Video Analysis - Rihanna 'We Found Love'

Video shows the relationship of Rihanna and her partner. The video clearly shows the emotional turmoil’s as well as the ups and downs of relationships and love. The start of the song is a prologue from a young girl explaining an experience about love and partnership. It explains how love is hard and it speaks as if a break up or loss of love has occurred, setting a negative tone to the song from the outset. The song however kicks in later in a very vibrant and upbeat manner. As the song seems to follow the path of the couple and the song reflects the on screen images it continues with the prologue and shows the relationship as being beautiful and exciting at the beginning but turning into pain and heartbreak if it were to end.
Editing:

The overall editing in the video is done through straight cuts, however there is varying speeds at which the cuts appear, they start off slow and build up during the fast paced parts of the song where the beat is building to drop is an example of where fast cuts have been used until it drops into the heavy bass beat after. There is also the manipulation of certain shots, in which the shot has been slowed and sped up in speed the extension of time is an expansion of time. There could have been many reasons to this from the effect allowing a break from the normalities of the video conventions? This breaking of a mould could possibly have meaning that the video is a postmodern production.  Also could be an effect allowing us to see that scene for a longer duration possibly for importance. I feel that more a connection lies with the couple being in there own world. The entirety of the video they are shot together with rarely seen contact with other people. The performance of the song when Rihanna sings in the bedroom, and the use of superimpose is vaguely present, this is done with the projection of the sky over Rihanna whilst she performs.

Camerawork:

The video combines performance and narrative together it overlaps the use of the same sets. There is a greater percentage of narrative to the performance element. This is where my production can’t follow suit, due to my video being a debut video for an up and coming star which needs to create the star image around the artist. There is an abundance of two shots used throughout the video as the songs mantra is of love and a couple. All of these two shots shows the partnership and relationship that’s growing between the pair throughout the video It reveals to the audience that they are in love and as the title recites they found there love a ‘hopeless place’. There is often interjects of single shots mainly during the performance elements as this aspect is where the Star Image of Rihanna takes place. The mostly used shots include close ups and mid shots, these are used to highlight the theory of star image. Establishing shots are also used frequently as to set the scene for the various different sequences.  The overall feel that comes from the music videos camerawork is one of fluctuating moods from fast paced up beat action to the start long takes to create tension. There is lots of movement within the shots to add confusion to the viewer this highlights area of confusion around the relationship. Alongside the use of two shots there is also a mix of shot reverse shots and reaction shots mixed together in this as the song is very thought provoking and the characters are always together the shot reverse shot builds up the image of their relationship and relays it across to the audience

Theories:
The majority of the shots are close ups on the face, with inserts of imagery, this links to the theory posed by Richard Dyer about stardom. This use of close ups on the artist face makes them memorable and links to the other media they have including, posters, merchandise and CD covers.

The link to Steve Archer’s theory of repeatability this is linked in with the Voyeuristic nature for males and for females there are very fruitful scenes that are the leading up to sexual intercourse. This risqué approach leaves the audience wanting to watch multiple times and they’re left intrigued and satisfied.

Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction theory can be seen in the production there are two main binary opposites that are present in the video. Firstly the binary opposite of love and loneliness, as they don’t want to be with out love as they are together but at times it looks like they are close to the end of a relationship and the fight between which opposite drives there fear more until the final scene when a choice is made. The second binary opposites is male and female in this sense it’s the domineering position in the relationship and both want to be in this position and they are to alike to connect properly. These binary opposites

There are some postmodern conventions in the production for example I feel there is a non linear narrative in the sense that the prologue to the video talks about a break up and a negative experience with love. This is something which is present throughout the song and eventually with the walking out of the relationship. This makes the starting of the video the ending. Another postmodern code that I feel can be identified is the possible dystopian narrative, by which she finds love and yet ends up walking out therefore ending up alone. This links to the binary opposites of the love and loneliness argument. Is ‘We Found Love’ a postmodern text? Yes I feel that the video by Rihanna is a post modern text, whether intended or not there is strong bulk of theories and conventions from the postmodern era that are present in the video. This abundance makes is hard not to label the video post modern. 

Voyeurism:

Voyeuristic nature is used within the narrative; it’s used as the couple are intimate with each other. This voyeuristic images helps the viewer mainly concrete in there head that the couple are in love and romantically intimate. The scenes when it’s used are sped up as to give the feeling to the audience that although they are evidently in love that maybe this has been rushed into and not meant to happen yet. Another scene when typical voyeurism is used is when Rihanna is running into a field and she takes her top off, without having underwear on, this provokes the male instinct and makes in memorable to the male audience immediately. This also helps to link in with Steve Archer’s theory of repeatability.
Mise en scene:
The mise en scene used in the video, is mainly through adult related themes, and the narrative. The first major use of mise en scene in the video is through the use of pills in excessive amount. These pills bring the view of drug use and possible overdose. They also create a link with the song about addiction and being addicted to things, other things that can be addicted to are also used In the video. These include:
·                       Alcohol
·                       Drugs
·                       Smoking
·                       Gambling
·                        Sex
These are five main things that are both adult related  and things that can become addicted this theme is carried through to link with the song about love and being addicted.  These pills placed in then ties together the slowing down of time in the shots preceding the pills, strengthening the bond that they are either on drugs or affected by drugs.  
Develop, use or challenge forms and conventions?
The music video very much does follow all of the forms and conventions of music videos; it has a fast paced video that matches the pace of the song. There are lots of straight cuts between different shots and sets. There is little to challenge the conventions of the conventions it’s brightly shot with lots of shots of the artist to increase the star image. It also tells a story with the lyrics and the on screen image.