Music Video Analysis
Names: Teya Snowder, Luke Parker
Music Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdGZBRAwW74
Semiotics
Do you see any symbols
in this video? What do
they symbolize?
Why do you think that
the artist used these
symbols?
What culture do these
symbols resonate with?
Would they symbolize the
same thing in another
culture? Do they resonate
with you?
Social and Cultural Issues
What does this video
assume about its
audience?
Is the artist for or against
anything?
To what age group does
this video appeal?
Christian Cross- religious belief
Black clothes- Funeral, death, sadness, depression
Standing alone- Feeling alone and like they have to deal
with this by themselves.
Sex scenes- She longs for him physically.
Flashbacks- She misses him a lot and has a hard time
forgetting the good times she had with him.
Man with beard- She looks out the window into the past
but the man that comes up behind her is him,
theoretically, if he didn’t die. But she pushes him away
when he tries to kiss her.
Change in color tones- Shows different times and
differentiates flashbacks and present. The beige and
bright colors represent the past when he was alive, the
whited out scenes are the present and the gray scenes
are him at war.
High heels- Emotional instability
The artist used these symbols to show the love that
people have for others, and it shows the heartbreak that
losing a loved one has.
Most of the symbols resonate a lot with 1950s christian
America, for example, the cross, the dance hall, and the
American style clothing. Some of the symbols are
universal such as the war scene, or the love scenes.
That they have experienced losing a loved one or they
are missing someone.
It’s possible that the artist is against war and the draft
because they created a song purely to express how much
they miss their boyfriend/husband who was killed in war.
This video appeals a lot to the youth because it gives us a
love story but it can also appeal to the older generation
 who have personally experienced times of wars and
having to send loved ones into the army.
Is the video racist or I wouldn’t say it is racist, even though it's set in the 1950’s
sexist? Does this video where racism was more prominent, it steers away from
support any stereotypes? those topics and only focuses on their love story.
However this video does support the stereotype of the
typical house wife who stays at home while the husband
goes off to war.
What political or social This brings to mind the issue of war, it emphasizes the
issue does this video devastation that war can cause in the home of Americans.
bring to mind?

Does the video use any No, it doesn’t but it does use a black and white filter to
historical video/film reenact a war scene where a soldier is shot in the chest
clips? How does it use the and dies.
clips?

Formal Qualities and Analyses

What process do you I’m not exactly sure what programs they used but I do
think was used to create know there was a significant amount of editing done
some of the images in because the color tone changes frequently and some
the video? What scenes are especially bright.
software and editing
program do you think
they used?

Describe how the color in There are many dark colors throughout the video. With
the video is used to very dark tones. Especially in the beginning and the end.
portray certain emotions, But during the middle while she is remembering the good
feelings or meanings? times she had with her husband it is very bright and
colorful.
Write a visual description There is a scene where the main girl is dancing with her
of a particular scene or husband. As a last dance before he goes to war. They
image in the video. stay dancing until the very end, even until the band is
cleaned up and leaving. They look at eachother one last
time and he goes off into a dark hallway. As it fades into
darkness and changes the scene.

Interpretation
What does this video say That the loss of war does not just affect the country and
to you? the people's lives that were lost, but their family and
loved ones are greatly affected too.
What does it say about Maybe it shows that she lost someone. Or is reaching out
the artist? to others that have lost others. Showing her appreciation
for those who lost their lives for us.
Is there anything of which It reminds me of World War II, as it is in older style clothes,
this video reminds you and there is a black and white scene with old war outfits.
of? Is there anything in Much like they had in the World Wars, and in the Vietnam
the video that reminds War.
you of something you
have studied in school?

Artist Intent
Do you see any works of I see many pictures of the lost husband. It fits the story,
art in this video? Do you but there is nothing else that shows she was influenced by
believe the artist was another artist or idea.
influenced by someone
else?

Do you see any product I did not see any product placement, as that would be bad
placement in the video? for a very sorrowful song about loved ones dying.
Is this video selling a
certain product?

Do you think your I think it was, as it is a very obvious intent of the video,
interpretation of this and the song itself as well. I don’t think it matters if you
video is what the artist get the exact intent from the artist. But it would be hard to
intended? Does it get a different interpretation.
matter?

Can an artist mean to It may express the sorrow from losing a loved one, but as
express one thing, but well expresses the tender moments that you can
then express more than remember, thus not really losing them forever.
that, or something
different from that?

Aesthetics
Do you like this video? I do not like this video, there is many scenes of the two
Why or why not? main people involved in passionate kissing, and getting in
the bed. Its an uncomfortable video.
What are the most The color and emotion of the faces. In the happy scenes,
effective parts or there are bright colors and happy expressions, but in the
aspects of this work of sadder moments, its is all darker and dark colors, with sad
art? expressions on the faces.
How would you I would tell people not to watch this video, as it is mostly
persuade others to just sad moments and two people kissing and getting
appreciate this work of undressed (not all the way though)
art as much as you do?
How could you convince I would convince someone to appreciate an artwork by
someone to appreciate giving them the context of the work so that they get to
an artwork that they know the piece before judging it. I would counter their
think is not good? How argument by pointing out the details and impressive
could you counter this
aspects within the video.
person’s argument?