The second music video I’m going to analyze is ‘Fly On The Wall’ by Miley Cyrus. The video is based around Miley trying to escape the paparazzi after going on a date to the cinema. This is very true to life as Miley is in demand as one of the biggest teenage stars in the world, and has admitted she finds it hard to lead a normal life away from the media. This music video is perhaps her way of showing the public what it’s like as Miley trying to live an ordinary life.
The video begins with dramatic diagetic music, and a sign above the cinema saying ‘Friday Night Frights’. The fact that they’ve been to watch a horror film at night is a subtle hint towards what to expect from the rest of the music video. The camera cuts to Miley and her date discussing the movie they’ve just seen. This shows a stereotypical portrayal of teenagers, as going to the cinema is something they are widely associated with doing.
Miley’s date stops in his tracks, as something appears to be wrong with him. Miley asks if he’s okay, and the camera cuts to play more diagetic music, whilst showing the full moon in the sky. The video has a play on the age old beliefs of were wolfs transforming at night, as Miley’s ‘date’ transforms into a photographer. Miley screams and runs away, cueing the start of the song. This shows qualities typical of a ‘damsel in distress’.
The next scene shows Miley’s escaped to an underground car park, where she is desperately trying to keep hidden from the paparazzi, which have followed her there. The next thirty seconds consist of Miley trying to avoid the paparazzi, and her performance of the song. The presence of a glamorous looking Miley, cars and boys make it stereotypical of what you’d expect to find in a teenage music video.
As the chorus kicks in, the paparazzi jump out from behind the cars and are snapping away with their cameras. Miley tries desperately to escape them, but she’s surrounded. During Miley’s performance of the song, there are flashing lights going off behind her, similar to that of a camera, which relates to the story part of the video.
After a minute of hiding behind walls and cars, Miley becomes backed against a gate, with the paparazzi coming towards her in a crowd. They are walking in sync and as the music kicks back in, start dancing in front of Miley’s eyes. She is clearly scared and confused by this, but is unable to escape.
A black car shows up with a male friend inside to rescue Miley, and they drive off away from the paparazzi. The music finishes, whilst Miley explains to her friend what happened. Whilst she’s doing so, it becomes apparent to the viewer that there is a camera in the car that’s filming her, and the scene then gets cut to the website from which the car camera is airing the footage live. This is giving out the message that Miley feels unable to trust anyone.
Miley's video was a huge contrast to Madonna's as it stuck to simple themes that weren't likely to cause any contraversy or make any real statement or impact.
No comments:
Post a Comment