Week 4 Task: Carol Vernallis analysis

Nicki Minaj - Massive Attack



Vernallis' theory centres around 4 key concepts that all relate to the way a music video is constructed. They are:
     1) Narrative
     2) Editing
     3) Camera movement and framing
     4) Diegesis


NARRATIVE:

• The song is a visual response to the music
• There is a narrative and performance, although the narrative is not fully explained and quite vague: the video begins with rapper Birdman giving Nicki a stack of money, then there are various desert shots and a car chase with a a helicopter. There is a harijuku army and the video seems quite random, then Nicki escapes with model Amber Rose in a pink lamborghini.

• The narrative is quite fragmented, which leaves it open to interpretation and the quirkiness is in keeping with Nicki Minaj's eccentric image. There is a pink colour scheme; in the backgrounds, clothing and mise en scene which relates to Nicki's 'Barbie' alter ego.

EDITING:

• The video frequently cuts to the beat of the music, especially in the introduction from 0.21 to 0.30 seconds. There are lots of shots of animal and insects, which are always cut to the beat.
• Cuts match the the sharp beats and there are jumps in narrative towards the end.
• Continuity is disrupted as narrative is intercut with performance
• Some long shots and some extremely fast shots. (e.g. slow: Nicki rising from the water, fast:cuts of snakes/spiders)

CAMERA:

• Extreme cuts from wide shots of the car to CUs of different people or animals
• The camera is nearly always moving (zooms, crane, pans, etc), only static for performance.
• Extreme angles: at one point there is a LA shot of Sean Garrett followed by a HA shot of the car. (below)

DIEGESES:

• There are gaps in the audience's understanding as there isn't really a story with a climax, the video is more abstract and involved on the dancers, singers, rappers and fashion.
• The music video uses intertextual references; the car chase is symbolic of the chase in Thelma and Louise (1991, Ridley Scott) which is a film about two women escaping their caged lives, which is ironic as Nicki Minaj and Amber Rose are so outlandish and quirky.

(The end shot resembles the theatrical poster for the film.)