Kanye West – Touch The Sky Analysis Script

1.NARRATOR

In terms of RICHARD DYER’S star theory, in this video, KANYE’S image contrasts

drastically to that of later albums (MBDTF and YEEZUS). This video follows on the

image and end-themes of his debut album COLLEGE DROPOUT; his struggle to

breakthrough into the music industry, the turbulent times of moving to NEW YORK in hopes of a record deal and his consumerist dreams of owning high-end fashion items.

LYRICS “BACK WHEN GUCCI WAS THE **** TO ROCK… I’D DO ANYTHING TO SAY I GOT IT” APPEAR ON BLACK

NARRATOR (CONT’D)KANYE does share similar themes in this

video that are present in subsequent albums such as MBDTF and YEEZUS. His

frustrations of not getting the respect he feels he deserves and to challenge the

industry or genre conventions. However, KANYE is far more controversial and direct in his lyrics and has changed his image, which

is evident in videos such as BLKKK SKKKNHEAD

SCREENSHOTS APPEAR SIDE BY SIDE – BLKKK SKKKNHEAD AND TOUCH THE SKY

NARRATOR (CONT’D)

KANYE directly attacks music corporations and feels it’s his duty to speak about the restraints from record labels and the genre conventions that makes creativity stagnant. This new image is directed more a specific target audience, such as hopeful up-and-coming artists, differing from his previous more commercialised work.

INSERT SNIPPET OF HOLD MY LIQUOR “F**K YOU AND YOUR CORPORATIONS YOU N****S CAN’T CONTROL ME” FOLLOWED BY CLIP OF KANYE/ZANE LOWE INTERVIEW (2:46 – 2:50) (3:

CUT TO:

2.NARRATOR

KANYE in this video is what DYER would consider to be a “real” character in which audiences can identify with rather than

admire so much. In this video, he is leaving that real image somewhat and becoming the manufactured product of the music industry.

3.NARRATOR

TOUCH THE SKY conforms to GOODWIN’S theory of intertextuality through mies-en-

scene. KANYE dresses and plays the character EVEL KANYEVEL alluding to famous

stuntman EVEL KNIEVEL and fits in to GOODWIN’s theory of relationship between

lyrics and visuals or title of song and the visual text amplifying lyrics.

CUTS TO SCREENSHOT OF KANYE SIDE BY SIDE WITH PHOTORAPH ON EVEL KNIEVEL

NARRATOR (CONT’D)There are other examples of intertextuality in

the video, for example during the skit with NIA LONG and TRACEE ELLIS ROSS. TRACEE ELLIS ROSS says “he gon’ leave yo’ ass from

a white girl” references a KANYE line in a previous video GOLD DIGGER.

FREEZE FRAME AND POINT WHEN IT OCCURS IN TOUCH THE SKY THEN SHOW CLIP OF LINE IN GOLD DIGGER (2:36 – 3:08 in TTS) (3:16-3:19 GD)

4.NARRATOR

TOUCH THE SKY also employs TODOROV’S EQUILIBRIUM NARRATIVE THEORY. A STUNT

MAN prepares to fly over the GRAND CANYON in a ROCKET, whilst battling against his

duties to appease his GIRLFRIEND and his desire to pull the stunt. Another twist occurs when his JEALOUS EX-GIRLFRIEND shows up at the event, causing tension. However there is a new equilibrium when the couple resolve

their issues. The narrative ends with the stunt man dying during the stunt. The video

also incorporates LEVI-STRAUSS’ BINARY OPPOSITIONS THEORY. In terms KANYE has a

WHITE GIRLFRIEND and BLACK EX-GIRLFRIEND fighting over him. The WHITE GIRLFRIEND is SUPPORTIVE whereas the BLACK GIRLFRIEND is oppressive. Finally

TOUCH THE SKY uses PROPP’S CHARACTER ARCHETYPE THEORY in which PAMELA

ANDERSON plays the DAMSEL IN DISTRESS, NIA LONG the VILLAIN and KANYE the HERO.

SCREENGRABS OF NIA LONG, KANYE AND CAPTION APPEAR WITH VILLAIN, HERO AND DAMSEL IN DISTRESS ABOVE IMAGES.

5. NARRATOR

This video fits into LAURA MULVEY’S MALE GAZE THEORY. Men to appeal to

heterosexual men construct Media texts and

women are objectified through cinematography and costume. PAMELA

ANDERSON is proactively dressed and is a cultural sex symbol.

6.NARRATOR

Touch The Sky has an element of performance in the video, changing the video structure from narrative to hybrid; however

the performance fits seamlessly into the context of the video’s narrative. LUPE FIASCO

raps his verse at a concert performance. Another part of Touch The Sky conforms to

hip-hop genre conventions is the use of a skit with NIA LONG and TRACEE-ELLIS ROSS. The use of a skit with celebrities featuring was

common in hip-hop music videos in the late nineties/early noughties. Skits were also

associated with KANYE WEST videos as he uses a skit in NEW WORKOUT PLAN, featuring

cameos from ANNA NICOLE-SMITH, FONZWORTH BENTLEY, JOHN LEGEND, GLC,

VIDA GUERRA and TRACEE ELLIS-ROSS.7.

NARRATORIn terms of verbal codes, the typography is typical of 1970s action TV shows, such as

STARSKY and HUTCH. The typography matches the cinematography with is shot

with the grainy pixilation of 1970s shows and ties into the mies-en-scene of the video.

FADE OUT