MUSIC VIDEO 2: KATY PERRY – THINKING OF YOU

POP GENRE

By Ana Etienne-Escudero

Lyrically, the song deals with a break-up in which Perry doesn’t want to move on but has no choice, and feels nostalgic of a previous lover whilst in a relationship with another man. Katy Perry wrote this song herself as it’s truly based on her past relationship.

 Perry describes her former lover as "perfection" and feels disgusted with herself when she kisses her current boyfriend, calling him second best in comparison. Katy Perry is narrating and part of the role. There is a clear story line in which she loses his lover as he goes of to war . This is shown clearly through the war scene and the lyrics used. There are flash backs of them together to show when she was happy, such as riding their bikes. Perry keeps in character throughout the music video, there are several close up shots to show her facial expressions and used to emote emotions from each of the characters. The song is quite sad and the video goes along with the ‘depressing’ theme as there is a funeral included in the music video. The audience get drawn to the story line and can relate to her situation. This music video gives out a negative message to women, however the video makes this pain seem glamorous through it’s romantic theme.

CostumeThroughout the music video Katy Perry wears quite revealing and provocative

clothing ,which makes her sexually appealing to the audience. Women in music videos often to wear as little clothes as possible for the benefit of the male gaze, however some circumstances dictate the elements of sexual objectification.

Perry wears clothes styled in accordingly to the era the music video is set in. This is a conservative era set around1950s-1960s , Katy has a retro look and is dressed in old Us army styled clothing women would wear. She is shown wearing a black vintage pencil dress with built-in eraser , black heels , gloves and a netted hat for the funeral. There also multiple cuts which shows details such as her shoes, hands and clothes.

As the video continues her clothes become more revealing. She is shown wearing a silk robe which is see-through, exposing Perry’s lingerie beneath. She wears this when she’s shown in the house while her “lover” goes off to war. She tries to cover up herself but at the same time she is an patriotic society in which she is subordinate to men and has to do her duties to please him. This is shown as she takes her robe of in front of him and shows her legs and lingerie although she is shown guilty as she turns away.

Perry’s is shown to be wearing “natural make up” . However the make up may imply her self conscious and she now has to ”look good “ to impress others.

The men in the video are shown wearing army uniform suggesting that they are strong and masculine , this connotes what army men are really like. At first we see the man she with in the bedroom wearing a white vest top which shows his macho , masculine side.

There are props such as a cross and other religious imagery such as the bible which enforces a notion of conservatism. Katy Perry is shown with a mid shot singing in her room whilst looking at a photograph of a man in uniform, this suggests that her partner is related with the war. This idea is counteracted by a shot of a man in the bed behind where Perry sits at her dressing table, as she guiltily checks that he is not awake and cannot see her looking at the photograph.

Props

Setting and lightingThe setting enhances the romance in the story line. The

location of the house and the summer setting in the fields where they are happily riding their bike and in love.

The music video is set in three different locations. There’s a white room in which Perry is happily in a relationship and a dark room which implies that she is up set. There are colour filters used to keep the music video in the 60’s style. There is also dark lighting and black and white effects used during the war scene to demonstrate violence, hurt and sadness. In addition , the lighting in this music video is natural which shows their facial expressions clearly . The happy flash back are shown brightly to show positivity and good times.

In this music video Perry is marketing herself as an actor and singer , which makes people more interest and gains a wider audience as she is showing her talents and star qualities.

Gaining publicity

Link to the music video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=wdGZBRAwW74