Research: Music Video Analysis 4

Artist: Beyonce

Song: If I were a boy

Release: 3rd October 2009 

Record Company: Columbia (Sony)

Director: Jake Nava 

Narrative: 
The narrative of this music video is about a man and woman that are in a damaged relationship. In the music video it shows both sides of the story giving the view point from both characters in the broken relationship.

Camera:

via GIPHY

via GIPHY

One camera technique that the music video 'If I were a boy' includes is a mid close up. The mid close up is the first shot that is seen within the video. This shot is of Beyonce and then goes into the man playing her boyfriend. This shot is shown after the words are said. The words that are mentioned include intimacy, honesty and commitment. Following this shot is an extreme close up of Beyonce's face. This shot highlights that fact that she is the artist, and that she should be the main focus of the video. The combination of these shots are significant to the video as the words that are said are the type of things that they want to see happen, however their relationship is completely different to how it should typically be.

via GIPHY

Another camera technique that is used in this music video is the idea of focusing. In the video the camera focuses and unfocuses along with Beyonce's actions. This type of camera work highlights the idea that the relationship with her boyfriend is slowly being lost and drifting away. This shot type is important to the video as it shows the being of the story. with this starting of their relationship journey in the music video.

Editing:

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In this music video it uses an editing technique that enables it to be added to the beat. Editing to the beat is beneficial to this type of music video as it allows the song to be enhanced, showing more the dramatic element of this music video. Having this dramatic element is able to link the music video to the song itself, allowing the audience to able to notice the significant link between the two parts of the music video. Adding on to this the use of editing to the beat means that the videos quality and standard improves as it allows the video to be in time with the music.

Mise-En-Scene:

via GIPHY

Mise-en-scene is what can be seen in the video. In the video for 'If I were a boy' it uses bright natural light, that goes along side the black and white filter. The combination of these different colours shows the artists true self and the timelessness within the video. The timelessness in the video allows the audience to know that the video was not filmed all in one day, and that it is a video over time. Having this video filmed over time suggests that this relationship has been spiraling out of control for the past couple of months, and is not going to be a relationship that is going to continue any longer.