Textual Analysis of a Music Video

Textual Analysis of a Music Video.

Beyoncé - Diva

Mise-en-scene-
By the location you wouldn't really connote glamour and success as the first location is a overflow stream in the city and the rest of the locations are very industrial for example, In one location there seems to be a car with plastic dolls hanging out of the boot, in an abandoned car park and another locations seems to be an unused builders site. This could represent how women can also be in a male environment as well. Beyoncé and her backing dancers are also wearing sunglasses even when they're inside in a location that uses low key lighting. This is a sign of arrogance and of who they are (Their status in society). This is because people usually spend lots and lots of money on shades, especially designer one's. She is also wearing very high heels with very extravagant shades, while walking in a very arrogant manor. This connotes a sense dominance and how she is better than everybody else. Throughout the video it connotes females being successful as well as sexy. By adding in life size Oscar awards. This can be seen as a little brag of what she has, making a statement that even though she is a woman she is very successful and more successful than most men. This can also be seen when she has a fan made out of 100 dollar bills. connoting that she has money to blow and spend on useless things. The lyrics even present the singer has being more successful as a man, this is where it can be heard that she is calling out for a man who has more money that she does. The video starts with the dictionary definition of the word 'Diva' stating that it is a glamorous successful woman. She is also seen wearing heels throughout the whole music video showing she is a dominant character with all of her attributes within her dancing. She is also backed up by two female dancers showing that they are able to get a job done without a man. Everything Throughout the Music video is very fierce showing that woman aren't just small, timid, voiceless people, but in fact have a voice just as loud and powerful as everyone else in the world. The attitude presented, connotes a sense of being her own person, her own boss e.c.t. Hence the diamonds, glitz and the glamour. The attitude present has a sense of intimidation towards men, as men are stereo-typically scared of a successful female. She also mentions giving her, her 'bags of that money' showing dominance again. Furthermore, the lyrics also present her as being a successful woman, by the words 'There's no passengers on my plane' with connotations of her having her own private plane. This is the proof of her her success as she is able to purchase her own private jet (which are expensive!). Lastly the words 'A diva is a female version of a hustler' connoting that men and woman are equal. Throughout the video, there is also small bits of symbolism for example; she wears jeans, a leather jacket, a cigar and chewing gum. This is also symbolism of a stereotypical male.
Sound- 
By this being a music video it means that the artist has pre-recorded themselves singing the song and then is filmed lip syncing the lyrics. There is very, very rarely ever diegetic sound/music in a music video. However, there is sometimes diegetic sound in the music video of the artist or actors talking. An example of this would be Hailee Stanfield- Most Girls, where an actor and her are talking at the start of the music video as a from of portraying the story line. However, in the music video there aren't any talking segments. At the end is a diegetic explosion and police sirens, but other than that there aren't any other diegetic sounds.  
Camera angles-
Throughout the music video a lot of tracking, close up and low/medium shots are used. An example of the low angles, the first one would be 48 seconds in, when Beyonce and the two other females are seen to be standing in a dark warehouse with a massive white light shinning down on them while wearing black and white with sun glasses. Beyonce is shown to be singing with a lot of attitude down towards the camera, as if she is shouting down towards us, the audience watching. This is a sign of dominance that she is above the audience as she is a 'diva'. The majority of the shots are handheld we can see this through the free movement in the footage compared to a shaky dolly footage. This gives it a sense of roughness and of a rugged manly location and the feel.The close up shots show her facial expressions and the dollar bills. close up shots are very good as the audiences are really able to see the characters and who it is, identifying that she is a female./There is also a couple of shots that include the ,ale gaze theory, which completely goes against the message of the story. Being a strong 'diva' female who is glamours and successful. However this could have been used as a way of revealing that Beyonce is in fact a woman. Showing that she is going against all of the odds of prejudice, unfair pay and being sexulised by the media and society in general. Finally, throughout the video a lot of shadows and dark/low key lighting is used. This connotes the power she has and how she isn't scared of anything, juxtaposed to a stereotypical high key lighting and colourful set.
Narrative- 
The story line in this video is of a strong beautiful female who is successful, who isn't defined by her good looks. I believe that there is only one story line connoted through this music video. There isn't much to say about the story line other than the fact it in-powers woman into being successful by them selves and not needing a man to support them. The message connoted through the this video is that woman shouldn't rely on other people to support them, they can provide and support themselves. I feel this music video has is a good message for women as they are being taught that being a 'diva' is a good thing and that being a 'diva' should be desirable for woman. This is also backed up by all female cast and the image and message that Beyonce as an artist upholds.
Editing- 
I feel throughout the music video the editing is held at a fast pace. This may be because they want to convey that fast paced life Beyonce has and the fast paced life of a female 'baller'. I believe they have done this to show the audience what it is like for a successful woman. I wouldn't say that there were any special transitions within the piece due to the piece being a very fast paced music video.

This can help me in my music video as i am able to refer back to this piece and see what a successful music video looks like with the best connotations. This is also helpful for me as i am able to look at all of the different media sections and see how each part is instrumental to the success of the video.