Research : Music Video Analysis 2 (Black Eyed Peas - Where is the Love?)

   


Genre : R&B
Style : Performance and Concept based

Conventions following Goodwin

This is a performance based video as he's looking into camera and we can see the band singing throughout. Looking into camera is essential with promotional music videos as this connects with the fans visually which aids in getting their views/opinion across. 

This music video demonstrates its genre visually, as sportswear is a common choice of clothing for R&B, as seen here will.i.am wears a tracksuit top. In addition the costume for black man is tracksuit bottoms, vests and jeans and the clothing is mainly black. Stereotypically the colour black represents evil, however in this case it is the opposite of Strauss' theory of binary opposition as the Black Eyed Peas want unity and peace for the world. The people featured in the video bounce in time to the beat, this is common for the R&B genre. R&B songs usually deal with emotions and themes of pain and suffering which is certainly used in this music video.

Lyrics and Visuals match

1.) 'Where is the love?' lyrics that is sung are synced with a close up of a question mark.

2.) 'KKK' is referred to as well as other radicalised racist groups, this is shown visually through a mural which says 'We are not a minority'.

3.) The lyrics 'Will you practice what you preach' are synced with a man holding the bible to show what he believes in. He is stood in the middle of the street surrounded by people showing his isn't afraid for his religion.

4.) Television screens in a shop are showing crime, this links with the lyrics 'Negative images is the main criteria' because media is a prominent problem.

5.) The proxemics connect with the visuals as the lyrics sung 'feeling under' show the man sat down as inferior and powerless.

Concepts

The question marks are stuck onto the problems of the world. The symbol is an indexical sign as this represents a problem, a concern or confusion. The Statue of Liberty is a symbol freedom, however a question mark is placed on the flame, questioning the idea of freedom and making people aware.




Intertextuality

The question mark appears in crop circles, this could represent an idea of there being something more. This shot may link to the last shot where all the people are looking into the sky at something but we are never shown what.

How has this research influenced my creativity and my planning?

I like how the question mark is used to symbolise problems throughout the music video. Furthermore, I like the use of the montage showing different ethnicity's and ages as this shows the range of people who are effected. 

What I'll find difficult - The effects/symbols on major landmarks as I don't have access to these. A crane shot will not happen as we don't have equipment like this. 

Key Findings:

• High angle shots
• Establishing shot
• Whip pans
• Tracking
• Steady cam
• Close up
• Medium close up
• Extreme long shot
• Crane shots
• Panning
• Montage
• Extreme close up
• Low angle shot
• Shot reverse shot
• Canted angle
• Performance and concept
• Strauss theory 
• Goodwin theory 
• Genre characteristics