My Chosen Genre

For my A2 music video, I have chosen the song ‘Raining Men’ by Rihanna, featuring Nicki Minaj. This song falls into the hip-hop genre, which consists of stylised rhythmic music that is commonly accompanied by rapping. The four main styles within the hip-hop genre are rapping, scratching, dancing and graffiti writing. In my chosen song, rapping is fairly common from both of the artists.
Hip-hop is a very wide in terms of its subgenres. In relation to my chosen song, I feel that the subgenres within hip-hop that link best towards its lyrics are ‘Crunk’ and ‘Conscious Rap’. Established in the 1990s, Crunk is a chaotic mixture of club-orientated beats and a high-energy, repetitive chorus. Conscious rap songs, however, focus on portraying uplifting messages with the idea that social change comes from self-knowledge and personal discovery. I feel that this subgenre links with my song as ‘Raining Men’ is a song largely aimed at women, with the key message that they should not worry about any one male, as there’s ‘plenty more fish in the sea’. This links well with today’s society, in which woman are slowly developing a balance with men by becoming more independent and powerful. Jason Mitchell (2001) argues that genres are cultural categories, which are used by both the music industry and the audience in order to interpret knowledge of current society into media texts. Therefore, ‘Raining Men’ reflects these ideas, by interpreting concepts about the growing equality between men and women into their video and lyrics in order to create a very feminist song, ‘keep your money I can buy my own drink’.
Conventionally, hip-hop artists are usually portrayed in their videos to be surrounded by wealth. Particularly within videos for male artists, we associate hip-hop with cars, girls and expensive jewellery. Female hip-hop artists are often seen in elaborate, expensive outfits. Most hip-hop videos are performance based and commonly involve dancing. For example, in Nicki Minaj’s video for ‘Massive Attack’, Nicki is represented as a wealthy feminist, as we see her driving a pink Lamborghini through the desert. Nicki is dressed elaborately, though is fairly scantily clad, and is frequently seen wearing large items of jewellery. Rapper Sean Garrett features within the song, and is seen representing typical male hip-hop artists within the video. For example, in one scene we see him wearing a baseball cap, baggy jeans and a baggy white vest; he also wears large items of ‘bling’. In another scene, we see him with only a pair of baggy jeans on, making his tattoos visible down his arms and chest. In an earlier scene we can also see that Nicki Minaj also has a tattoo down her arm. Tattoos are also a conventional aspect associated with Hip-hop artists. Additionally, similarly typical of hip-hop artists are black sunglasses, and typical of their videos is often alcohol, which codes for the wealthy lifestyles of the artists.
Typically, hip-hop videos are usually associated with black culture and are filmed in either the streets or in the club. However, as black and white cultures become more and more equal in society, white people are beginning to be incorporated within these videos. For example, rap artist Eminem is seen to be one of the most successful artists within this particular genre. In addition, the ideas of the genre have also evolved over time, an idea which is argued by Steve Neale (1995). For example, hip-hop originated from African American culture and held Jazz influences. The music began from a less wealthy culture, where artists sang and rapped about social, economic and political realities. It is clear from more modern music videos that they have evolved and have become more about the wealth and success.
Overall, hip-hop artists incorporate aspects into their video that code for wealth, and cause the audience to desire their lifestyles. Many videos use close-ups of the artist in order for the audience to visualise their expressions more clearly, and in order to show that the artist is important and powerful. The hip-hop genre is typically one of the most popular music genres for youths, and the lyrics are intended to relate to this audience by creating meaning and representing society.

Questionnaire

As well as creating various polls upon my blog, I have also incorporated these questions into an online survey which allows me to acheive graphs from the answers received.

Click here for questionnaire

I shall use the information from this questionnaire in order to determine who I am aiming my video at, and what my video needs to include in order to attract this target audience.

My Chosen Song

The song I have chosen for my music video production is Rihanna ft. Nicki Minaj - Raining Men', taken from Rihanna's album 'Loud'.
This song is influenced by the original 'Raining Men' song by The Weather Girls in 1982, but has been recreated with a modern twist, including rap and representing a different genre.

Painting Anaylsis

I feel that this particular painting by Andy Warhol, 'A Shot of Marylin Monroe', will influence my music video. My chosen song is upbeat and somewhat holds a sense of 'fun', therefore I feel that the bright and contrasting colours of this pop art picture will similarly work well within my music video. The original photo which created this artwork shows Marylin Monroe wearing strong makeup; this is also typical of many female artists within their music videos nowadays, as perhaps they use it in order to make a statement. I feel that Marylin holds a sense of glamour about her photo, which I will also try to apply to my chosen performers for my video. Within my video, though my performers will not have coloured faces, I will try to incorporate the coloured backgrounds and the colours into the clothing and styling.

Music Video Analysis #3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVBsypHzF3U&ob=av3e

Lady Gaga feat Beyonce - Telephone

Hello, hello, baby
You called, I can't hear a thing
I have got no service
In the club, you see, see
Wha-Wha-What did you say?
Oh, you're breaking up on me
Sorry, I cannot hear you
I'm kinda busy

K-kinda busy
K-kinda busy
Sorry, I cannot hear you, I'm kinda busy

Just a second
It's my favorite song they're gonna play
And I cannot text you with a drink in my hand, eh
You should've made some plans with me
You knew that I was free
And now you wont stop calling me
I'm kinda busy

Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna think anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna talk anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)
Im busy!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (I'm busy)
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)

Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone
Out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone

Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone!
Out in the club and I'm sippin' that bub
And youre not gonna reach my telephone!

[Beyoncé]
Boy, the way you blowin' up my phone
Won't make me leave no faster
Put my coat on faster
Leave my girls no faster
I should've left my phone at home
'Cuz this is a disaster
Callin' like a collector
Sorry, I cannot answer

Not that I don't like you
I'm just at a party
And I am sick and tired of my phone r-ringing

[Beyoncé]
Sometimes I feel like
I live in Grand Central Station.
But tonight I'm not takin' no calls,
'Cuz Ill be dancin' (dance)
(Tonight I'm dancing)
Cause Ill be dancin' (dance)
(Tonight I'm dancing)
'Cuz I'll be dancin' (tonight I'm dancing)
Tonight I'm not takin' no calls, 'cuz I'll be dancin'

Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna think anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna talk anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna think anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor
Stop callin', stop callin'
I don't wanna talk anymore
I left my head and my heart on the dance floor

Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (I'm busy)
I'm busy!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (Stop telephonin' me)
Stop telephonin' me!
Eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh (I'm busy)

Can call all you want but there's no one home
'Cuz I'm out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone

Can call all you want but there's no one home
And you're not gonna reach my telephone
Cause I'm out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone! (D-D-D-Darkchild)

My telephone
M-m-my telephone
'Cuz I'm out in the club and I'm sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone

My telephone
M-m-my telephone

'Cuz I'm out in the club and Im sippin' that bubb
And you're not gonna reach my telephone
We're sorry, We're sorry,
the number you have reached is not in service at this time
Please check the number, or try your call again

This particular song fits into the pop/hip-hop genre, which is reflected by Lady Gaga whose music is usually focused around pop, and Beyoncé whose music is predominately R&B. The video is largely narrative based, and includes an extended narrative which ultimately results in the video being over nine minutes long; compared to the typical three or four minutes of regular length music videos.

The video begins in continuation from Lady Gaga's previous released song 'Paparazzi', in which she poisons her boyfriend and is arrested for her crime. Within the telephone video, the establishing shot is of a metal gate, surrounded by barbed wire. From this, we can instantly assume that the video will be shot within a prison. Credits introducing the names of those within the video, the name of the song, and its production company appear over the images of the video, and from this the 'short story' aspect of the video is established. The production company is named 'Serial pictures', and this links with the crime within Gaga's last video, and those that she will commit alongside Beyoncé within this video, causing the two of them to become 'serial killers'. Our first shot of Gaga is of her being dragged through a prison, surrounded by cells containing women shouting abuse at her. Gaga is dressed in a black and white striped dress; the colours and pattern often associated with criminals. The next scene shows Gaga entering the exercise yard of the prison, this time dressed in black and wrapped in chains; referencing her lack of freedom. We see Gaga then kiss a very masculine looking female, which establishes the stereotypes of a female prison, in which many of them are addressed as being 'butch' or homosexual. Both Gaga and the other female appear to have tattoos; also another stereotype of criminals.

The next scene shows Gaga back inside the prison, in a large cell full of lots of woman, all of whom are dressed in black and white; again the colours associated with criminals. Two of the women get into a fight, which is another stereotype of what goes on within a prison. Whilst the fight occurs, a voice over the speaker within the cell state 'Beyoncé on the phone for Gaga'. Gaga answers the phone, and with this the song begins. Gaga performs a dance routine with several other women within the prison, all of whom are scantily clad. Dance routines are typical of videos for this type of upbeat, 'club-worthy' song, and so this is a conventional aspect of the video. Later in the video, there is also another dance routine performed by Beyoncé and Gaga together with a group of other people. Within this routine, Gaga and Beyoncé are centred to show that this is their video and they are the most important people within the shot. Another scene shows Gaga within her own prison cell, this time wearing only yellow 'crime scene' tape, which represents the scene from her last video in which she killed her boyfriend. Following this scene, the song is intervened by another piece of the narrative, in which Gaga is bailed out of prison by an unknown source. As Gaga leaves the prison, the first thing we see is a red and yellow painted vehicle with the text 'pussy wagon' written on the back. Gaga enters the car, though her large black hat covers the face of who is in the driving seat. As Gaga sits back, Beyoncé is revealed. Beyoncé comes across as a very poor actor within this scene, though this is used to add to the comedy aspect of the video. Gaga calls Beyoncé 'Honey Bee', which is a reference to the character Honey Bunny in the 1994 crime film 'Pulp Fiction.' The song starts up again and Beyoncé begins her verse as she drives the car. After her verse, the song stops and the narrative begins again. The sign for a diner is shown, which establishes the location and mise-en-scene for the next shot. Beyoncé enters the diner wearing all yellow, with a pair of black glasses the double as a pair of black ears; an outfit that is similar to the outfit Gaga wore within her previous video in order to poison her boyfriend. Beyoncé sits opposite her boyfriend, and instead of speaking words to each other, the words they wish to say are displayed in bold text across the bottom of scene. We can instantly see that Beyoncé’s boyfriend is arrogant and disrespectful towards her, from his attitude to an innocent man sat by the counter of the diner, and from the way in which he smacks another girl as he passes. In the meantime, we see Beyoncé pouring a small bottle of blue liquid into his cup of tea, and a small skeleton logo often associated with harmful products displays next to the cup in order to show us that the liquid is poison. The next scene shows Gaga within the kitchen of the diner, wearing a hat made out of pieces of a blue telephone. The words 'let’s make a sandwich' are displayed across the scene, and Gaga proceeds to do this amongst dancing with the kitchen staff, all of whom are wearing white; typical of chefs.

When the song ends and we see Gaga and Beyoncé driving down a long stretch of road in their truck. Before the pair drive into the distance, we see a close-up of their hands as they link them together; which is also a reference from the film 'Bonny and Clyde', and the words 'To be continued...' are displayed across the screen. Within the background we can hear police sirens, suggesting that the pair is fleeing the crime and are now on the run. This also gives hope to the audience that the pair will duo again. The credits for the short film are quickly run down the screen, whilst in the background we hear an operator for a phone, and the video ends.

The audience for this video are both pop and hip-hop fans, as well as fans of Gaga and of Beyoncé. This will be both males and females of ages from 12 to 30. Gaga and Beyoncé’s collaboration comes from two different record labels, as Beyoncé is signed to Columbia which is owned by Sony Music Entertainment and Gaga to Interscope Records, owned by Universal Music Group.

Music Video Analysis #2

Nicki Minaj - Superbass

This one is for the boys with the boomin' system
Top down, AC with the coolin' system
When he come up in the club, he be blazin' up
Got stacks on deck like he savin' up

And he ill, he real, he might got a deal
He pop bottles and he got the right kind of build
He cold, he dope, he might sell coke
He always in the air, but he never fly coach

He a mutha****in trip, trip, sailor of the ship, ship
When he make it drip, drip kiss him on the lip, lip
That's the kind of dude I was lookin' for
And yes you'll get slapped if you're lookin' ho

I said, excuse me you're a hell of a guy
I mean my, my, my, my you're like pelican fly
I mean, you're so shy and I'm loving your tie
You're like slicker than the guy with the thing on his eye, oh

Yes I did, yes I did
Somebody please tell him who the eff I is
I am Nicki Minaj, I mack them dudes up
Back coupes up, and chuck the deuce up

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

He got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Yeah that's that super bass

Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, yeah that's that super bass

This one is for the boys in the Polos
Entrepreneur niggas in the moguls
He could ball with the crew, he could solo
But I think I like him better when he dolo

And I think I like him better with the fitted cap on
He ain't even gotta try to put the mac on
He just gotta give me that look, when he give me that look
Then the panties comin' off, off, unh

Excuse me, you're a hell of a guy
You know I really got a thing for American guys
I mean, sigh, sickenin' eyes
I can tell that you're in touch with your feminine side, oh

Yes I did, yes I did
Somebody please tell him who the eff I is
I am Nicki Minaj, I mack them dudes up
Back coupes up, and chuck the deuce up

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

He got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Yeah that's that super bass

Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, yeah that's that super bass

See I need you in my life for me to stay
No, no, no, no, no I know you'll stay
No, no, no, no, no don't go away

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Don't you hear that heartbeat comin' your way?
Oh it be like, boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

He got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Yeah that's that super bass

Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, yeah that's that super bass


The audience of this particular music video will be both male and female fans of the hip-hop/rap genre, and particularly fans of Nicki Minaj. The music video may attract females slightly more than males, merely because it includes many aspects with a slightly more feminine feel. For example, almost all of the video features a very girly pink background. In all but one scene, Nicki herself is wearing a pink wig. Also, there are several scenes that involve topless men, which may not appeal to the majority of men. However, there are aspects of the video that will attract a male audience, which mainly includes the female dancers, and Nicki herself, all of whom wear very little throughout the video.

'Superbass' is the seventh single released from Nicki Minaj's debut album 'Pink Friday'. Nicki Minaj is a female rap/hip-hop artist signed by the independant record label 'Young Money Entertainment'. The genre of this particular song is hip-hop. Therefore, the video contains various codes and conventions for this genre.
The video begins with an extreme close-up of Nicki Minaj with her eyes shut. As the music begins, she opens her eyes, and the camera zooms in on this action. The camera then cuts to a shot of an ice sculpture. At first we are unaware as to what the ice sculpture is, but it is soon revealed to be a motorbike of some sort. Expensive vehicles are typical of the hip-hop genre and the music videos within the genre, and this is further emphasised by the ice sculpture; something which we would often relate with a high-class party, associated with someone who is fairly well off in terms of their money. Also in terms of vehicles, the camera also cuts to a shot of a pink, convertible and clearly expensive car. Not only does this relate to the genre, it also relates to the lyrics as Nicki sings ‘top down, AC with the cooling system’ over this particular shot. We also see a shot of a pink plane. The next cut is to an extreme close-up of a stack of dollar notes, which increases along with the beat of the music. The camera also cuts to a shot of a pink champagne bottle within a wine cooler, surrounded by pink champagne glasses. Each of these shots show wealth and represent an outgoing lifestyle. The dominant pink colour of each of these shots emphasise Nicki’s feminine attitude towards rap music; a world which is predominantly full of male artists. This is also portrayed through Nicki’s styling, as she wears a pink, zebra print body suit, a pink wig and bright yellow eye shadow. In most male hip-hop artists’ videos, attractive women dominate the camera, and so in Nicki’s video, her video is dominated by toned, attractive men. As the song is fairly upbeat with a club-worthy rhythm, the video shows a number of girls alongside Nicki performing a dance routine, which is often typical of this type of upbeat, high tempo song. All of the girls within this routine are wearing the same outfit, and the same pink wig. Nicki is centred within the line of girls. As they perform the routine, the camera cuts to a low shot, looking upwards towards Nicki; this camera angle makes her seem dominant and powerful. As the music continues we see a scene involving a group of topless males and a pool filled with pink water. Nicki enters the pool wearing a green swim suit and a green wig; resembling a mermaid. Being the only girl within this scene, surrounded by males, Nicki somehow remains dominant. Whilst in the pool, she holds a champagne glass full of a pink liquid, which she throws over one of the males, almost establishing her power. Nicki is then seen by herself again, performing the song to the camera whilst sitting upon the motorbike ice sculpture that we saw in a previous scene. Within this shot, flashing lights surround Nicki, making it seem as though she is being photographed; her body language also reflects this. The final scene shows Nicki and her dancers performing a routine around a group of males sitting in chairs. They are in the dark apart from the U.V. light shining on each of them, making their white clothing and bright makeup almost glow in the dark; this represents a nightclub feel, where people dance in the ultraviolet light, perhaps with glow sticks. The final scene is of Nicki and one male, who is a wearing a large chain around his neck that has engraved the letters 'S.B.' for 'SuperBass'. Nicki holds up his chain as the music fades out.

This particular music video is largely performance based, and therefore lacks a storyline. It mostly features Nicki performing the lyrics to the camera in various different settings and outfits. The video is very colourful, reflecting the upbeat and positive nature of the song. The video reflects the lyrics being sang by Nicki; for example, when Nicki sings ‘…and I’m loving your tie’ she is standing beside a male in an expensive looking suit, and grabs his tie.

Music Video Analysis #1

Eminem – Love the way you lie (ft. Rihanna)

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

I can't tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now there's a steel knife in my windpipe
I can't breathe
But I still fight, while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right
It's like I'm in flight
High off her love, drunk from my hate
It's like I'm huffin' paint, and I love it
The more that I suffer, I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown
She resuscitates me
She ****ing hates me
And I love it
"Wait, where you going?"
"I'm leaving you"
"No you ain't, come back"
We're running right back
Here we go again
It's so insane
Cause when it's going good
It's going great
I'm Superman
With the wind at his back
She's Lois Lane
But when it's bad, it's awful
I feel so ashamed
I snap
"Who's that dude? I don't even know his name"
I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie

You ever loved somebody so much
You can barely breathe when you're with them
You meet
And neither one of you
Even know what hit 'em
Got that warm fuzzy feeling
Yeah them chills
Used to get 'em
Now you're getting ****ing sick
Of looking at 'em
You swore you'd never hit 'em
Never do nothing to hurt 'em
Now you're in each other's face
Spewing venom
In Your words
When you spit 'em
You push
Pull each other's hair
Scratch, claw, bit 'em
Throw 'em down
Pin 'em
So lost in the moments
When you're in 'em
It's the rage that's the culprit
It controls you both
So they say it's best to go your separate ways
Guess that they don't know ya
Cause today
That was yesterday
Yesterday is over
It's a different day
Sound like broken records playing' over
But you promised her
Next time you'll show restraint
You don't get another chance
Life is no Nintendo game
But you lied again
Now you get to watch her leave out the window
Guess that's why they call it 'window pane'

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie

Now I know we said things
Did things
That we didn't mean
And we fall back
Into the same patterns, same routine
But your temper's just as bad as mine is
You're the same as me
But when it comes to love
You're just as blinded
Baby, please come back
It wasn't you
Baby, it was me
Maybe our relationship
Isn't as crazy as it seems
Maybe that's what happens
When a tornado meets a volcano
All I know is
I love you too much
To walk away though
Come inside
Pick up your bags off the sidewalk
Don't you hear sincerity
In my voice when I talk
Told you this is my fault
Look me in the eyeball
Next time I'm ****ed
I'll aim my fist
At the dry wall
Next time
There will be no next time
I apologize
Even though I know it's lies
I'm tired of the games
I just want her back
I know I'm a liar
If she ever tries to ****in' leave again
I'mma tie her to the bed
And set this house on fire

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie, I love the way you lie


This particular video features both Rihanna and Eminem and is taken from Eminem’s seventh album ‘Recovery’. The song was released in 2010 and reached number one on 25 charts worldwide. The collaboration between Eminem and Rihanna came from two different record labels; Rihanna’s record label ‘Def Jam’ and Eminem’s label ‘Interscope’. Also in 2010, Rihanna featured ‘Love The Way You Lie (Part 2)’ on her album ‘Loud’; the sequel of the first song, lyrically representing a female point of view in opposition from the first, released song.

The audience of this particular music video will be fans of both Rihanna and Eminem. Also within the video, actor Dominic Monaghan and Actress Megan Fox star as characters within the videos main storyline, and so the audience of the video may also be fans of either of these two actors. As a general age group, fans of this particular genre of music, largely hip-hop, would usually range from around 13-28, of both males and females.

The music video begins with a close-up shot of Rihanna as she introduces the song. This shot establishes an aspect of intensity within the music and the video, as we can see her expression closely. Whilst Rihanna sings, actors Megan fox and Dominic Monaghan are also introduced, lying together on a bed. This immediately tells the audience that the pair is a couple, and establishes the beginning of the story. The camera also cuts to shot of Megan fox sitting on the ground, “playing with fire”; we will later see that this scene relates to the relationship between the couple on the bed. Megan Fox wakes to find a scrawl of the name ‘Cindy’ and a number on her boyfriend’s hand, and immediately begins to subject him to violence. Ultimately, this violence between the pair continues throughout the video. As Eminem raps the lyrics ‘you meet, and neither one of you even know what hit ‘em’, the camera cuts to a flashback of when the couple meet in a bar, a shot in which Monaghan steals a bottle of vodka from a liquor store and the pair drink it on the roof; establishing the rebellious nature of the two. This particular song tells us of the love-hate relationship between two people, and the video reflects this; aside from the violence, we see passionate scenes of love, and a tentative scene in which Monaghan hands Fox a teddy bear; a gift which we later see abandoned and on fire.
Within the video, singer Rihanna is dressed in black, wearing a black leather jacket. Alongside this outfit, her hair has been dyed bright red, and her nails also painted in the same red colour. The black leather of her outfit represents the edginess and darkness of the relationship, whilst the contrasting red represents the passion and the pair’s fiery attitude towards love. Eminem wears a simple white vest, revealing the tattoos down his arm, and a pair of baggy jeans; this outfit is conventional of a rap artist. Both artists stand in front of the house inhabiting Monaghan and Fox, which is on fire. Towards the end of the video, the camera cuts back to the scene of Megan Fox sat on the ground holding a flame between her palms. In this scene, she places her hands together, putting the flame out; the flame could represent their relationship, and how it has fizzled out following the previous scene in which Monaghan hits Fox across the face. As Rihanna takes us through the final chorus singing ‘just gonna stand there and watch me burn’, we see shots of both actors going ‘up in flames’. The video ends with the same shot of the actors in bed as was displayed at the beginning of the video, suggesting that it was merely just another day in their love-hate relationship.

This particular video is predominantly narrative based, but does contain aspects of performance in which Rihanna and Eminem lip-sync the lyrics towards the camera. The video represents social ideas about abusive relationships. In a sense, it makes the audience aware that some relationships feature problems and violence, and it also brings about awareness that it is not always the female who is at the end of this violence. Fans of Eminem and Rihanna will be able to relate the storyline to their own personal relationships which both featured violence; Rihanna’s with hip-hop artist Chris Brown and Eminem’s with his wife Kimberly Scott.

Audience

Target audience - a specific group of people set by an institution, consisting of people they aim to attract into buying their product. Some institutions aim to target a wide audience, whereas others target a niche group. Ultimately, any media text must include a range of different aspects that relate to this target audience, and must therefore take into consideration areas such as sex, gender, ethnicity and social groups.This includes the demographics and psychographics of that marketing segment of people.
Demographics - the statistical characteristics of an audience, e.g. their job types.
Psychographics - the attitudinal and behavioural traits of an audience, e.g. their spending habits.

I have created a questionnaire which I shall ask a number of people to fill out in order to establish the type of audience my video will attract and what their preferences are.

What age group do you belong to?
- Below 15
- 15-19
- 20-24
- Above 24

Which gender are you?
- Male
- Female

What is your current occupation? Give details.
- Student
- Part time worker
- Full time worker

What is your favourite genre of music?
- Indie
- Hip-hop/R&B
- Dance
- Rock
- Pop
- Classical
- Other (please state)

How often do you listen to music?
- Everyday
- Three or more times a week
- Twice a week
- Every other week
- Rarely

Do you watch music videos?
- Yes
- No

If so, from which media do you watch the majority of your videos?
- Television
- Internet
- Other (please state)

Name the website or television channels that you use most frequently to watch your music videos.


What type of music video do you most prefer?
- Performance
- Narrative
- Abstract
- Animated

Do you like the artist of the song to be present within the music video?
- Yes
- No

Do you like music videos to reflect the lyrics of the song?
- Yes
- No

Do you prefer music videos to have an extended narrative?
- Yes
- No, I prefer the video to stick to the song