Planning- Analysis of MadonnaBy Danny Watts

Motifs in the Music Video: • One of the first Motifs that can be seen in Madonna’s “Like a

Prayer” music video is the use of fire.

• This can be seen when Madonna stands in front of three burning crucifixes.

• The us of fire, as a motif, can be seen in many music videos.

• Below is an image of Madonna in the “Like a Prayer” music video, demonstrating this motif.

Motifs in the Music Video: • Another Motif that can be seen in Madonna’s “Like a prayer”

music video is the use of a mythical place, although it is disputed as to whether Heaven is a mythical place or not.

• The use of forestry scene's in music videos or use special effects can be utilized to create a mythical or mysterious place within a music video.

• Once again this is another common motif within Music Videos and thisis an image of this motif in Madonna’s “Like a prayer” music video.

Motifs in the Music Video: • One final Motif that can be seen in Madonna’s “Like a prayer”

music videos is the use of ritual celebration.

• Ritual celebration is usually when members of the music video can be seen dancing, or celebrating together. This motif is commonly used in music videos today, particularly as people today, more so, are going out to parties and clubs.

• This is an image of ritual celebration within the “Like a Prayer” Music Video.

Aspects of Controversy:• One aspect of controversy within Madonna’s Like a Prayer can

be seen when she picks up a knife and it leaves a cut on both of her palms. In religious terms it is clear that this was done to represent Stigmata, meaning touched by God. This would have been seen as controversial to Christian viewers as it would have been viewed as blasphemy and therefore highly offensive.

Aspects of Controversy:• Another controversial aspect of Madonna’s Like A Prayer

music video can be seen when she dances in front of burning crucifixes. This would have been highly offensive, especially to Christians who would have seen this as distrustful to their religion as she was burning a symbol of their faith.

How the lyrics inform the narrative:

• The first example of how the lyrics inform the narrative of the Music Video can be seen when Madonna sings:

I hear your voice, it's like an angel sighingI have no choice, I hear your voiceFeels like flyingI close my eyes, Oh God I think I'm fallingOut of the sky, I close my eyesHeaven help me• These lyrics are clearly informing the narrative as in the music

video Madonna is literally “falling” into “heaven” as shown through the use of CGI to project the image of clouds, representing Heaen.

How the lyrics inform the narrative:

• Secondly another example of how the lyrics inform the narrative of the Music Video can be seen when Madonna sings:

I'm down on my knees, I wanna take you thereIn the midnight hour I can feel your power

• These lyrics are clearly informing the narrative as in the music video Madonna is literally on her knees and praying to a religious statue.