Blog 9 Katy Perry

•Target audience = young girls (14-17).

•Katy Perry has to:

• a) be like an older sister / friend

• b) reflect some of the anxieties young girls have

•c) be someone young girls can admire and want to be (appear sexy in a non-threatening way).
•Download and analyse each of these Katy Perry videos. As part of your analysis refer to Goodwin’s 5 characteristics).

Goodwin's five characteristics are;

Screens
Links between visuals and lyrics
Different genres have their own styles in music videos
Voyeurism, particularly in the treatment of women.
Close ups of the artists. 

•.Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics 

(e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).

There is a relationship between music and visuals
(either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

• The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style and ‘fireworks’?).

 There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, looking into the camera etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. Katy Perry’s videos appear ‘Feminist’ but she also appears ‘sexy’ in parts.

There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc – “Wide Awake” refers back to “California Girls” and “Firework”). 

3. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style: think Michael Jackson’s white shoes or glittered glove, Bono’s sunglasses, Gaga’s whacky and frequent costume changes; think poses, dance moves etc).

4. There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, looking into the camera etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

5. There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc). 

•Target audience = young girls (14-17).

•Katy Perry has to a) be like an older sister / friend b) reflect some of the anxieties young girls have c) be someone young girls can admire and want to be (appear sexy in a non-threatening way).

•Download and analyse each of these videos. Analyse (use Goodwin’s six characteristics).

Last Friday Night (2010)
Not afraid to be ugly (braces) – becomes beautiful.
This song shows that even if you dont feel beautiful now you will one day. It also shows that people dont care about looks and aslong as you are happy within yourself people will like you.

•“Hot and Cold” 2008

•Presents herself as a victim – slightly comic – everybody’s friend – laugh at herself?
•Last Friday Night (2010)
•Not afraid to be ugly (braces) – becomes beautiful.

Gives young girls who are in-confident the confidence that someone will find them attractive.
This is a typical Katy Perry song, the message is very empoweringand is mainly about giving people confident and you can tell it is something she is very passionate about.

• Wide Awake” 2012

•Reconnecting with teenage fans – almost an apology – Russell Brand figure – female empowerment. This video is showing people that she is back to how she was before, and that she has learnt from her mistakes.
She is showing she is again all about the music and connecting with the fans.

•“Roar” 2013

•High production values – special effects – message similar to Firework video– self empowerment – positive message – don’t need men! – humor once again – elements of being sexy but for herself not to attract a man– look at how clothing changes.

•“California Girls” 2010
•New – sexy image (Dating Russell Brand) – alienate young audience?
Here Katy Perry is dating russell brand and this video looks as if she is trying to appeal to men and is very sexualised. THis video is very different to her others and this looks asif Russel has changed who Katy is.

•“Firework” 2010
•Celebrate difference – positive message – empowering to young girls? Look at lyrics.
Here Katy has broken up with Russell brand and this video looks asif she has found who she really is again, and instaed of being sexualised, this song is mainly about the positive messages that no matter who you are you can shine.