the chainsmokers - kanye

10
This music video for ‘Kanye’ is a narrative video which is similar to the narrative of popular children’s story, Cinderella, with the idea of superiority and not being able to ‘go to the ball.’ The music video features a female character as a maid, jealous over other girls; which we believe to be of the same age, being able to go out at night time and have fun. A sense of time and place is established throughout the video with the cinematography and editing techniques such as cutaways or time lapse. e Chainsmokers – Kanye ft. SirenXX When analysing characters throughout the video, the narrative is based around the female character which is introduced at the start, making her the main protagonist. Other characters who are shown are introduced in less personal ways and more to express the concept of the nightlife being full of intoxicated people having fun. The main protagonist is shown wearing a maid’s uniform cleaning, with a depth of field camera technique to establish that she is in the room with two other female characters. Although the two female characters are not in the focal point, the viewer can still interpret that the characters are dressed up, ready to go on a night out. This is also suggested when analysing the technical and audio codes, due to the diegetic sound revealing the two females discussing boys whilst the main protagonist is cleaning in the foreground. The way that the camera techniques has shown this character as the main focal point suggests the idea that although she is a maid and cleaning up after the girls, that the other girls are not superior to her; as she has the Focal point

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Page 1: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

This music video for ‘Kanye’ is a narrative video which is similar to the narrative of popular children’s story, Cinderella, with the idea of superiority and not being able to ‘go to the ball.’ The music video features a female character as a maid, jealous over other girls; which we believe to be of the same age, being able to go out at night time and have fun. A sense of time and place is established throughout the video with the cinematography and editing techniques such as cutaways or time lapse.

The Chainsmokers – Kanye ft. SirenXX

When analysing characters throughout the video, the narrative is based around the female character which is introduced at the start, making her the main protagonist. Other characters who are shown are introduced in less personal ways and more to express the concept of the nightlife being full of intoxicated people having fun. The main protagonist is shown wearing a maid’s uniform cleaning, with a depth of field camera technique to establish that she is in the room with two other female characters. Although the two female characters are not in the focal point, the viewer can still interpret that the characters are dressed up, ready to go on a night out. This is also suggested when analysing the technical and audio codes, due to the diegetic sound revealing the two females discussing boys whilst the main protagonist is cleaning in the foreground. The way that the camera techniques has shown this character as the main focal point suggests the idea that although she is a maid and cleaning up after the girls, that the other girls are not superior to her; as she has the audience’s full attention. This idea is further insinuated within the camera shots centring the main character in the middle of the screen, such as at the party further in the narrative. This gives the idea of importance towards the main character, as the people around her at the beginning of the video didn’t notice her, whereas further in the video, she starts to be the focus of everyone’s attention.

Focal point

Page 2: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

As a technical code, ‘The Chainsmokers’ has been positioned here in the iconic font to the artists in terms of self-reference so that the audience will become more familiar and remember this artist’s music video and song.

When looking into the editing techniques with the start of the music video, cross cuts are shown to represent the femininity of this scene in the narrative by showing shots with panning camera shots of makeup and jewellery, iconic to the female gender. This feminine representation is further suggested with the non-diegetic sound of the piano keys being high and the female, high voice, showing delicacy. This suggests that the target audience for this music and video may be aimed towards mostly the female gender.

Page 3: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

The music video continues to show iconography by showing the main protagonist now looking like a complete different character now that she is dressed up with her hair and makeup done. The white dress is symbolic towards the ideologies of purity and angelic. This could also be to further influence the Cinderella idea, with the ‘white ball gown’ style.

The narrative expresses the ‘Cinderella’ storyline idea further with shots of the main protagonist in the mirror putting dresses to herself and looking at different types of outfits.

Page 4: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

When exploring the technical codes, along with the editing techniques, the narrative is explained more with the time lapse techniques which are used to show how time is moving forward. For example, the time lapse of the cars and lights moving shows how the characters are on their way to a night out. Within the technical and audio codes, the video has been carefully edited so that the time lapse shots move with the beat of the music. I find this more effective when explaining the narrative as the upbeat track successfully shows the video being more upbeat and faster itself.

Another example of the technical and audio codes explaining narrative is with cut aways. However, instead of this time lapse effect, the cutaways establish how time is moving forward but by showing different parts of the music video. This explains the narrative but also the though process within the main character’s mind, which I find powerful in terms of how it brings a point of view narrative towards the video.

Page 5: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

The editing techniques; with the use of explaining the narrative with fast paced cutaways and shots of the night and the environment, is continued throughout the whole video in time with the instrumental music. The fast paced editing builds up throughout, getting faster and fuller each time in terms of shots used in this montage of shots. The narrative is being explained in ways that the audience can grasp the atmosphere of the environment which the main character is in, for example the pool party. Also, this montage of shots start to include past shots from the night, or from the beginning of the video when the main protagonist is a maid. This is effective in ways as it expresses character in an internal way, possibly suggesting the thought process in this characters’ mind, reflecting back on previous events.

Page 6: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

The camera shots of this video tend to show point of view shots and angles from the main protagonist’s view. This gives a more personal aspect to this video, showing more in the narrative how she is the main character. Iconography is further shown in the shots of her walking into a club with the red lighting, following the man. The red lighting suggests danger and rebellion. Followed by the quick paced cut aways along with the fast paced music further suggests the idea of possible rebellion and youth with the shots of alcohol, girls dancing and cocktail shakers, suggesting the character is at a club or a party. This is further shown with the use of lighting, flashing lights are shown such as strobe lights and projections of lights on people’s faces whilst dancing, along with lighting from objects such as chandeliers, suggesting youth in terms of the party and clubbing style of environment, however due to the props such as champagne and the chandelier, this shows that the party is still formal and a respectable environment, juxtaposing majority of pop videos which may feature the ideas of misuse of drugs and alcohol.

Camera shots are used specifically to establish location and explain the narrative often Another example is the use of tracking and panning in the music video when the main character is going from one style of party to another, being a pool party. The environment in still similar in terms of people, socialising and partying, however, the panning and tracking techniques explains the narrative in terms of how long and eventful this character’s night is.

Page 7: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

When analysing character, towards the end of the music video, a second character is introduced. I found this important within the narrative as the first time you see this character, the audience would not tend to notice her, showing irony in this narrative. The second character’s clothing is similar to the clothing of the main character at the start of the video, wearing a white shirt and a black skirt, as though she is catering at the party. This character is noticed when she is knocked over and drops drinks on the floor. When studying the narrative, the audience sees how this has been done to reflect back on the music video, giving the idea of ‘not forgetting who you are.’ The way that the main character gives the second character her crown helps to bring across the point of there being no such thing as superiority, as although the main character is now out partying, she still shows appreciation to the second character.

I find this effective in terms of narrative due to the characters as this causes the audience to remember this music video more as it forces them to think about the narrative and reflect back on it. This is done through character, but also with the editing techniques with the cutaways and montages of different shots from the video.

Page 8: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

The use of lighting helps to establish narrative in terms of time and location. This example shows how long the night is and the main protagonist’s journey home with the lighting going from lights from the buildings at night, to natural daylight, as though it is early in the morning.

This specific scene of the music video continues the narrative in the reflective effect again with the cutaway editing techniques. However, this editing technique is now used to suggest that the night is nothing but a memory now and shots are now put together in a different style of way. The shots begin to cut from the night out, back to present day, and repeat; this could be referring to the character’s thought process again, in the way that she is thinking back to the night.

Page 9: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

Towards the end of the music video, a complete different location is established as the character is arriving at her house. The camera shots help to reveal it is her house with the way that there are close up shots of specific things such as a child’s paintings, showing a more personal side to the character, and expressing how there is more important things than just partying, which is an effective way to express a message or deeper meaning through the narrative.

The way in which the main character is going through her house is almost as if she is sneaking in. This could be a further reference to the theme of youth in this video which has been suggested throughout. Two more characters are introduced briefly, however due to the camera shots, the audience can understand how these characters must be the main protagonist’s husband and child. This is effective with the narrative, as the audience learns more about the main character but also suggests the idea that you can still have fun and feel youthful when you’ve grown up.

Page 10: The Chainsmokers - Kanye

Todorov’s 5 stages of narrative theory could be applied with this music video in the concept of ‘exposition,’ ‘rising action,’ ‘rising action,’ ‘climax,’ and ‘falling action.’

The exposition is shown with the introduction of the main protagonist, being a maid and doing her job. The audience understands that this character seems fed up and tired of her job, suggesting a possible jealousy towards the other female characters in the background.

This is where the rising action is shown. With the main character trying on dresses, this creates a more rebellious and sneaky characteristic towards this character.

The rising action is continued after the main character is all dressed up and then goes on a night out with some other people. The way that the camera and editing techniques establishes settings and atmospheres, showing that the main character is having fun and partying.

The climax is then suggested with this main protagonist helping the female character who is seen to be catering at the party. The audience can tell how the main protagonist is considering about what really matter, which is shown more when this character is walking back home.

The falling action is towards the end of the music video. The audience is then aware of how the character has decided about what she really thinks is more important, such as her family. The music video ends with her at home with her family, and then a close up shot of her uniform, suggesting the narrative going back to reality; reflecting back on the exposition.