Music video evaluation 4

Destiny's Child - Cater 2 U

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

• The lyrics in Destiny's Child Cater 2 U feature each band member explaining how they'd cater to 'you' - through the presence of male models used the audience makes the connection that they are referring to them.
• The video is a pure performance video, there is not a direct connection, some dance moves could suggest word from the lyrics but not directly.

PERFORMANCE, NARRATIVE AND/OR CONCEPT?:

• This music video is a performance video, it included the band lip syncing, modelling, and dancing.
• There is not a narrative that it follows nor do the band fully perform with mics etc.

PERFORMANCE STYLE:

• The performance style is dramatic and has themes of modelling and acting along with a specific dance routine.
• lip syncing is shown throughout showing the singers being portrayed as themselves
• The choreography is specific and typical to the contemporary R&B genre in which the song falls under, the moves are not too complex and could be repeated at home however are still made to look professional. 
• The angles used are not limited, showing the full surroundings through different shot types and angles.
• Many of the shot types are long shots and extreme long shots this shows the audience the surrounds showing off the lavish car and unique swimming pool this links with it being from the contempt R&B genre.

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS: 

• The costume can be seen to support the genre with the use of minimal clothing and large heels and accessories
• the props used also show the genre in the use of the swimming pool and expensive car. These are used as genre characterises for contempt R&B.

LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS:

• Throughout the video there are references to looking as each singer stares into the camera lens when they are sing and model, solo or not. This ensures the viewers attention and builds a relationship with the audience, creating a direct mode of address.

STAR TREATMENT:

• The lead singer of the group is continually singled out with longer shots of her lip syncing
• These shots are varied and often long shots or close ups which gives more detail to the 'star'.
• Beyonce is being made into the star in the majority of the video.
• She is also placed at the centre of the dance routines making her the focus. 

REPRESENTATIONS: 

• Gender is represented quite separately as the men are looking onto the women in a preying like manner while they sing about serving them, this could be seen as unequal.
• A variety of age is not represented through the video as all the participants are of a similar age.
• Sexuality is represented in a heterosexual way not displaying diversity as the women and men involved seem to be attracted to one another.
• The same or similar ethnicities are also very prominent in the video, this reflects the R&B genre.

 MALE GAZE?: 

• Throughout this video the singers are very sexualised with many shots of legs and cleavage etc, however they are not portrayed as objects and less important than the men as the main feature is on them, they are performing and acting the song.
• This being said the men featured in the video are strongly gazing at them suggesting that they are being sexually objectified.

 PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE: 

• The pace of the shots varies with the pace of the song, with the verses and the slightly slower sections the shots don't change as often.
• As the chorus progresses the shots change faster.
• However in the section that may be classed as rapping the shots do not change in pace from before or during the section.
• There is also a pattern in editing during the chorus and after each singer had their solo, this pattern includes showing the women in the black dresses in formation then cutting back to the previous scene featuring each subsequent member and returning back to the black dress dance sequence.

SHOT VARIETY + NO. OF SETUPS:

• The video is set in one main location - the desert - however each solo section is filmed in a separate part of the desert, this gives variety.
• There are a range of shots which are appropriate for the section of the song, for example in parts of the song with all three singers only shot types in which all can be seen are used such as medium long shots.
• Shots used vary from long shots to medium close ups which can be seen throughout.
• One section is also filmed at night giving the video variety.
• The camera movements are smooth and consistent displaying the actresses. 

LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE: 

• As this video was filmed in a desert it implies intertextuality as it relates to Hollywood and blockbusters
• The lighting and colours also suggest this with the orange and teal.
• The costumes fit in with the genre and the romanticism of the set.