Analysis- Anaconda (Nicki Minaj)

The song Anaconda by Nicki Minaj is about how males (especially other R&B artists) rap about and treat women like objects; being possessive and using them for their bodies. The track is definitely fitting for the R&B/Rap genre due to the revealing costumes, rapping, and the topic/message behind the video. The treatment of women is a common topic in the rap genres because the artists have experienced it first hand.

CAMERA 

The video features a variety of shots but features lots of close up shots during the chorus. This emphasises the lyrics being sung at the time or highlights a particular look or pose the artist is presenting to the audience. In this case, it is used to show off Nicki as she seductively looks at the camera. Medium-long shots are used to show everyone in the scene at eye level. The height of the camera allows us to make a connection with those on screen which is exactly what the artist wants. Along with the central positioning of Minaj in the frame, these techniques make sure that we are only focused on her. The camera pans and moves along with the dance routine which suggests to the audience that we too are there doing the movements too. These are typical camera shots which feature in lots of pop videos as the artists want to create a parasocial relationship with their audience. This is also the reason for giving a particular audience of people a nickname (eg. Justin Bieber's fans are called 'Beliebers'). If this was a Metal song, the camera would be more distant from the artist and they wouldn't be looking at the camera the whole time.

EDITING
Throughout the video, matched cuts are used effectively to show the scene from multiple angles. Although at times emitting the same effect or meaning, this helps to provide a fluidity of the narrative and performance and keeps the audience entertained.

Cutaway shots are used throughout the song presenting us with various shots of fruits spinning on turntables. The various fruits are shaped and put together to represent male/female reproductive organs. This is to emphasise the idea that males only use females for sexual activity. These fruits are seen spinning on turntables which is an intertexual reference to Sir Mix-A-Lot (a DJ who uses turntables) and his video Baby Got Back which the video was inspired by. As the cutaway shots can be seen, the cutting rate is also fastened as the song reaches the climax. This creates tension and also excitement as the audience is led to the chorus. This convention is often used in Pop music as artists want the lyrics of the chorus to stick with you so as much emphasis as possible is put onto them. Another example of this use is when we see Nicki dancing in the jungle change to her showing off her clothing line and dance moves in a large studio. Finally split screening is used as we see Nicki three times in the same frame as we are shown her outfit from three different viewpoints. The use of this dance studio is another Pop genre convention as many songs are performed synchronously with dancing.

MISE-EN-SCENE
-COSTUME
At the beginning of the video, Minaj is surrounded by other females. The costumes seen are all black but reveal the dancer's legs. These costumes could be a visual metaphor representing Nicki and the the others as black panthers which live in equatorial rain forests. These are strong animals and to some degree could represent the power and strength of the solo female artist. About 20 years ago, female dominance was not common in music videos but it is today. What was an originally the challenging of a convention is now a conformity to the convention. Pop artists such as Madonna and Britney spears brought the concept of a powerful independent female to their videos reminiscent of 'flappers' in the 1920's. This idea could also be the motivation behind the selection of costumes but we are distracted from the concept due to the high levels of exhibitionism. This artist and song conforms to Laura Mulvey's theory in the sense that the artist is always on display, whether it be through brightly coloured costumes or wigs or dancing and moving in a seductive and inviting manner.

-LOCATION
This music video is set in a jungle which ties in with the name of the song, Anaconda. An Anaconda is a large, non venomous snake that lives in the tropical forests of South America. Despite, the metaphorical innuendo of the word which the video is more commonly interpreted as, it makes sense that the location of the video is literally set in a rainforest alike the snake. Locations tend to vary in the Pop genre so it  can be difficult to find a pattern or common convention. However, after conducting research, we can safely assume the location is somehow linked with the lyrics or name of the song.

-LIGHTING
Anaconda mainly consists of high key lighting but does feature some low key lighting. At the start of the video we are immediately greeted with lens flare which realistically represents the sunlight breaking through the treeline. This sunlight falls upon Nicki and the dancers much like a large, natural spotlight. Later on, there is a real spotlight used to emphasise Minaj and Drake as they "play" together in the dark. Often in pop videos, high key lighting and low key lighting are contrasted and are used effectively to set the mood and atmosphere. High key lighting is used more as it presents a happier, brighter and positive setting as opposed to a depressing, darker and negative setting that a punk/metal video may use.

-OTHER MISE ELEMENTS
-Frontality is used to directly address the audience effectively with the eye line heightened close up shots. This is a ubiquitous convention in pop music as the meanings of pop songs involve confrontation and intimacy. It also allows audiences to feel as if they are there with the artist.
-Nicki Minaj's performance is very stylised as opposed to a natural one. This means that the audience understands that the real person on screen isn't the same one as they are actually seeing. Most pop artists performances are naturalistic which increases the authenticity of the product. This is a convention that Anaconda breaks. However, saying this, the artist often blurs the lines between these two difference performance styles as she appears in real life as the same person as the is in her music videos.

SOUND

Click here for the ambient sound
of the rainforest.

Ambient sound can be heard at the start of Anaconda as the audience is presented with the screeching of tropical birds and the humming of the rainforest insects. This sets the scene straight away and is combined with the establishing shot to put emphasis on Minaj's introduction. Ambient sound is a convention used to highlight something specific and is not usually used within the pop music genre as the singing or melody is focused on more. A non-diegetic voiceover is heard within the chorus which is used to emphasis that the line that is sung is from a male perspective, and not Nicki's. This line is also in synchronous with certain dance moves and visuals on screen as they move with the lyrics. Sound effects in the form of sound motifs are used to throughout the video. For example, we can hear the swoosh or the record being spun. Finally, the visually diegetic but realistically non diegtic sound of the singing/rapping is used to suggest to us that the artist is performing live. This is in all music videos as it seems odd to be watching an artist on screen as well as hearing their voice, but not seeing them physically sing.

In conclusion this video confroms with main pop genre conventions like direct address through the camera and mise en scene, features multiple camera shots to give the audience the power of perspective and the dancing and performance aspects. However, Anaconda by Nicki Minaj breaks some pop conventions like realistic performance and a owning a CLEAR narrative.