Textual Analysis Megan Trainor ‘Dear future husband’ Released: March 2015 Directed by: Fatima Robinson
Pop song
Macro Elements, Symbolic Codes and Conventions: Genre: •
This particular song is from the ‘pop’ genre, targeted at a mainstream audience. The song is often played on radio stations and TV shows, highlighting its wide spread popularity. Furthermore, Megan Trainor is a renowned pop artist, famous for other Chart topping singles that are similar to ‘Dear future husband’.
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Because of this genre, the Codes and conventions of the music follow those that are stereotypically associated with a ‘Pop’ song; in which I will explain within this presentation.
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The genre of Pop originated from the Western culture in the 1950’s and 60’s and dominates the music industry in both Britain and America. Its main aim is to appeal to the broad, general audience and therefore lacks artistic qualities and other features apparent in other genres that focus on culture and attract niche audiences.
Location/ Setting: This music video is set within the many rooms of a large, pristine, American looking house. The house within the video looks as if it originates from 1950’s ; a time where women were often shown as inferior to men, hence the lyrics regarding the stereotypical gender roles of a woman. Alternatively, the location may reflect the origins of pop music, America in the 1950’s/ 1960’s, confirming that the music video is of the pop genre.
Its difficult to see because of the vibrant font layered on top, but the house in Megan Trainors video is similar to the typical 1950’s American house on the left.
Location/Setting: This music video is set in a pristine looking house with a neat garden, perhaps suggesting that the character of Megan Trainor is the ideal ‘perfect’ wife. The reoccurring setting of the ‘Bedroom’ could signify the stereotypical sexual role of women which is furthermore exemplified by her position on the large bed in the center of the room. Sexual innuendo’s and references are a common code and convention within the pop genre and the location of ‘Dear future husband’ fits this. Similarly, the location of the Kitchen could also represent the stereotypical role of women. Megan Trainor is surrounded by flamboyant kitchen furniture and bright utensils; colours that are often associated with the pop genre. This draws the audience towards the video and makes it easily identifiable as a pop music video.
Location/Setting: The music video is also set at a fairground which is a familiar location for pop music videos. The artist P!nk’s pop music video ‘Who Knew’ is also set at a fairground, as well as Beyonce’s ‘XO’. Reinforcing the idea that the Macro element of Fair ground/ Amusement park is a re-occurring code and convention in the Pop genre. Such locations, have connotations of childhood fantasy and fun with bright colours and flashing lights that create a positive vibe within the audience. Other than a small amount of shots, the video is set within the house, conveying that the house is the ‘natural’ environment for the stereotypical woman.
Target Audience: The target audience for Pop music videos is the youth/ teenagers who idealize the contented characters and vibrant scenarios within the music video. Because the narrative of pop music videos usually revolves around relationships and gender roles, Teenagers can associate their current situation with the plot of the music video.
Narrative: Megan Trainor’s music video is a performance based video, which is stereotypical of music videos that originate from the pop genre. However, alongside the performance the narrative of trying to find the ‘perfect’ guy is apparent. This is a slight gender role reversal as pop videos usually showcase the ideal woman. Either way, a typical code and convention of the genre is the narrative of love, attraction and relationships. As previously stated, this is primarily because of the Target Audience who can relate and are thus attracted, to the teenaged struggle of ‘finding love’.
Micro- Elements: Camera Work- This music video contains many close ups of Megan Trainor herself, which are a familiar shot within the pop genre. This is because they capture the artists expression and emotion so the video is more convincible, also it allows artists to be recognized for their track. This is more significant in this particular genre because ‘pop’ is often mainstream, so artists are essentially promoting themselves via the close up shots.
Camera Work: Long shots- These shots are frequent within this particular music video and are throughout videos from the pop genre. This is because it allows the artists and performers to be seen at full length to showcase certain dance moves or actions. For example, in Ellie Goulding’s Pop song ‘Burn’, long shots are used to showcase the artists performance and their appearance/ outfit/ style. However this is slightly different to Megan Trainor’s ‘Dear Future Husband’ because ‘Burn’ does not include backing dancers and the artist isn’t engaging in a synchronized dance routine, which is often a key code and convention.
Camera Work High angles: Are apparent when Megan Trainor’s character is on the kitchen floor, cleaning. This creates the impression of a lack of status and power and that others are looking down upon her, perhaps men. From this, it can be suggested that this music video portrays women in a stereotypical light where they are not treated as equals. Such controversial stereotypes are often apparent in music videos from the pop genre to gain audience attention, although sometimes in the wrong manner. For example Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry are pop artist's who have often been criticized for the stereotypical representations of women in videos such as California Girls and We can’t stop. Furthermore, within this particular video, high angle shots of Trainor’s character cooking food also emphasizes the stereotypical role of women of Cooking, Cleaning and caring for the young.
Camera Work: Zooms: In this music video, the camera often zooms in on the artist to divert audience attention towards her. This is a frequent technical code and convention within the Pop genre, used for artist promotion and to mimic movement. Over the Shoulder Shots: Are similarly used to prioritize the artists, diverting attention towards the individual. Every Over the shoulder shot features a male shoulder and Megan Trainor in main focal position, so follows the Micro element of artist promotion via shots.
Mise- en- scene: Costume: Because the Pop Genre is aimed at a mainstream audience, the artists usually wear mainstream clothing, desirable to the mass audience. ‘Dear Future Husband’ follows this because at the time it was released ( March 2015), bright colours, skin tight patent skirts and 50’s styled attire was popular. This attracts the target audience of the youth because they aspire to wear similar clothing and thus are attracted to the artist who is wearing them. Furthermore, this particular music video follows the Micro element of bold, vibrant colours through the use of costume, which are associated with the positive, upbeat vibe of the pop genre. The clothes in which Megan Trainor wears can also follow the controversial stereotypes of women, which are frequent within pop music videos. She is seen wearing leather, patent, skin tights skirts and low cut skirts, insinuating sexual attraction. Her actions furthermore, insinuate sex because she frequently touches and strokes her body in a provocative manner. Sexual inuendo’s are frequent in the Pop genre to appeal to the target audience who are attracted to such scenarios.
Mise- En- Scene:
Mise- En- Scene: Make up: Artists makeup within the Pop genre are usually neutrally subtle in terms of colour scheme, but are fully made up at the same time. Megan Trainor follows this code and convention because although she has bright purple lipstick which reflect the vibrancy of the genre, the rest of her makeup is neutral. Similarly, the backing dancers are also quite neutral other than the colour of their lips. Perhaps this suggests the ‘lips’ are the most vital facial feature, which would in turn relate to the narrative of young love, affection and relationships.
Mise- En- Scene: Hair: The character of Megan Trainor hair style is similar to that of the 50’s and thus relates to the location of the music video. Its big, wavy and blonde and stereotypically fits the ‘ideal woman’ image. The men in the music video also have big hair that’s been styled, to continue the mainstream attraction of the target audience.
Mise- En- Scene: Props- Props are used in this music video to emphasize the storyline and the 50’s vibes. Most of the props are vibrant in colour to match the bright colours associated with the Pop genre. For example, the bedroom furniture, the kitchen utensils and the gifts that are presented to Megan Trainor are all vibrant so that the audience can immediately identify the videos genre. It may also highlight the importance of materialism as wealth is a reoccurring theme that’s presented in the pop genre, in order to attract the impressionable target audience who wish to reach such standards. The phone is also an important prop which is essentially a system of looking because the females use it to find a potential partner online. It can be argued, that this prop marks a gender role reversal because its usually women who are presented as items, rather than men.
Editing: Editing is vital within the pop genre with bold, colorful titles often appearing on pop music videos. For example, Robin Thicke’s ‘Blurred Lines’ has layered text for promotional means. It’s a recent development in terms of the editing on music videos from the pop genre but now occurs frequently. Megan Trainor’s video follows this code and convention as her name and the title of songs appear bold and bright upon the screen at the beginning of the song. Furthermore, despite being shot in the summer time to mimic the positive vibes of the pop genre, filters and boosts have been used to ensure this music video appears bright and colourful. An example of this, is apparent within the fairground scene where its obviously late evening, but the colours are still bright and bold. However this may be a product of specific lighting as well, as lighting is used in the genre to ensure high definition and flawless footage.
Editing: A fish eye effect or lense has also been used in this music video, perhaps in a symbolic way. Perhaps to suggest Megan Trainor is the house and her eye is the peep hole, evaluating the man before he enters. Such distorted perceptions and editing techniques are often used in the pop genre to fit with the fun, up beat nature of the music videos and to appeal to the youth. Fast motion is also used for the same reason and is therefore used in ‘Dear Future Husband’ to include more footage in a shorter space of time.
Editing:
Sound: Pop songs have a catchy consistent beat which is mimicked in the multiple shots within the corresponding music video. Megan Trainors ‘ Dear Future Husband’ follows this code and convention, especially at the beginning of the song when every beat marks a new shot. Pop music also contains catchy hook line which tend to stay in the audiences mind, attracting mass audience attention. Coincidently the title of Megan Trainor’s song is the hook line so the song can be recognized immediately, increasing popularity and reception. Many of the lyrics link to the visuals within the music video, which is another re-occurrence with Pop music videos. For example when the song states ‘ I never learned to cook’, the music video shows a burning apple pie, reinforcing the lyrics.
Thank you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShlW5plD_40