By Katherine Pirie

RICHARD DYER'S STAR

THEORY
Bereft
Within the maroon 5 music video of
Payphone, the mise-en-scene is connoting
isolation this is due to the technical code
through the use of the establishing shot. The
central character is predominantly denoted
however the audience will also denote a
burning car in the background. As the music
video continues an active audience will
denote the central character feeing a bank
and then being chased by police, this links to
Todorovs theory of Equilibrium. Within the
music video, low key lighting is also used in
order for the audience to be interested
within the music video but also possibly fear
what is still to come. This also links in with
the Blumler and Katz theory, uses and
gratifications, diversion. This is due to an
active audience member wanting to escape
their daily life route.
Glamorous
At the beginning of the narrative
performance, the central character is
denoted in a suit. This is connoting the
character is well educated and hold a
high position within his job role. This
also links in with female gaze theory as
female audience members will have a
voyeuristic view from the actors
iconology of his costume.
The artist is also denote making
voyeuristic actions by biting onto a pen
in order to connote boredom, however
to an active female audience member
this can be connoted as being
flirtatious therefore linking to the
female gaze theory.


Dangerous
Through the music video, the actor doesnt
seem to be dangerous himself. However,
actions around him suggest that he caused
more harm and danger to himself,
evidence that shows this is towards the
end when he has been chased by police
( after not doing anything wrong, however
the police think he is to blame for the
robbery) the car chase is ended by the
police cars chasing into each other and
therefore creating an explosion.
The actor also seems dangerous however
is playing the hero, within Propps fairytale
characters, due to him saving his work
colleagues life as he took her away from
the robbers.
Artistic
The music video has denoted many
different qualities through the
technical code, this is due to the
range of camera shots that has been
denoted in order to help with the
performance and narrative based
music video. Close ups are used for
the performance in order to denote
the artist singing and performing his
song, while within the narrative long
shots and establishing shots are
used more in order to connote the
story line therefore allowing the
mass audience to understand the
music video.
Talented
The atmosphere that is given off throughout the performance is
important this is because this will either draw in a mass or niche
audience.
Due to Maroon 5 being well known within the music industry
for many years this is why they spend so much money on their
music videos as they known they will get their money back and
profit.
Normally, Maroon 5s music videos are subtle as they only focus
on a simply narrative due to the main focus being on the vocals
and sound. However the juxtaposition within this music video
draws in a mass audience as it is something that they dont
normally do. This links in with Levi-Strauss binary opposition
theory.