Kanye West – Touch The Sky
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Transcript of Kanye West – Touch The Sky
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7/27/2019 Kanye West Touch The Sky
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Kanye WestTouch The Sky Analysis Script
1.
NARRATOR
In terms of Richard Dyers star theory, in this video, KANYES image
contrasts drastically to that of later albums (MBDTF andYEEZUS).
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 ID DO
ANYTHING TO SAY I GOT IT APPEAR ON BLACK
NARRATOR (CONTD)
KANYE does share similar themes in this video that are present insubsequent 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 SIDEBLKKK SKKKNHEAD
AND TOUCH THE SKY
NARRATOR (CONTD)
KANYE directly attacks music corporations and feels its his duty to
speak about the restraints from record labels and the genre
conventions that makes creativity stagnant. This new image is directed
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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 YOURCORPORATIONS YOU N****S CANTCONTROL ME FOLLOWED
BY CLIP OF KANYE/ZANE LOWE INTERVIEW (2:462:50) (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 GOODWINS theory ofintertextuality
through mies-en-scene. KANYE dresses and plays the character EVEL
KANYEVEL alluding to famous stuntman EVEL KNIEVEL and fits in to
GOODWINs 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 (CONTD)
There are other examples of intertextuality in the video, for example
during the skit with NIA LONG and TRACEE ELLIS ROSS. TRACEE
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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 TOUCHTHE 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 TODOROVS 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 PROPPS
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.
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NARRATOR
This video fits into LAURA MULVEYS MALE GAZE THEORY. Men to
appeal to heterosexual men construct Media texts and women are
objectified through cinematography and costume. PAMELA ANDERSONis 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 performancefits seamlessly into the context of the videos narrative. Lupe Fiasco
raps his verse at a concert performance. Another twist in Touch The
Sky which 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.
NARRATOR
In 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.