Analysing a music video

This is an example of a chosen music video suggested by our teacher Tim that as a group of me, India and Sophie can use to analyse, looking at introduction, genre, setting, costume, props, body language & movement and narrative, and then reflection upon them in the final section.

Introduction

Throughout the music video, the themes of sexism and gender roles within most conventional country videos is pivotal, and the story of the video hinges on the effect of those gender roles being reversed, such as the clothing and style of female country singers and actresses being applied to the male actors in the videos. This involves dressing them in the same stereotypical clothing as is usually worn by the females, such as crop tops, short shorts and other skimpy outfits. This gives a strong impact to the role reversal effect that this video presents.

Genre

The genre of music is country, but it is unconventional for its genre as it is mocking the country music genre for its sexism and unnecessary over sexualisation of women, and demonstrates how ridiculous those gender rules and conventions actually are. This breaks the usual conventions of a country music video by exposing the sexist themes and attempting to show how absurd the gender roles shown in this genre are and how they should be abolished.

However, while it is mocking the genre for its usual sexist tones, it too conforms to a large amount of the usual country music conventions. An example of this would be the way in which women are treated at the start of the video, being catcalled and objectified by the men who are sitting on the back of the truck. They are shown to do this likely due to the clothing, and therefore when the roles are reversed the major visual change is the clothing to help the audience associate this with the way females are treat

Setting

Through the video, almost all settings presented in frame are conventional of music videos in the country genre, taking place mainly on farms that are littered with various other country-conventional set pieces such as pick-up trucks, hay bales and barbeques. This all helps give the video an authentic country song look, which further helps to tell the narrative of the video and conveys the genre.

Through the various settings used, the audience is made to believe at the start that it is just another normal and conventional country music video, which continues to hold up during the not-so-normal scenes during which the gender roles are reversed. This therefore makes effective use of the surroundings given by using the setting to not only demonstrate the genre from the start and first few opening shots, but to maintain that look throughout the entire video. This helps the video stay conventional to the genre while still allowing room for the gender role challenging to be placed.

Costume

During the entire video, costume plays one of the most pivotal parts in the telling of the narrative in the whole music video. Through the costume, gender roles are associated and represented with crop-tops, short shorts and dungarees, with straw sun hats. Representing the women in the music video through this manner allows for a better representation of the roles being reversed when the men are walking dressed in the same type of clothing in the same style.

This stereotype is further explored when throughout a large amount of the video the lead singers are shown in non-conventional clothes that are less exposing then the conventional ones – long sleeved tops, jeans and large boots that cover a lot of their legs. This is unconventional due to the large amount of skin that is usually being exposed being covered up, therefore associating that with them breaking free of their designated gender roles and dressing as they like in a manner that suits their own needs and wants. This also furthers the uncomfortable look of the men in the conventional female outfits, as it shows them as the literal opposite of how the females have chosen to dress, as they look very uncomfortable and unnatural in them.

Props

Jewellery is used to convey the character of the girls, being very girly; they are wearing lots of accessories to show how they care about their appearance and want to portray themselves in a ladylike manner.  The jewellery also convey the characteristic of the girls as if it was black, chunky accessories you would stereotype the girls as ‘Goths’ and maybe unapproachable.  Shallow depth of field is used at the beginning of the video to blur the background, making the girls the main focus where you then focus on what they are wearing, being light colours, and what they are holding; a guitar, this shows the acoustic instruments and convey the genre.  The wallpaper of the room is pink, following the stereotype of a girl having pink as a favourite colour as it’s girly.  The men have cowboy hats/straw hats to also represent the genre.  Typical connotations of Country are wearing cowboy hats, checked shirts, white t-shirts under, cowboy boots.  Specific props are used in the mise-en-scene to create the correct ideology for the genre.

Body Language & Movement

At the beginning of the video feature girls in a group which is very stereotypical of the gender, as girls are very reliant on each other, and often do everything together.  There are more than one groups suggesting characteristics of girls and how they can be quite gossipy about other girls out of jealousy.  One of the girls is leaned over the motorbike, in eye view of the men which is quite provocative behaviour suggesting how women are sexual objects.  A girl to the left also looks at her nails while talking, conveying the cliché stereotype of being girly and more interested in themselves and appearance than conversation.  In contrast, two girls at the back are throwing a ball, although they are wearing different clothing to the other girls as they are more covered up.  

They are at the back also conveying how girls who don’t follow the girly stereotype of being interested in their appearance, and nails and don’t partake in sport get less attention paid to again suggesting how women are sexual objects.  This is also suggested by how one of the singers, Tae is fiddling with her pen to her cheek representing her not focusing trying to be in a seductive manner.  In contrast, the guys are represented in a ‘laddish’ way, as they are in a group and nudge each other to look at how attractive the girls look; another stereotype of male gender is how they only care about girls.

Narrative

This music video presents typical stereotypes of gender roles, presenting the girls with long wavy blonde hair, with makeup in little clothing representing how they’re a sexual object and attractive.   The women are the ones singing, women are preferably more linguistic than men; another stereotype of a girl is that they are dramatic and are centre of attention which is represented in this music video, also represented by the name of the song ‘Girl In A Country Song’.

 They have pink lipstick and eye shadow another typical stereotype of a girl is how they are girly, which wearing pink lipstick and eyeshadow conveys, this is also conveyed through the use of the pink pen used; the props used help to create the narrative.  A sign is shown reading ‘Role reversal’ to help the audience to understand the narrative of the video.  This is followed by the camera tilting upwards showing men wearing little clothing walking seductively towards the camera mimicking the stereotype of girls to create humour and entertain the audience.

Reflection

By analysing ‘Girl in a Country Song’ by Maddie and Tae with Taylor Swift’s ‘You Belong With Me, it has helped me understand typical generic conventions within the specific genre, country.  I have come to a general conclusion that the people look similar, particularly focusing on makeup used; Taylor Swift uses very subtle makeup, where as if it was a rock video she might have really heavy dark eye makeup conveying more of a heavy genre. 

She has blonde wavy hair, mirroring ‘Girl In A Country Song’ blonde is a very subtle, light colour conveying the lightness and subtle use of instruments in Country, often using acoustic guitar.  Taylor Swift in her music video is supposed to be the girl who is unnoticed in comparison to another girl, her subtle coloured hair I have learnt that the props, body language and movement should all connote a meaning connected to the actual song, the narrative also helps massively to help the audience to understand the meaning of the song.