Denotation Connotation Creator’s choices/audience effect

Long shot/exterior establishing shot of a field with trees in the background.Lighting is dark, shot at dusk.Madonna is in the shot shown wearing a long black coat.Madonna is frantically running.There is a barrel on fire in the background.Sound of sirens (diegetic)

Madonna appears to be escaping from something or someone on the other side of the field.The sirens suggest that the police are involved.Madonna could be running away from the police.The dusk show unfriendly hours, therefore, it is naturally more dangerous.

The sense has been created so that the audience are made to automatically feel sorry for Madonna. Likewise, the audience may also feel curious as to why she is running and what has happened.

Medium shot in the same field.Madonna show fallen on the ground. Her head is raised as she looks up. (notion of looking)

There is something in front of her, she is struggling with her distress and vulnerability.

The audience would still feel sorry for Madonna and still wonder why she is troubled.

Close up of a cross burning, red and brown tones throughout the shot, no use of artificial lighting, and the fire is the source.

Inter-textual reference to the KKK. A symbol of racism, extremely controversial. A range of meanings behind the colours of red shown in the scene: love, anger, passion, hate, danger, rebellion against religion.

The audience may question the relation between the clips before and the cross.Concerned by the reference to the KKK.

Jump cuts of close ups – shot reverse shots, of Madonna and a white man exchanging looks

There is some sort of connection between the two people.Maybe the man is the reason for her troubles or he might be an ex boyfriend.The eye contact shows chemistry and a sense of speaking through the eyes.

Used to create fear, the unknowing of who the man is or what he might do.

Establishing shot of the church at night with lights beaming through the doors.

Another reference to religion.Even though it is dark there is sense of hope through the light in the church, gods home is a safe place.

The audience may continue to question the link between the scenes and religion.

A two shot of a black man being led by a white police officer.It is still dark lighting however the black man’s face is lit.The black man is wearing old clothes.

The black man has some sort of relation to the distress of the woman as he is being arrested.However, this idea is contradicted by the fact is face is lit, showing innocence.

The audience will automatically dislike the black man as the clip portrays him to have some sort of connection with the troubles of Madonna, due to his arrest.

Interior mid shot of Madonna in church.Slightly high shot, Madonna is shown from above.

Madonna is religious.However, she is not obeying the rules of the church correctly as the clothes she is

The audience get the impression that Madonna has a strong faith which may lead them to question their own.

There is yellow lighting from candles within the church. Madonna is wearing a black strap dress. She appears to be looking up at something.

wearing would be considered indecent . Madonna is looking to God for help.