like home – walks in the church closes the door as if it were her house
• Falling, out of the sky – appears to be falling with the sky as the background
Is there a relationship between visuals and music
• The editing is fast paced in some areas of the music video that link with the music getting faster
• The gospel choir is also a performance element that is focused on through the visuals and links with the music
Are there any close ups of the artist or any star image motifs
• Lots of close up’s of the artist – common in music videos especially in pop videos
• There aren’t any references of any star motifs throughout the video
Is there any reference to the notion to looking (voyeurism)
• There is reference to the notion of looking throughout
• Madonna wears clothing that shows a lot of her body off, this invites the audience to look at a her in a sexual way
• The camera pans up following up her body forcing the viewers to see her in a voyeuristic way.
Are there any references of intertextuality
• The whole video uses intertextual references of the bible, church and generally the Christian religion.
• Although it doesn’t seem to agree strongly with the churches view; There is a black man suggested as being God or a saint with who she also kisses, there are burning crosses in some scenes and she uses a black gospel choir. It is a much more open view of the church providing controversy but providing people with an open mind about racial equalities and the normal view of the Christian religion.