Music Video Analysis - 'Rihanna - Unfaithful'

Rihanna is represented in a very voyeuristic way through the four micro-elements. These mircro-elements create a very negative representation of Rihanna through using certain shots, lighting, miss-en-scene and editing. The representation of Rihanna conforms to the typical stereotype of women as being seductive and suggestive.

Mise-en-scene is used to represent Rihanna as being unfaithful. This is portrayed through the clothing and makeup being worn as Rihanna is denoted wearing a little black dress. This connotes that Rihanna very seductive and tempting, this firs in Andrew Goodwins theory that there is a relationship that there is a relationship between the lyrics and visuals. This makes the video more effective as it would attract the audience. The clothing/costume make Rihanna appeal to the male audience as it is an example of the male gaze theory (mulvey). Rihanna also looks very glamorous with her makeup which will make her stand out as she is the main focus of music video. At one point in the music video Rihanna was draped a piano in a suggestive position which connotes she is unfaithful and very confident as she is opening herself up to be objectified. This conforms to the ideology that women are represented badly in music videosThis fits in with the male gaze theory as Rihanna is being seductive and has glamorous makeup which would appeal to the male audience as it is voyeuristic. This connotes that she is very alluring as she later on also drapes herself over a piano in a suggestive position. This would appeal the male audience as she is featured in most of the video.

Editing is also used to denote Rihanna as disloyal as there are multiple shots of her texting someone else. This connotes that she is untrustworthy and gives women a bad reputation as it represents women as being deceitful which conforms to the typical stereotype of women as they are seen as secretive. This also connotes that tension is being built up with the use of jump cuts and montages of shots as they wants to denote different days and different scenes synchronous with the music. This fits in with the theory of a relationship between the music and visuals as the editing pace is synchronous with the beat of the music. This makes the music video flow more smoothly and fits the codes and conventions of a typical pop music video as you would expect at least one part of the music video to have the visuals and music link together.

Camera shots are also used within the music video to create a strong representation of women (Rihanna). An example of this is when there is a mid shot of Rihanna holding hands with her boyfriend but later on denotes her in another mid shot texting someone else. This connotes that she is very secretive and decietful as she is cheating behind her boyfriends back. This is the counter hegemonic view of women as they are usually seen as the weaker sex who get cheated on as the man loses interest and decides to be with someone else whereas within this music video the women is the deceitful one and the man is weak as he knows she's being unfaithful but still holds on. This fits in with Barthes theory of enigma code as the audience are left wondering why the male protagonist is still holding on knowing that he's being cheated on.

Sound is also used within the music video to fit the codes and conventions of a typical pop music video as it takes a while for the music to start properly. Its not until 0.54 in the music video when the music starts which builds up tension in the narrative. This would grab the audiences attention, as the tension is growing and would make them question whats going to happen next which fits in with todorovs theory of equilibrium as the music starts of slow paced and then becomes faster and louder which could be mirroring the relationship between the two main protagonists within this music video.

Overall, the the four micro-elements have been used to represent women in a negative way. Within this music video women are represented in a post feminist way as Rihanna was represented as unfaithful and deceitful which connotes that women are just as bad as men are usually seen as the stronger sex that lose interest quickly whereas in tho music video it denotes the counter hegemonic view of the woman being the stronger sex.