Video analysis
- 1. Using Lacey’s Repertoire of Elements I am going to analyse the ‘No love’ music video by August Alsina who is a RnB Rap artist. The mise en scene and iconography at the start of the video define the genre of music of the artist. The large beach house, gold chains/watch/earrings, sun glasses, smart trainers/clothing and expensive sports car indicate that he has money and is a successful artist. Many artists in the RnB genre have a ‘gangster’ look about them which is clear through this iconography. The artist also has tattoo’s which is another iconic image of artists of this genre, he has music notes which suggest he is passionate about his music. The narrative of the video is Video Analysis – August Alsina featuring NickiMinaj ‘No Love’ a love story; August plays the protagonist who is in a relationship with Nicki Minaj although he is seeing another girl and is seen in a club dancing sexually with her. Nicki Is seen waiting around for him at home whilst he is with the other girl, although he does end up realising that Nicki is ‘the one’ for him and sends her flowers to make up with her. A split screen is used with iconic images to understand the narrative of the video using iconic images. The first one uses black roses, this is symbolic of a dysfunctional relationship as they are normally red or white to convey love. The second one is a single flower of a new relationship beginning. After we see that August realises who he truly wants after he rejects the other girls calls and looks through photographs of him and Nicki, there are a number of Lily’s which are opening, this suggests they are starting their relationship fresh and it may be a new beginning. Throughout the narrative August does sometimes portrays his sensitive side through the actions he takes such as buying her a huge boquet of red roses. Narrative enigma is created at the end as there are clouds which settle although we don’t know if they are going to stay happy together. Steve Neale’s repetition and differences’ theory can be applied to this video as a lot of artists in the RnB genre speak about being ‘players’ in their music and talk about having numerous sexual partners, this is a convention visually seen through this video. Although a difference is that in the end he spends a lot of his money on Nicki buying her a large bouquet of red roses showing his love and affection for her which isn’t often used in this genre of music. The settings used are a large beach house and a club these are stereotypical of rap genre music videos.