Music Video Analysis

Eminem - Stan:

MTV Short Version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahZgsNvVA4I

Narrative
Stanley begins by dying his hair to be like his idol Eminem. As he lets his partner in the bathroom to use the toilet his actions are aggressive and disapproved. Throughout he is seen in his obsessive basement lare where he obsesses over Eminem and his appearance. There is parallel editing of Eminem getting his letter and replying. Before replying we see Dido go down into the basement where she is horrified at her being replaced by this idolised figure and is then held captive by Stan. He drives about in his car in the storm until he realises the bridge is out of use and skids off the side into the river, where they both drown.

Editing

• Parallel/cross editing between Stanley and wife and Eminem reading and replying to Stan’s letter.
• Straight cuts- keeps pace.
• Dips to and from black which show passing of time and works with the flexible lyrics which change throughout. Also adds a subtlety and naivety to the narrative.
• Continuity techniques- real time observations
• Shots cut to the beat which gives coordination and a comfortable viewing and also keeps momentum and some focus on the song itself.
• Sound and visual miming are linked for continuity as the video is promoting the purchasing of the song!
  

Lighting

• The ambient lighting sets the tone of the song and is very realistic, e.g. lamps with shadows, lightning.
• Low key lighting connoting tone and reflects dark themes of obsession and self harm/ lack of control.- mood and lyrics.
• Unsaturated
• Rain/ dull lighting when at gravestone -alters mood with accompanying lyrics.

Colour

• Dark colours, slight dark unsaturated tinted shots for ambiance.
• Black and white flashbacks
• greys, browns, black etc.
  -all reflect mood and lyrics and the poor living in the narrative.
  

Mise-en-scene

• Basement
• Peroxide hair blondeto be like Eminem.
• Posters of Eminem's star image
• Pencil
• thunder and lightning -stereotypical in a thriller and horror sequence and so this obessive mood and fixation is underpinned visually as well as through the lyrics.
• Basic unclean bathroom and toilet. - Plain sink, plain green and white tiles,
• Mirror which is used to reflect what Stan views him as (i.e. Eminem)- realistic of time, common ground with audience, low income starter family, etc.
• car- dangerous driving
• Police recovery vehicles
• Gravestone
• Dictaphone
• Baseball bat
  

Costume
Stanley:

• White vest
• Dyed blonde hair
• Dog tags
• Tattoos

Eminem:

• White top
• Dyed blonde hair
• Dog tags/necklace
• Tattoos

Wife/Dido:

• Blue night dress and blue top
• blonde hair
• petite
• vulnerable through pregnancy

Camera Framing

• Framed from bird’s eye view gives audience spacing between Stan and wife.-clearly shows his behaviour –aggressive-passive viewers but want to be active.
• Opening shot through the window- establishes setting and sets themes through weather- thunder and lightning.
• Pencil pot and letters are in focus to show importance but also frame the shot in which Stan enters by sitting.
• vertical track through floorboards and horizontal over bathroom wall- keeps momentum of music video pace and shows Stan's 'distant underworld' of obsession.
• TV framed of Eminem so we are placed in room as/with Stan
• Framing of mirror and Eminem shows the merging of characters- obsession.
• Framing in and out of the car keeps us involved but also as an onlooker to the events.
• low angle framing of stan to show his build up agression and determination etc. over writing to Eminem.

Camera Movement

• Moving up into the bathroom window almost like a conventional thriller trait. Introduces beginning of narrative-audience invited to look into a lifestyle.
• Static at start of narrative – introduction into character relationship most important
• Vertical pan of dido on toilet. A little voyeuristic treatment by objectifying the female body but a continual track through the floorboards moves the audience into the basement where Stan obsesses.
• Arch tracks around the chair and table and Stan writing to objectify the area and put a focus on the behaviour seen here. - Sets up expectation of something important happening here- glorifies it. -momentum, progression of thought via the lyrics almost as if stan was pacing up and down and we could hear his thought.
• Side track of Eminem posters, to show his absolute obsession with Eminem.
  

SFX

• Through the floor- gives continuity to the MUSIC video and audiences viewing
• Eminem in mirror which reflects who Stan see’s himself as- we are inside his mindset. -merging
• Rain machine
• car off bridge into river.

REPRESENTATION

• Pencil used throughout which indicates writing letters/ back.
• Posters of Eminem and immitating Eminem's star profile and a basement devoted to him = OBSESSION
• over obsessed- almost homosexual- Stan says "we should be together"
• action/gesture codes eg. shouting at girlfriend,, shouting down dictaphone, putting girlfriend in the boot and tapping her mouth, etc = AGRESSION, ADDICTION TO EMINEM'S lifestyle, INSTABILITY,
• girlfriend represents= vulnerability in the domestic situation, frailty, passive in relationship, care and support for Stan,
• Eminem= genuine and down to earth artist i.e. can realte to, brands a dedicated/honest relationship with fans (autograph for bro) , a different man to Stan which brands Eminem as devoted to the MUSIC and the genre not the percieved dangerous lifestyle which accompanies this- "i say that sh*t just clowning dawg".
  
  
  GENRE
• The genre of the music is created by the characters and narrative. The low income couple living in a basic home and fairly bland living spaces reflect young urban houses and couples which the music effectively relates to most. –harsh reality. And this is a common genre amongst this audience i.e. explanations and fast paced outpours, i.e. hip hop ( /rapping).
  

AUDIENCE through Richard Dyer's theories:

• projection audience: any fan of the genre
• projection audience: existing fans of the artist
• self identification or emotional affinity- audience: males who can relate to the lifestyles and issues raised in the music video and lyrics
• emotional affinity or immitation -audience: young children who aspire to a well branded and iconic image -role model. (females may be attracted to artist whilst males may want to be like him)

INTERTEXTUAL REFERENCES

referneces to Eminem's other songs- promoting identity and audience loyalty:

• Stan- "guess what im gonna call her [daughter]- im gonna name her Bonnie" is a reference to Eminem '97 bonnie and clyde'.
• 'Stan' (name) was used in Eminem -'Guilty Conscience'.

note:

'The song can also be interpreted as a reply at Eminem's critics, who accuse him of promoting drugs and violence, because it creates a scenario that clearly shows that his rap lyrics are not meant to be taken seriously, "what's this shit you said about you like to cut your wrists too? I say that shit just clownin dogg, c'mon - how fucked up is you?" This theme is repeated throughout his music. ' wikipedia