Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Student task
Uses and Gratifications theory
The Let me entertain you video clearly aims for entertainment as its main target. The video has Robbie William dressed in the trademark makeup of the band Kiss. I believe that this is done to add to the entertainment factor as it reflects a popular band. Robbie Williams imitates the movements of Kiss and their general performing atmosphere once more playing on Kiss’s popularity.
By using shots of Robbie Williams backstage it adds the illusion of information on what Robbie Williams is really like. Even if this is staged it will still make people believe that they are getting information that other people do not. This idea of giving the audience information is rare in a music video.
Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory- Let Me Entertain You
Robbie Williams- Let Me Entertain You- Laura Mulvey’s “Male Gaze” Theory
I think that the “Let Me Entertain You” music video by Robbie Williams does follow the Laura Mulvey’s “Male Gaze” theory because; Robbie Williams was shown in a heterosexual man’s perspective.
In this scene from the music videos we can see the main character in bed with a few females- that suggests that he is heterosexual. The camera is also used to show how the main character would look at the scene, he flirts with woman therefore realistically woman in this videos are objectified. The male is given the most power compared to the female.
Another part of her “Male Gaze” theory suggests those women are either portrayed as on of two possibilities- virginal innocent characters or a sexy “wh**e”. This is called the virgin/whore dichotomy.
However, in this video female are shown as the “sexy” wh**e type because; towards the end of the video we can see woman pole dancing, and in one of the cuts we can identify a lot of women in bed with the lead character.
This picture shows the woman reacting in a “sexy” way-, which supports the “Male Gaze” theory. In the scene where the women are in bed with the Robbie Williams it represents them in a “slutty” way.
Andrew Goodwin - Harvey
Watching the music video, Robbie Williams – Let me entertain you, there is a contradiction between the lyrics and the visuals of the music, as the lyrics are ‘poppy’ and the costumes are a homage to the rock band KISS, with the black outfits with white and black face paint. This intertextuality of KISS in the music video helps the music video to contradict the song and visuals.
Also Robbie Williams (the singer) pretends to bite the head of a dove in reference to Ozzy Osbourne who supposedly bit the head off a bat, but Robbie Williams then releases the dove to maintain his public image as a pop singer and to create satire.
Again the music contradicts the visuals of the music videos as the video has the usual conventions of a rock video with aspects such as; smoke, strobe lights, costumes, close ups of guitars and band members. Also there is limited dancing as the music video maintains the look of a rock music video with high kicks and quick cuts
By music video being in black and white it allows the audience to be absorbed into the music video. The music of the song definitely contradicts the music videos as the song uses trumpets and other brass instruments, which do not conform to the standard conventions of a rock music video. By creating a contradiction between song and visuals it allows the artist to have a wider range of music videos; the song being of the pop genre and the video being of the rock genre does this. Without the song the music video itself will appeal to a different audience than the song does. But it seems to make an interesting video because the song contradicts the video so much.
In accordance to Andrew Goodwin’s theory this music video includes lots of close ups of the lead singer (Robbie Williams). By using close ups and quick cuts the tempo of the song is maintained as a pop song which will appeal to its target audience.
Robbie Williams defined his career with this video as it contradicted so much and it has been a big part of pop history, and as he has a reputation of a womanizer or player this image is maintained by this music video, which enhances his sexuality as heterosexual man.
This video ultimately creates a contradiction between the music and the visuals which is the link between them and conforms to the Andrew Goodwin theory.