Textual analysis - My Way by Usher
- 1. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS – MY WAY BY USHER (1997) By DanielWinn
- 2. Camera shots, angles and movements The music video starts off with an establishing shot which gives the viewer an idea of where the setting is for the video and helps them also understand that the location this could show the group’s position in terms of social class and hierarchy. The next shot soon comes in after the opening shot, this shot shows what comes across as a junkyard to tell more to the viewer about the location. Also representing that the people in the video may be quite low in the social hierarchy or they may just simply meet at this specific location.The camera zooms in on the tall yellow metal structure in the centre of the shot, potentially to emphasise the characters meet up place and also how proud they are of it by zooming in it shows that they want the viewer to know exactly where they are in the video. Another camera shot is a close up on Usher to show who is singing the song. Usher looks directly into the camera too so he is targeting the audience by interacting with them.
- 3. How the sound works with the image The sound is low quality compared to the modern day however the music is in time with the video because there is lip syncing throughout the music video.This makes the video look more professional and the music video may get better comments and reviews too. The sound overall links in well to the image as the words being sang are in time with he image therefore is successful on this basis.
- 4. Mise-en-scene The setting of the music video is a ghetto type location, the video is based on two groups having a dance off and so the location is in a specific type of place where in this case the dancers’ moves are more emphasised. The characters are also dressed very broad to help emphasise their personalities and to show off their dance moves during the music video. The way they are dressed too shows that they may be lower working class people as the clothes look low standard quality.
- 5. Editing In this music video the editing mainly consists of jump cuts and normal transitions. However there is a short moment where a character falls over and this motion is slowed down, so slow motion is another piece of editing. There is another moment where slow motion is used, this may have been done to represent the passing of time and the characters want to take their time in having fun and enjoying themselves.