1. Ciara- Like a boy
I like the role-reversal theme. The video is performance based and the artists’
costume and mannerisms are important to the overall video.
The video is shot in black and white; this gives a nice effect and also relates
to a trend- at the time this video was released many other R&B artists were
releasing their music videos in black and white for the effect.
There are about 4 different location shots the video returns to on a number of
occasions. This is a very common technique used in R&B videos. It varies the
imagery and helps to make the video more interesting to watch.
The artist is replicating the mannerisms of a certain type of male figure, the
way Ciara dances and dresses connotes the way she is mocking this male
figure and also becoming empowered by it.
A lot of this video is about the dance moves and showing the artist has power.
There are close ups of the artist being dominating with her dance troop and
her male “friend”.
There are close-ups of the artist looking more feminine than her role reversed
double, I think this makes the video weak and almost confusing as we are
seeing her as too many contradictory characters. I think this video attempted
to break down conventions and put a message across about the way men
treat women, but I think it lacks the real power and execution to put this
message across.