Eg 2 Bon Jovi - livin on a prayer

ACT:  Bon Jovi

TRACK: Living on prayer

YEAR: 1986

DIRECTOR: Bruce fairbairn

GENRE: rock

MAIN AUDIENCE: 30s , 40s

LYRICS

Symbolic References

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

there is a direct link between visuals and lyrics as there is a lot of lip synching and characters directly pointing and singing into the camera. However there is not always a direct connection. This music video is mostly a performance vid however there are some symbolic references.We get the actual bands performance footage as the vid and them preparing for there concert. There are no actors playing parts but the actual characters.There are symbolic references such as intertextuality like the bon jovi box .There are also symbolic references to the the genre such as the head banging.The relationship between lyrics and visuals is strong as they all link with the meaning and lyrics strongly. Such as 'half way there' the performance footage been them flying off the stage.

Head Bang

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS:

the video is fast paste and contains very fast paste shots. Which link with the video speed. There is classic genre characteristics such as the head banging shots and the video being the actual band at there gig.The head banging is very common in the genre rock and the music is very recognisable from instruments and costume worn.

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT:

this vid is mostly performance footage as it is at there gig however it also has aspects of narrative as it is  it is telling a story of them getting ready for there performance and there lives. But this does continually link to the lyrics.

PERFORMANCE STYLE:

Guitar and mic stands

the biggest part of this video is the performance footage,and a lot of lip synching. But this is not all through the video there are parts without. there is a lot of moving camera following the band around the stage. as it is a smaller location there are limited angles , however the shot variation is wide as they have  a lot of close ups and mid shots.The performance does look like genuine live performance which is good due to this could be there actual gig.Instruments that make this realistic are shown such as the guitars , music stands , microphones and drums. These are electric guitars so are plugged in and you can see wires connected to amps and for the microphone.The band movement and dancing is typical for this genre such as the head banging.There dancing is not complicated but very simple , such as jumping up and down and running across the stage with small hand movements which link to the lyrics which makes the genre what it is.I think amateurs could do this however would have to practice the head banging as this is a very significant part of the genre.

LINEAR, CLOSED NARRATIVE?:

the narrative is linear , however there is not much story to the video apart from them before practising for there performance.It does not link with any theories as such apart from todorovs narrative structure. Because it starts with them getting ready and ending up with them at the concert performing. (disequilibrium) to (new equilibrium).It is a closed narrative as it is very predictable what will happen.

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS: the singers and characters directly look into the camera to connect with the audience.All characters at some point look into the camera.As it is more of performance footage not actually having a narrative.This builds up a personal relationship as bon jovi himself also looks into the camera and points.

STAR TREATMENT: Bon jovi the percentage of the time is singled out. His shot are mostly him by himself how ever there are also too shots but all with him in. There is little single shot of other members of band.the camera shots vary however always return to the main band member this does single him out to be the star as he is also the main singer.

AUDIENCE IN VID?: In this vid there is a lot of physical contact with fans directly as it is there concert. The video is very involved with the fans .It also engages the fans to direct contact as the band also look into the camera the shots when it is at the concert are also long and point of view shots like the audience itself are part of the audience.

REPRESENTATIONS:

Costume representation 

as this song is rock the representations are shown very strongly by the clothes, age and band members.They are also all male which is represented well for the era as bands like this were very popular amongst women and men. The clothing and music fits both audiences .There is a lot of male eye candy, due to the rock era . The band wear leather jackets baggy t shirts and boots. 

PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE: You continually get long takes but when the pace picks up the shots appear faster to the beat. The editing appears faster as the build up to the chorus starts but from there the shots are long takes. There is a pattern as the single guitar repeats and the drums build up to the chorus. Also when 'ooo ,ooo' is sung the same shot type is repeated when it changes from to shot.

SHOT VARIETY + NO. OF SETUPS: In this video there is only one set up which is unusual but makes sense as there is little narrative.There is no repeated sequences as it is all in one place there wouldnt be need to repeat shots.however there is not much shot variety , there is long shot , mid shot mostly and a few close up when bon jovi is directly singing into camera. The video seems lazy as it is in black and white and then changes to colour this could be because it is an old video there wasnt much technolgy at the time.

FX:there are not many transitions infact there are very little . There is layering and shots fading into each other but that is the extent it goes to this could be because it is also a old video.

Location footage

LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE:The locations are at concert arena there is no other shots anywhere else apart drom this. This is important for exposition but it works because it shows them getting ready for the gig . This also creates anchorage as we know how the video will end . there costumes are typical rock costumes , skinny jeans , leather jacktes , messy hair and baggy t shirts this was the typical costumes for this rock era and was very fashionable. They use mic stands as props to use to dance with and hold on to which is very stereo typical for rock bands. They also use black and white to represent before and after the stage is ready for there concert.

NOTABLE SHOTS/FRAMING: some shots are clearly framed such as the bon jovi poster in the audience and bon jovi in the back ground. There were no freeze frames however. This is one of the only ones i noticed as it was very cleverly done.


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