Rianna Dyer

Ciara-like a boy

(Album)

Genre-rhythm & blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CQEvlil68M&ob=av2e

I have chosen to illustrate this video for my genre convention because it shows women in a different light. This particular video challenges the way how most women in rnb videos have been portrayed and it links into the music video my group are going to be focusing on.

This female empowerment record is mainly aimed at mature women. The meaning of this song and video is based on gender roles being reversed. It shows how men that are in relationships can treat their women in such a way where if the women done it they would get looked down upon. For example; ‘pull up your pants, take out the trash, getting your cash like him fast like him’ and ‘wish we could switch up the roles, and i could be that, tell you that i love you but when you call i never get back’ (lyrics from the song), that is seen as masculine things to do and if a female were to do that, they wouldn’t be portrayed as ‘lady like’ and unfeminine.

The black and white video begins with a half a second close up snippet of Ciara’s forearms and hands. The way how they have been positioned, rings and loads of tattoos (which have been painted on) give us the impression that she is improvising a masculine type hand. Straight after that we then see Ciara dressed like a boy sitting in a chair (slouching like a boy too). She then quotes “2007. Ladies, i think it’s time to switch roles”. This is shown as a medium shot. That sentence alone should

reassure the audience on what the video is going to be about.

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Next, Ciara confronts her boyfriend (played by Reggie bush) throughout the video. During the first verse and chorus, Ciara dances with her male alter ego. In these print screens you can notice that the lighting has been positioned in certain places; especially in the first print screen, The light angle defines the dominant person between the two (which is the female). Also, the fact that Ciara is talking to her boyfriend right near his ear shows that it could possibly be a secret. In this case she knows what he has done and is confronting him and putting her in his shoes so he can understand how she feels when he does unnecessary things.

Close up medium shot

Long shot

This long shot print screen shows Ciara dancing with her male alter ego. Her alter ego’s pose is quiet masculine and he is dressed in what it seems like a black suit which is known as a bold, powerful, dark and deep colour. The white trainers could possibly signify that there is a brighter side to this alter ego of hers. The feminine side of Ciara stands out more in this black and white music video. This is mainly because of the outfit type alongside the colour; a white short dress with black heels and no head wear (the complete opposite to her alter ego). The white signifies purity and innocence as opposed to the colour black. In this case it shows that the female is the innocent one however the black heels could mean she is slowly feeding off of her male alter ego and therefore she is not so innocent after all.(The walking stick prop could also signal she is feeding off her alter ego)

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The rest of the video, Ciara and female dancers, who are all dressed in more masculine styles,

perform masculine choreography. After the bridge, there is a breakdown and Ciara performs her famous matrix.

Again these two print screens show that Ciara is the dominant character. We can see this by use of lighting and facial expressions; the male looks as if he is in denial and he cannot look Ciara directly into her eyes.

Close up-view their facial expressions

I believe that this is a very good music video where you can challenge conventions. The use of black and white throughout the video, switching roles and clothing all link in correctly the

Rianna Dyer

message Ciara is trying to give out to consumers. All of these props and mise en scence is what you would expect to see in an Rnb music video.