Review of Music Video #2
Reasons for choosing to review this video:
I have chosen to review this video "Stan" by Eminem is because of the strong links with Goodwin's theory of music videos - in this instance the fact that the musics lyrics are portrayed perfectly in the video, thus proving Goodwin's theory that there is a link between the video content and the lyrics. Another reason as to why I chose to review this video is because I am very familiar with the song itself and the lyrics, as Eminem is one of my favourite artists. This video and the song have been critically acclaimed, also.
Mise-en-scene:
The setting, props, characters, lighting and other things create the perfect atmosphere for Eminem to tell his story - the whole song is about an obsessed fan who takes things too far.
First of all, the setting of the video demonstrates the current situation the three main characters of the video are placed in - Stan and his Girlfriend live in a run-down house, which signifies the financial situation each of them find themselves in, which also in turns tells the audience the gravity of the situation this obsessed fan (Stan) is in. Whereas the artist performing the song, Eminem, is seen on the stage and in a trailer, which signifies to the audience that he is always on the road, performing to sell out crowds around America and the world. Through the settings in which the characters are placed, we see the difference in class and money, and this might be why Stan is so obsessed with Eminem, as he wants to have his lifestyle.
Furthermore, the props used in the video demonstrate the mentality of the characters. A powerful prop used is the one to make it look like Stan's Girlfriend is pregnant - the reason this is so powerful is because it tells the audience that even though his Girlfriend is pregnant, it still doesn't stop Stan in his pursuit to meet the artist Eminem. Other significant props used throughout the video are posters, which again demonstrate the obsession. Posters are also mentioned in the lyrics, which would be why they are included, showing the link between the lyrics and the visual interpretation of videos. That also proves Goodwin's theory of music videos.
The lighting in the music video is very dull, with very few lamps on in Stan's house, which could signify the current emotional state of the two characters living inside that house - Stan's Girlfriend feels distant to her boyfriend and feels confused, whereas Stan is obsessed and worships a man he doesn't even know; so they both feel different to each other throughout the video, and I think that the lighting is a metaphor for their current feelings.
All in all, the mise-en-scene in the video "Stan" create the atmosphere of obsession, confusion and anger with which Eminem was trying to create through his lyrics. The audience is made to think about the mental fragility of fans, and how quickly being a fan can turn into something very serious.
Camera Shots and Angles:
Throughout the video "Stan", there are many camera angles and shots, most notably the close ups and vertical tracking shots, used to keep the audience up to speed in an omniscient manner with what the three main characters of the video are doing.
First of all, the close ups are used for the showing of emotion on the characters faces - the first close up of the video is used when Stan is bleaching his hair in order to look like his idol Eminem. The reason a close up is used is so the audience can see the look of happiness and pleasure in Stan's actions. This is the same reason a close up is used of Stan's Girlfriend later in the video - instead her facial expression displays loneliness and confusion of what is happening to Stan and their relationship. These close ups are used very effectively in different ways as well, such as focusing in on the props used throughout the video. When Stan is writing his letter (Eminem tells us this through his lyrics, and it is displayed in the video), we see a close up of a picture he has modified in order to look like himself and Eminem are in the same photo together - this close up dramatises and alerts the audience to the seriousness of the situation, because Stan has in fact cut his Girlfriend out of the picture and replaced her with Eminem, and we see this through the close up.
Another camera shot frequently used was the vertical tracking shot, and this was used to differentiate between stories in the building that Stan and his Girlfriend lived. The reason that this shot was used was to show the difference in the house - Stan's Girlfriend was always (apart from one scene) above the basement, either in the bathroom or bedroom; Stan was always in the basement, where his obsession for Eminem intensified. In the opening scene when the music first starts, Stan's Girlfriend is sitting in the bathroom and a vertical tracking shot is used to take the audience into the basement where Stan himself was. Through this shot, the audience first get a glimpse of the horror that resides in the same house, but the use of this shot makes it seem like a different world, that is why it is so effective.
Editing:
The editing used in the music video was mostly simple and effective, with the exception of one use of special effects.
The editing was kept simple to keep the audience in time with the lyrics and how they were presented in the video - there was minimal lip syncing, and it was only used at the start of each verse of the song, so they audience knew that the characters were performing the songs lyrics. Although there was minimal use of lip syncing, the story of the video was edited in time with the music. For example, when Eminem is talking about hearing a story of a guy who drove his car over a bridge, the audience see the car that Stan drove over a bridge.
The use of special effects which I mentioned earlier was when Stan was standing and looking at himself in the mirror, the reflection was that of Eminem, not Stan. This tells the audience that Stan believes that he is Eminem, which has an unnerving effect on the audience.
Sound:
In terms of sound in "Stan", there is the conventional codes for a music video - the song is always playing in the background, in time with the visual interpretation of the song. All sounds are non-digetic, as everything that features in the music video is exactly how it sounds in the song, event the car crash and the scribbling sound of pencil on paper, and these things would usually be classed as sounds effects of the video, not the song itself.
Goodwin's Theory:
This video proves Goodwin's point about how there is a direct link between the video and the song's lyrics. Eminem writes a song about a disturbed and obsessed fan, who eventually kills himself when Eminem doesn't reply to his fan mail immediately, and all of the song's lyrics are portrayed perfectly visually in this video, therefore proving Goodwin's theory.
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