Textual analysis of music video


The video beginnings with a tilting shot, slowly revealing the location and character in the frame. This allows the audience to know where the first scene will be taking place almost like an establishing shot.

The camera is at a medium shot when Tyler is showed sitting on the bench. Tyler’s facial expression portrays his emotions and feelings. The t-shirt that he’s wearing is a happy cartoon character that also reflects the mood of the character as he sits alone on the bench.

A high angle shot was used to show someone texting a message to Tyler which is later revealed of a “break up” message.

There’s a close up shown of the phone that shows the text “Sorry, I can’t do this anymore. It’s over”. This shot was used to allow the audience to see Tyler’s view point which is also a point of view shot used for the same purpose. This also reveals the reason of Tyler sitting on the bench, as he was waiting for his girlfriend.

Next, we’re shown a long shot of Tyler walking down a path. This allows the viewers to see the location and distance between the location and Tyler. He sits under a bridge; portraying this is a wide angle shot. Allowing us the see the character and where he is in the frame. Then followed by a medium close up shot, this shot shows Tyler’s expression clearly to the audience. From his expression we can see that’s he’s upset, heart-broken and distressed. The lighting changes from bright to quite dull, which gives the video more effect and atmosphere, allowing us to see visually that the atmosphere and emotion has changed drastically due to the breakup.



As the chorus begins, we are shown a fade out and in effect, taking us to another scene. This effect is very useful to gradually show the next scene. We edited this scene in black and white to connote the past as a flashback. The flashback is shown through a point of view’s perspective. We’re able to see through the character’s point of view, which creates a different perspective for the audience. Also, in order to film this scene it was hand held, allowing the audience to see through the eyes of the character.

The flashback fades out and dissolves that shows a slit screen. The scene is still black and white, still portraying the past. The slit screen was used to show the characters body language, facial expressions and reactions with medium close up shots. They both seem very happy, smiling at each other as they sit in a café. The prop used ‘the mug’, tells us that they’re in a café.

It fades out, and reveals Tyler sitting alone in the café. He is portrayed in colour to connote reality and was to show that he was thinking of the memories he had with her in the same café. This is a close up shot, showing that his upset as he remembers the past and the memories he has shared with his girlfriend Charlotte.


A match cut was used to show Tyler on the bridge to create continuity. As Tyler begins to lip sync the lyrics and slowly walks towards the camera, the camera zooms backwards moving away from him. This is used to slowly show the audience his surroundings, decreasing the cropped angle, to reveal more of his surroundings. As Tyler walked towards the camera, using the auto focus we were able to create a shallow depth of field shot. This was used to make Tyler stand out more than the background, showing his importance and make him stand out more to the audience.

The couple go into the photo booth to take photographs, to create memories. A medium close up shot was used to show the photo booth photographs coming out. A close up shot was shown as they both held the sheet of photos. It allows the audience to see what the characters were seeing, but also makes it clear to the audience of what the characters were looking at.

Another flashback is shown shortly after, as it dissolves into another scene. Both the characters, Tyler and Charlotte are in another location. The tone of the scene is in black and white to connote the past. As the characters walk, the camera pans along with them allowing the audience to feel more involved. To feel like we’re moving along with them.

A low angle shot was then used to show the couple sitting together on the bench. Again, to show it’s a flashback we used the black and white tone. When they lean in to kiss each other, we placed a fade out, not showing the couple kissing, but allowing us to know that they did. Tyler is shown closely, as he begins to wipe his eyes. The close up shot allows us to see that Tyler is hurting and upset about the breakup. Allowing us to

see visually that’s his really hurt.



As Tyler lip sync’s again, on the second chorus he is portrayed with a full body shot. Showing his body and his surroundings.

We created a “sandwich” between two clips. One of Tyler lip syncing the words “Take it all away” and a time lapses of a clock. The time lapse is very effective as it connotes time going backwards, and he says “take it all away”. The lyrics link with the time lapse as he asks time to take away his broken heart. Tyler looks directly at the camera, drawing the audience in.


The chorus after the “take it all away” time lapse is another flashback. We showed this through a wide angle shot, showing both the character’s full bodies. Allowing us the see the different location, their full body language and gestures. As the characters rise slowly together, the camera tilts also. This was used to record all movement of the characters, but also to allow the audience to move with the characters, almost feeling as if they’ve involved themselves. This scene created a 3rd person perspective. It fades in and out showing another flashback of Charlotte. It’s a point of view shot, allowing us to see Charlotte from Tyler’s perspective.


It fades in and out showing another flashback of Charlotte. It’s a point of view shot, allowing us to see Charlotte from Tyler’s perspective.

As the chorus continues, Tyler walks up to the camera and stops. There’s a change in location and clothing to represent different days. However he wears the same coat which was used to give him a signature look. He’s very serious and upset, showing his feelings to the audience.


A close up shot of the photo booth photographs are held in Tyler’s hands, showing that he can’t let go of Charlotte. We then moved quickly to an over the shoulder shot, showing the audience Tyler burning the photographs with a lighter, and then ripping it.


A match on action cut was shortly followed to show the burnt photograph on the floor. We decided to end the video with a long angle shot, showing the photograph and Tyler walking away from it. Showing that he has accepted what’s happened and has decided to move on. Post modernism: In our music video, we switched from 1st person perspective to 3rd person perspective.

Textual analysis of music video

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