CODES AND CONVENTIONS OF A MUSIC VIDEO

KATY PERRY – ROAR HAFSAH ZAMAN

THE STYLE • There are three types of styles that a music video can take on. It can either be a narrative (tell a story), a

performance based music video or a mixture of the two.

• The music video for Roar is a mixture of narrative and performance. The story this music video shows is Katy Perry starts off being downtrodden because of a relationship she is in but then becomes empowered as the story progresses

• The equilibrium (treated badly in a relationship) is broken down by her becoming empowered. The plane crash at the beginning of the video symbolises her relationship and then she goes on a journey to become empowered.

• At the end of the music video there is a new equilibrium which is her feeling happy, strong and she is not being controlled anymore.

From being unhappy to becoming empowered to try and save herself

CAMERA• Close ups – There are many close ups of Katy Perry’s face throughout the music video this is because it emphasises who the singer

is and the main character within the music video.

• Point of view shot – A the beginning of the music video Katy Perry’s boyfriend is seen taking a picture of himself on his phone. We see a point of view shot of the picture that was taken. this shows that her boyfriend is quite vain and self obsessed and doesn’t care about anyone else but himself. Furthermore, there is also another point of view shot when Katy Perry looks into the water and the reflection we see is of a tiger roaring. This when the audience know that she has changed and has become empowered.

• Wide shot – At the end of the music video there is a wide shot of all the jungle animals collated together and Katy Perry is standing right in the middle of them. This shows that she has been successful in empowerment and has achieved what she wanted to do. It also shows that she has trained and took charge of all the animals by controlling them and not letting them control her.

• High angle shots – Near the end of the music video after Katy Perry has become empowered there are loads of high angle shots of her face. This shows that she is now a strong woman and she has high superiority now that she has become happier and empowered.

EDITING• The music video shows use of special effects e.g. the title of the song at the beginning and end of the

music video.

• The music video also starts and ends in animation which would have been edited in once the music video had been filmed.

• There was also use of special effects with the tiger near the end of the music video when Katy Perry and the tiger are roaring at each other.

• The main editing technique used throughout the music video is cutting

• The use of fades are also very apparent to show nightfall and the passing of time.

• The music video is edited in a way to make it look more like a movie.

SOUND • There are diegetic sounds of the animals throughout the music video e.g. elephants, tigers, insects and

birds. This helps to tell the story and creates an atmosphere.

• There is also use of Foley sound when Katy Perry scoops up the water from the pool to drink

• The music is diegetic because it is part of the story.

MISE EN SCENE• Costume – Her costume fit in with the theme of the song. At the beginning her outfit is old fashioned and dull because this is

before she becomes empowered. Then when she becomes empowered her clothing becomes brighter and more revealing and it fits it with the jungle theme. It gives the impression that she’s wild creature and that less clothes means you are more free.

• Makeup and hair – Her hair much neater and put together at the end when she become empowered. Throughout the video she is not wearing much makeup but she does have a bold reddish pink lip which implies that she is passionate, strong and sexy.

• Props – This shows that she is now in charge and is like the queen of the jungle . Near the end the tiger is wearing a collar which means that she managed to tame the tiger and shows that she is now in control, she is like the alpha. She has nail polish and is painting the elephants nails which shows that she is in charge and can order the animals around

• Lighting – Gets brighter as Katy Perry progresses through empowerment

• Acting – At the beginning she is very timid and at the end she is much more confident and garish. She is also smiling more at the end of the video. Katy shows that she is strong and powerful she also has a sexy side.

• Representation – Strong/powerful woman but she is still an object to be looked at.

REPRESENTATION • There is a negative representation of men in the video because of her boyfriend and the way hetreats

Katy Perry.

• Katy Perry is represented as animal like and like she is part of the jungle

• Why does she have to wear less clothes to become empowered – she contradicts herself