Analysis of Ariana Grande’s Into music video using theories which we have discussed in class.

*Ariana Grande- Into

*Todorov- Narrative TheoryTodorov produced a theory which he believed to be able to be

applied to any film. For Todorov, films all go through stages the same five stages. These stages are called: the equilibrium, disequilibrium, acknowledgement, solving and again the equilibrium. Ariana Grande’s video does indeed follow these stages, and within the video we can see Todrov’s process.

This is what the five stages of Todrov's narrative mean:

• A state of equilibrium (All is as it should be.)• Disequilibrium (A disruption of that order by an event.)• Acknowledgment- A recognition that the disorder has

occurred.• Solving - An attempt to repair the damage of the disruption.• Equilibrium again - the return or restoration of a NEW

equilibrium

* The video starts of in a state of equilibrium, with a boy and a girl appearing to be in love travelling together. A two shot is shown early on , as the two shadowy figures are seen with a sunset in the background. Everything appears to be normal in Ariana's video, as the couple is united and together. A lighter background is used when we see a close up of the happy couple. As they look into each other’s eyes we see their infatuation with each which is very common through young love. Everything seems happy for the couple.

The disequilibrium In the music video is shown, when Ariana is seen with another boy at a press event. We as an audience know what Ariana does not want to be with this boy and she is doing it for the media and not herself. This scene is in disequilibrium as it is jeopardising the real relationship she has the first boy.

Acknowledgment- In the video is shown when Ariana is seen looking at her new boyfriend. As she looks at him with a worried expression we as an audience know that this is not right and she shouldn’t be at this event with him.

Solving- The pair who are in love attempt to reconcile as the princess (prince) and the hero realise they should be together. She realises that love that is real is more important than love for the media and the public. The man is shown as her bodyguard having connotations of protection as he “protecting” her which is a key element in relationships. The new boy she is with is seen to be flirting with another girl showing how he is unfaithful and untrustworthy.

Equilibrium again- Ariana and her boyfriend get back to together as they realise they can’t without each other. There is a repetition of the opening shot on the couple of a bike

Propp- Identified a few character types that can be found in narrative. In Ariana Grande’s video we have a hero, a villain and a princess who is a boy in this story.

The HERO

Ariana plays the hero as she has to choose to follow her heart , and ignore the media. We as the audience want her to be happy.

THE PRINCESS

In this narrative/story the princess is a boy. This is very unorthodox in stories. He is the one that the hero (Ariana) is love with. He is her “prize” for following her heart.

THE VILLAIN

The Villain gets in the way of the hero and the princess’s relationship. He is also shown to be unfaithful, as he talks to other girls.

Levi-Strauss

Levi-Strauss states that narratives are structured by binary opposites. Opposites are needed in narratives, as they reveal the conflicts that contribute to the climax of the story. Looking at the pair, you are able to distinguish the dominant character. We can also see how problems can arise, and how they can be resolved.

Within Into you, there are opposites in order for us to differentiate the characters and the situation. For example, The first scene shows the hero and villain riding off into the sunset. The colours are dark and the two characters are shown as shadows. Due to the darkness of the scene, we as an audience believe that their love has elements of danger and spontaneity. After the mid of the two we are shown a close up of The hero Arianna in light purple lighting. The lighting in the mid shot has connotations of purity which juxtaposes the scene before which represented danger.

Barthes- Narrative codes

Action- The action in “into you” is centred on the forbidden love of the Artist (Ariana Grande) and her true love. At the start of the video, their forbidden love is hinted to as they seem to be running away on is motorcycle from outsiders of their relationship. Engima- As an audience see Ariana and her love interest riding off into the sunset. Questions arise as we want to know why they are being so secretive with their love. The other question we have is the fact that Ariana attends an event with another boy when she is already in love; Ariana does not look happy about this so we want to know why she is going on this date.

Semic- The Mise en scene when Ariana is on her own is very girly as she is surrounded by pink. When Ariana is with her love interest in the hotel room the Mise en scene darkens, as black is the central colour. This help to show, that the artist has two different personalities when she is with her true love.

Symbolic- This music video helps to show that love cannot be forced and true love exists for everyone.

Cultural- Elements of this music video is comparable to love of a romance movie where true love evidently wins.

Saussure- Semiotics The motorcycle symbolises danger and the excitement of new love.

The Hotel/motel called “the Honeymoon inn” represents their sexual relationship.

This fake relationship is shown about control and Ariana wants to move away from it. This is shown though the gesture of Ariana desperately wanting to move away yet she is grabbed towards her fake date.

Mulvey –Male Gaze

Laura Mulvey said that females are displayed for the visual pleasure of males. Women are sexualized as their body parts tend to be the focus of each shot.

This mid shot of Ariana Grande shows her torso as the main focus. This shot’s focus is on the female artist’s body supporting Dyer’s theory.

This close up is at a lower angle giving Ariana dominance however, she is still sexualized as her breasts are a focus of the shot.

Dyer Dyer suggests that stereotypes perform a number offunctions in media representations. In narratives we are often shown the most quintessential stereotypes e.g. a geeky boy and a popular girl. These stereotypes show the differences in between people, and also help the audience to relate to the plot/ characters.

The beautiful girl who is the eye of everybody’s affections. She is nice and kind but is all ways looking for love.

The true love of the beautiful girl, the world does not accept this relationship.

The man she should be with to please society however, she does not love him.

Baudrillard- Simulacra

This video helps to showcase the hyper reality of stardom and “celebrity.” The artist is at her happiest when she is living a normal life with her true love. As people we obsess over the artists we see the media, but this showcases that what we are shown is fabricated and not real.

Reality Hyper- Reality

Hypodermic Needle Model

The music video makes us excited but also apprehensive as we want to see the hero and the princess together. We feel bad for the artist when she has to fake her feelings for the cameras and society.

Uses and Gratification

Diversion - The escape from reality is shown whilst we see the artist going to glamorous parties and press events. We will probably not experience these events in our lifetime.

Personal Relationships – The video uses the common theme of love in order to form a relationship between the audience and a character. When the artist is not with her true love we know how painful that can be and we are able to empathise with her.

Personal Identity – We are able to relate to Ariana Grande, as she is a young girl rebelling against society a common occurrence gone through in our teenage period.

Surveillance – The audience is given an insight into being a celebrity.

Encoding Decoding

Dominant - Accepts it's a love story and also the negatives of fame

Negotiated – Takes Ariana’s theme of loving someone and the excitement of first love to adapt it to their situation.

Oppositional – Some could reject the idea of love being so dangerous and wild like Ariana’s. Most people believe this is just lust.

David Morley Nationwide Study - Social and Cultural context

Text will be interpreted differently, depending on their social status, age etc. Teenagers and young adults will probably take this as a love story whereas, older adults would feel it lacks the realism of love and is just lust.

Institution

‘The use of generic or cyclical typing is one way Hollywood has always sought to create commercial stability…Genre is one way many movies have been pre-sold throughout the history of Hollywood.’ Geoff King (2002)

As audiences tend to respond to the same genres, Hollywood keeps them the same as they know the response will be mostly positive. As people like what is already being created by Hollywood ,by keeping the same genres they continue to make money. The themes in “ Into you” is reminiscent of a romantic film; romance/love is a very common element used in the narrative in media. By focusing on romance, the producers of the music video will make more profit by being more marketable.

Audience

‘The attraction of genre to the industry is closely linked to its presumed appeal to viewers.  Filmgoers generally like to have a broad idea of what to expect from any individual picture.  Genres are constituted not just by bodies of films but also by the established expectations of viewers.’ King (2002)

In media there are certain elements we as the audience expect to see. As it’s a pop video the Audience expect to see bright colours, high key lighting and shots of the artist. “Into you” has elements within it that is stereotypical for pop music as Ariana Grande is shown most of the time in high- key lighting whilst she is own her won.

Ritual

the Western, like any myth, stands between individual human consciousness and society.  If a myth is popular, it must somehow appeal to or reinforce the individual who view it by communicating a symbolic meaning to them.  The meaning must…reflect the particular social institutions and attitudes that have created and continue to nourish the myth.  Thus a myth must tell its viewers about themselves and their society’ Will Wright (1975)

Film genres create myths in society which can create a false belief for the audience. Watching this video, could give the false impression that young love is exciting and dangerous.

Classification and Interpretation

‘genres are not simply bodies of work or groups of films…Genres do not consist only of films: they consist also…of specific systems of expectation…which spectators bring with them to the cinema, and which interact with film themselves during the course of the viewing process.  These systems provide spectators with means of recognition and understanding.  They help render films, and the elements within them, intelligible and therefore explicable.’  Steve Neale (1990)

As this video is for pop music, people will already have a pre-made assumptions of what a pop music video should be.

Ideology

Generic convention is a product of the formulaic repetition of the capitalist-financed studio system, and can therefore only produce meanings in support of the status quo.  Genre films temporarily relieve the fears created by social and political conflicts by offering simplistic solutions based on following tradition.  Judith Hess

Ariana Grande and her team are aware of the generic conventions needed to create a familiar atmosphere for the audience. By adding in these conventions she makes more money as she is sticking to social norms.