TASK 3 TEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF MUSIC VIDEOS NAME OF TRACK: Hey Ya ARTIST: Outkast Features GENRE CHARACTERISTICS Observations It is an Illustration

Music Video, but a performance video not with a real narrative. Examples No real story is created through the lyrics, however before the music there is some narrative, but it is linked to why they are performing, not essentially the lyrics.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LYRICS AND VISUALS?

With it being a performance video not many links between the lyrics and visuals are present, but there are still some.

Firstly he says shake it like a Polaroid Picture to which the visuals show the mock audience taking then shaking Polaroid Pictures. Whilst the lyrics also say shake it which is matched by the live audience and those watching on TV, to dance and shake their bodies. Furthermore the idea of the video is to make it look like Outkast are performing to a live audience, with the illusion not being broken as the two elements are not shown together in the same shot. So the Stereotypical British man says they are in London for the first time, creating and showing the relationship between lyrics and visuals.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSIC AND VISUALS?

There are links between these two elements of the video.

Andre 3000 is dancing round the microphone to the beat of the music, whilst the backing singers (dressed as jockeys) are swaying to the music, as well as moving their hands to the musics rhythm. Also the audience are dancing

and enjoying the musical performance. Meanwhile a girl runs on during the performance giving the illusion the two separate elements are as one, and is also a common event to see at a concert/gig. ARE THERE CLOSE-UPS OF THE ARTIST AND STAR IMAGE MOTIFS? There are many close ups of the artsist, whilst there is something that could be classed as a motif of the artist. Close ups of Outkast ar frequent, but most of them focus on Andre 3000, the lead singer and performer. This highlights it is a performance video and the he is the main star and focus point. A motif could be seen as the costume the worn by the artist, they tend to wear brightly coloured suits. Its sort of their trademark.

IS THERE REFERENCE TO THE NOTION OF LOOKING?

There is certainly reference to the notion of looking in this video.

There is a lot of eye contact created by the audience by the artist, which is enhanced by the lyrics that to an extent confront the viewer. Meanwhile he also nods approvingly at himself when there are two Andre 3000s as if to say he thinks he is it.

ARE THERE INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCES?

Possibly.

The reference to the Polaroid Picture could be seen as this and it could also be

viewed as a plug or advertisement for Polaroid. IS THE VIDEO CATEGORY ILLUSTRATION, DISJUNCTURE OR AMPLIFICATION? HOW MUCH OF EACH? It is an Illustration Music Video, but a performance video not with a real narrative. The video definitely contains features of Amplification, as it is not just a ordinary performance video. Disjuncture doesnt really feature. No real story is created through the lyrics, however before the music there is some narrative, but it is linked to why they are performing, not essentially the lyrics. The performance element is further enhanced by the Notion of Looking featuring. The narrative part at the beginning does not continue throughout, but the video does run chronologically and includes no flash back/forward between this narrative. The actual performance is an illusion and attempts to make the audience and artist appear as one, when they are not actually, an effect which is enhanced by the stage invader. Amplification can also be seen by the location and especially the costume such as the backing singers dressed as jockeys, whilst having two Andre 3000s further enhances the Amplification of the video. The singers dressed as jockeys could be seen as disjuncture as they have no relation the lyrics or music.