Analyse the use of Media Language

Media language is very important in the media as the use of the camera, sound, editing techniques and Mise-en-scene all create a meaning to the audience. The meaning and narrative of my music video that is enforced by the use of media language is the message of the song; that it isn’t always obvious if someone is of a lower class by their first impression and in this instance, you cannot tell that my performer is homeless.

I carefully considered mise-en-scene, such as location. I chose rough locations such as underground walk way in train stations and alleyways with garages and fences. My main location which was an underground walk way was very dingy and grotty. There was water dripping from the ceiling and the wall lights created a yellow glow. I chose these two locations as I thought this would be where homeless people would sleep and beg for money. Another location I used was a train and the busy streets of London. I chose London as again I wanted a place where homeless people are stereotyped to be.

From my performer’s movement she seems very upbeat. She dances along to the song happily, bouncing around and is full of confidence and attitude. When in London she weaves in and out of the people, and doesn’t seem shy or intimidated by them. You wouldn’t be able to tell that she hiding a secret, as she seems happy and content. This fits in with the narrative that she seems like a happy person, and you wouldn’t tell she is homeless.

Another aspect of mise-en-scene is styling, which doesn’t give away that my performer is homeless. Overall I styled her to look very nineties to fit in with the theme. Throughout she wears either baggy trousers or leggings, with a crop top, checked shirt, denim jacket, a high ponytail tied with a scrunchie, small hoop earrings and dark lipstick. This outfit doesn’t change throughout as homeless people do not have the luxury of many outfits to choose from, although the audience does not know this until the end of the video. However, she looks very clean, and are clothes aren’t ripped or dirty as you would expect from a stereotypical homeless person. Again, this doesn’t give away that she is living on the streets, therefore portraying the message that it isn’t always clear from a first impression someone is of a lower class or at a disadvantage.

The sounds heard at the end of my music video is a contrast to the 3 minute song played before. Gypsy Woman is a very upbeat and cheery song that makes everyone want to dance. The lyrics of the song are in second person, referring to the homeless person as her or she. My performer mimes these lyrics fooling the audience into thinking she is singing about a homeless woman that she knows.  However, at the end of the video we see her begging on the streets, and the audience realise she has been singing about herself. Andrew Goodwin believes that music videos have narratives that link to the lyrics of the song. The lyrics of Gypsy Woman explain that you wouldn’t be able to know that the woman is homeless as ‘she is just like you and me’, and the audience wouldn’t have been able to tell my performer was homeless.

Compared to the happy song, the end shot features digetic sound of the wind blowing while my performer is sat on the streets begging for money. Also during this shot, a smartly dressed woman walks past and drops money into the tin can and you can hear the clang of the metal. This re-enforces the harsh reality of being homeless. Tajfel and Turner’s intergroup discrimination theory explains that audiences watch texts so they can feel superior to the characters whether it’s in terms of class or money. After seeing my performer living on the streets, they would feel superior and make their own lives seems better.

I dressed my second actress in a fitted coat, trousers and smart shoes to show the difference in class between my two characters. I used a cutaway shot during this footage, so we can only see this woman from the waist down meaning my homeless woman is still the main subject. However, by showing them in the same shot shows the contrast of the smartly dressed woman who has money to give away, to my performer who now is wrapped in an old blanket to keep her warm in the cold weather. The composition too shows the difference in class. My homeless woman is sitting on the ground, very small and low, while the woman walks past standing tall, reinforces that she is of a higher class.

The use of the pan camera movement while my performer is leaning against the brick wall or fence feels as if we are watching her without her acknowledgement. She has one leg bent against the wall while looking far into the distance and waiting, however we do not know why or who she is waiting for. The camera shot fits into Laura Mulveys theory of the Male Gaze, which views women as objects and are either a ‘virgin’ or ‘whore’ character. From the way the camera circles around her, the audience feel as if they are watching her, almost analysing and judging her an object, and how male would before he approaches a female or a predator watching their prey. Her clothing, which reveals her midriff, posture which shows attitude and the idea that she could be waiting for a male, reinforces the ‘whore’ character. This keeps the audience in suspense as we are not sure why she is waiting, and gives the idea that there may be a twist in the video or a secret unveiled. This unknown fits the restricted narration theory. This is where the narrative is kept minimal and not much information is given away, keeping the audience in the dark.

Quick cut editing is used near the end of the video between different locations and dancing shots combined with waiting shots. Throughout a lot of fades were used for the transition between shots. These were very smooth and subtle, as the shots would fade out to black and then the next would fade in, but in the last 30 seconds, suddenly it’s just a quick cutting between quick footage. During this time a spinning camera movement is used. The camera is stationary on one point, however quickly spins 360 degrees many times filming a rough location. This adds to the sudden rush and pace.  The sudden change in pace of editing builds tension, letting the audience know that something is going to happen.

Through the use of the camera shots, mise-en-scene, editing techniques and sound, my music video communicates the message that you can’t always judge someone by the first appearance. This is to the message of the song, which is you cannot tell this woman is homeless as she looks just like any ordinary person.