Eminem Analysis - Not Afraid

Song Title: Not Afraid
Artist: Eminem
Date Released: 29th April 2010


The shot composition within the basement is very significant to the video as it shows the audience how he is living or what is happening at that time. When the star goes out of this place, he is dressed differently causing the audience to think about the star or story differently also.

Genre:

• What is the genre of the video and the artist?

The genre of the video is rap and hip-hop. This is the genre as there are many connotations of this music video which suggests it. The key connotations of this are the fast paced vocals which suggest rap and the scenery around the music video which seems to be run down which suggests rap/street. The artist looks like a rap icon therefore the genre of the artist is rap based on the lyrics and mise-en-scene of the artist.

• Is there a typical narrative?

The narrative looks to be a story of his life and how he has lived it and the certain outcomes of it. This seems to be the case as there looks to be two different places of didn’t wealth, indicating how his life has planned out. Looks to be based on Todorov’s theory. There seems to be some disruption of the equilibrium, however, it looks to be quickly resolved throughout the music video

• What is expected in the video? Why?

I think that I expect to see, based on the title of the song that the artist or someone within the story is going to take the next step in their lives or the next key event will happen and they are therefore not afraid of the outcome. I think this based on the song title and genre because it suggests a decision in which may have a bad outcome, and then therefore the person is not afraid of the outcome.

• What is unexpected in the video?

When I saw this title, I thought to expect the unexpected from this and it gives the viewer a broad imagination of what is it about based on the title. I think that I wouldn’t expect to see romance in this music video because of the reputation of the artist and the genre.

• Are there any intertextual references?

I don’t think that there are any intertexual references within this video as most of the images relate to specific things within the music video, therefore I believe that the relations between each thing within the music are the same. In relation to Stan, within the music video, to main character is a fan of Eminem and tries to contact him, this has intertextual references and the characters within the music video relate to Eminem himself.

Technical codes

• Camera shots and angles, why have they been used? What effect is created?

This camera angles is unusual and looks to be a bird’s eye view of the artist and what beneath him. This has created the effect that what is beneath him is what he may be falling into.

This camera shot is directly behind the artist and shows the audience where he is and what he is doing. The effect being made is that it looks like he his speaking to the world, and directly to it as opposed to someone in particular.

• Does the way the camera move help tell the story?

The camera follows the artist when he moves whether it is behind him or beside him. It tracks him throughout the video showing his movement towards his goal. I think that this shows the direction in which he is moving and therefore helps tell the story.

Technical codes

• What is the editing like? Is it fast, slow, does it jump around time? What type of cuts are used? What is the effect of these?

Most of the editing is fast paced which builds tension. It also shows the pace in which the storyline happens and how the story unfolds. It does jump around time in the video as it is clearly shown through different scenery in the background. Mainly jump cuts are used to show the difference in time. The effect of these cuts are that it shows the pace in which things happen and unfold in the storyline giving the audience something to think about. The significance of this editing is to tell the story at different speeds to show the audience different atmospheres around the narrative, such as a tense atmosphere.

Audience

• Who is the target audience for the video?

I think the target audience for the video is young teenagers based upon the genre of the video which seems to be rap/street. Therefore, this genre of music usually appeals to the younger audiences and therefore the target audience for this video is young adults (16-24), mainly males. The reason behind this is that the story is being told or displayed from a male’s point of view meaning that it would relate to that gender more.

• What is their demographic status?

The demographic status of this target audience would likely be young males around the age of 16-24. However, some females may view this music video. I have based this on the style of the music video and how it comes across to the audience. Therefore I assume this is a male aimed video.

• What key signifiers indicate this audience?

The key signifiers would be the clothing and scenery within the music video as it relates highly to males and the street aspect of music, therefore it indicates the younger viewers as they some seem to wear similar clothing.

• How does the video target this specific audience?

I think that the audience is targeted by the use of mise-en-scene throughout the clip. The use of clothing relates highly to some younger teenagers and the use of the gold chain and location also help to entice some younger people as this is highly relatable to them.

• How will the audience most likely access the video?

The audience will most likely access the video through YouTube as this is the most popular website to look at and view music videos. Adding to this the younger generation usually look through the internet to find what they need so YouTube is the likely website that will be used.

• What opportunities are there for fandom?

There are a few opportunities of fandom within this music video. The main opportunities would be that the audience copies the same fashion as the artist. This would mean that based on the fashion of the artist, the fans will go out and purchase what is needed to look like him.

• What could fans do with this video?

Fans could initially remake this video, they could also share the video on local social media websites in order to help the video and artist become more popular.

• How instrumental are the audience in promoting the artist/band? (two step flow)

The audience are likely to give opinions to the mass audience therefore widening the amount of people who view the video, therefore the theory of two step flow in this case, is correct.

• Can you suggest multiple audiences for this video? What key signifiers indicate this?

The main audience for this video is young teenagers. The signifiers for this are the type of words used in the lyrics and the way they are presented. However the genre is a key signifier as this will attract the younger audience. An older audience such as young adults may also be interested in this video because of the narrative behind it. This is therefore the key signifier for this audience.

• What does the audience need to know to understand?

The audience needs to have a basic understanding of the music genre to understand the possible narrative behind the video. Adding to this, the audience have to know of the artist the understand the type of music that he creates.

Narrative

• What is the storyline of the video?

The storyline of the video seems to be the story of the artists life and how he has lived it. From the lyrics, I have come to this conclusion as they seemed to be based around his life and the evens he went through.

• Is there a theme?

The theme of this music video is based around young adults and how ones life has gone. Therefore it explains everything that has happened and therefore tells the story to and audience.

• Is there a recognisable structure (todorov)?

This structure isn’t really displayed throughout the music video however it does seem to have some of the parts of todorovs theory, however not all. It seems that there has been a disruption of the equilibrium within the story line and therefore has been recognised. However, this doesn’t seem to have been mended so that the equilibrium has been recovered.

• Are there recognisable characters (propp)?

There is only one main character throughout the video which is the artist himself. The only character that he resembles is the hero/villain. It seems that he caused an event to happen within his life and then mended it which relates to both of these characters.

• How does the video reflect the lyrics?

The video almost re-enacts the lyrics however, slowly. In the first verse, the lyrics say that someone has to back to a place. In the video we see a lot of movement from the artist to a specific place which therefore reflects upon the lyrics. This is seen throughout the whole video and therefore definitely reflects the lyrics.

Organisations

• What role does the record company play in the music video?
• What is the brand image of the star that is sold?

The star that is Eminem is sold and the brand image is clearly shown from the start of the music video. When we see this artist, words that are usually associated with this artist are rap, street. Therefore this makes the brand image.

• How is the star marketed and promoted?

The star is marketed across the mass market by TV advertisement of the album and also displayed in the charts which would therefore advertise the artist.

• How is the star distributed?

The star is distributed mainly through online presence. Typically social media websites are where the star is distributed as he can be seen by the mass market therefore this is the main distribution source. Magazines and newspapers are also used but not as much as online presence.

Visual codes

• Where is the video set? What are the connotations of this setting?

Eminem shot this music video in new jersey. He was flying through a street in market street in Newark. This has connotations of wealth when filmed is this setting as it was well built, however in the other location in, which seems to be a basement, it connotes poverty.

• Is there a dominant colour used in the video? Why? What is the effect?

The dominant colour is black within the video as most the video is shot when he is in what looks to be a basement. Therefore this may be because he is showing he is trapped and then escaped later on in the video. The effect of this is making the audience have a clear image as to why he is down in the basement.

• Are there any written graphics? What is the typography like? Why?

Within this music video, there is no written graphics. Therefore the typography is very subtle if there is any in which means that the audience will have to find out what it is. Overall, the typography is subtle meaning the audience would have to pay close attention to pick up on it.

• Is there any key iconography? What does it mean to the audience?

The iconography within the piece is very subtle. The iconography shown in the video is a cross necklace the star is wearing. To the audience, this may mean that they can interpret different things from the star which could add to the overall narrative/storyline.

• Are there any shot compositions that stand out and are significant?

What is the body language of the characters or stars connoting?

The star does a lot of hand gestures to the camera throughout the video. This connotes power and meaning therefore these hand signals may connote power towards the audience and emphasis on what he is saying.

Representation

• What issues of representation are evident?

This music video seems to be very based around the male gender. This is because of the lyrics used and the way the artist comes across to the audience. The age is represented by the artist/star himself. This is because he is near the same age that the video is targeted at therefore he himself represents the age targeted for this video.

• How have these been represented? Are stereotypes used? Why?

These have been represented by the artist himself coming across to the audience by the mise-en-scene used and how he is wearing it. The stereotypes used are that all young adults are violent or ‘rule breakers’. This is shown by the narrative of the video however, it becomes non- stereotypical towards the end. This has been used to show the audience and insight to the story.

• Look at the artist as a star – how have they been constructed?

They have been constructed to wear black clothing and stay in a dark location. This is to show the audience the type of person that he is trying to be. This has been done so that the artist can be the star of the story he is trying to create in this music video.

• Do they have an anonymous role in the video or are they there as a celebrity.

In this music video the star/artist plays as himself. Therefore he is not anonymous and is a celebrity therefore he is seen as a celebrity and the audience would know who he is. However, the character he is playing in the story line is anonymous as the audience doesn’t know who he is within the storyline.

This has helped me understand how to analyse a music video which has helped me when coming to create our own video and now we know what music video are about and how they portray the narrative within the video, therefore helping me when making my own.