Music Video theory - blog tasks
The camera movement follows Childish Gambino in order to create a narrative within the video. Different aspects of mise-en-scene are used to develop the narrative such as his clothing. However the video doesnt have alot of short, fast paced edits which are commonly used but this is because of the focus on narrative in both the lyrics and within the actual video. The artists wants the viewer to notice the intertextual references so there isnt alot of editing. There is also high quality studio lighting which gives the video a professional feel.
2) What comment is the video making on American culture, racism and gun violence?
The music video is a satirical play on events which happened in America. Childish Gambino makes intertextual references to events such as the killing of black people while singing in the church. Using satire raises awareness through the way it is being mocked. An example of this is how easily the guns are being handed to him, how careful he is with the gun but how they treat the dead bodies of the black people wothout respect. This is a comment on how guns are more valued in America than black people. The style in which he recorded the video highlights wrongs within the norms in America.
3) Write an analysis of the video applying the theories we have learned: Gilroy, Hall, Rose and Dyson.
Gilroys theory on hip-hop music can be applied to this video as he is trying to expose issues within the country.Read this Guardian feature on This Is America - including the comments below.
Gilroys theory can be applied to this music video as Childish Gambino uses hip hop music in order to narrate issues within politics and race in America. Rather than Tricia Rose’s view that modern mainstream hip hop promotes violence and negative stereotypes, this music video opposes this theory as it is used to comment on social, political and racial issues similar to the early days of hip hop. Stuart Hall’s theory on the 3 types of black people within society can also be applied as this video can be interpreted as Childish Gambino playing the “clown” or the “coon”.4) What are the three interpretations suggested in the article?
That he is playing Jim Crow- In the opening scenes, Glover uses grotesque smiles and exaggerated poses, with some on Twitter suggesting this is an invocation of the racial caricature Jim Crow. Another suggested Glover was accusing black performers – even himself – of “coonery”, or saying they are still made to feel like minstrels when they go out to perform their “black” music
That he is “duping” the audience with dance- Glover and co’s moves – doing YouTube dance crazes such as the hopping, kicking “shoot” – mask the riots happening behind them. The video’s choreographer, Sherrie Silver, retweeted a comment, perhaps in agreement, from someone who argued: “Childish Gambino’s dance moves distracted all of us from the craziness that was happening in the background of the video & that’s exactly the point he’s trying to make.”
That he is takihg on the police- The line “this a celly / that’s a tool” has a powerful double meaning. Fans have pointed out that on the one hand it refers to the case of Stephon Clark, shot dead just weeks ago by Sacramento police, who assumed he was armed, but only had an iPhone on him. Glover distils the distorting way black men are seen by police with “tool”, meaning gun.
5) What alternative interpretations of the video are offered in the comments 'below the line'?
“It should be noted that the whole video takes place inside a giant white structure which there seems to be no way out of.” All the black inhabitants within the “white” structure can be interpreted as the system in which America works, chaos amongst the black people inside a white system. The people are kept inside this structure which symbolises how they are kept within the system causing chaos which is masked through dances and entertainment.
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