Textual Analysis (1)

Spice Girls - Wannabe (1996)

Cinematography: The video is one continuous tracking shot that follows the group around a hotel. However as the camera moves different framing is used. For example, a long shot at the beginning of the video allows the viewer to see all the members of the group together in a section of the narrative which does not have the music playing. A long shot is also used later in the video to showcase a dance sequence/performance element. Long shots also help the viewer to understand the surroundings as they can see more of where the video is taking place. Close-up shots are also used when individual members in the band have thier own part in the song, the close-up shots show the audience who is singing the part. Throughout the video mid-shots are used when following the girls round. Mid -shots allow the audience to see the performers costume and their face, this shot is conventional of the pop genre. There is no variation of angles of shots in the video, I think this is because it is one shot, if the camera was moving up and down all the time it could have been disorientating for the viewer.

Editing: No editing as the video is one continuous shot, apart from the use of slow-motion at the beginning.
Mise-en-Scene: Shot at St Pancras Grand Hotel in London, the location contrasts greatly to the girls themselves and what they are doing. In the video the girls run around the upmarket and classy hotel and cause havoc. I think this was to show the 'don't care' attitude of them it creates an element of humour in the video that is relatable to audiences. The extras in the video are all wearing quite eccentric clothing, this over the top costume links to the conventions of the genre as pop videos are often exciting and different. The girls in the band are all wearing very different outfits, often in music videos band members wear similar clothing to show uniformity and togetherness but the different outfits the members are wearing show individuality. Pop videos conventionally are bright and use strong vibrant colours to reflect the song. Some members of the band are wearing brightly coloured clothing, whereas others are very plain, however I think the costumes of the members are meant to reflect thier personality traits, e.g Sporty Spice in a crop top an track suit bottoms. The girls are wearing short skirts and are showing off thier bodies, which is also a convention of a pop video.

Sound: The video has both a soundtrack (the song itself) and ambient sound which is part of the narrative. At the beginning of the video the girls are outside of the hotel when a car arrives, you can hear the car moving and the girls themselves talking, as they move inside two members throw some paper around, you can also hear the paper shuffling when it hits the ground. After this, the only sound in the video is the song. The lyrics of the song are primarily about how women should value friendships over relationships with men. Laura Mulvey's theory about how women are viewed in the media may say that this song is sending a positive message. Even though her theory focuses on how media texts; emphasise the curves of the female body, refer to women as objects, display women as how men think they should be seen, make female viewers view the content through the eyes of a man, and how women are often sexualised and seen as objects the lyrics of this song are empowering to women and therefore you would think that the media text supports this. However the girls in the band are all wearing short outfits that emphasise their bodies and they are shown in a way that would please men.