Hold Up- Beyonce





Narrative
The story is about a man that cheated on her and she is trashing the streets and smashing shops in anger. the music video starts off with her underwater and i dialogue is being spoken by her (Beyonce) she is talking about how she thinks she's been cheated on, she then proceeds to come onto the street and grabs a bat, this is the point were she starts smashing things up like shop windows and cars, however she is smiling a lot in the music video which makes it seem rather twisted. She ends the music video by smashing the camera.

Conventional/unconventional
I think this music video has themes of both conventional and unconventional. For example the cheating part is very conventional and has happened in many music videos over the years. Another conventional part of the music video is the fact that she's smashing things up, this often happens when people find out there partners cheated whether that be in music videos or films as they're angry and want to release all that anger. However there are unconventional parts also in the music video such as the first minute of the music video which consists of her doing strange things under water while a rather creepy dialogue is spoken, this is very unique and never happens. Another unconventional part is the fact that she is seemingly happy throughout the process. There is a juxtaposition as she has been cheated on and is smashing things up but yet she seems to almost find it funny.

Visuals
The first scene is set underwater and the camera shows many close up shots of Beyonce's face to show the emotion in her face after finding out she'd been cheated on. There are also many long shots, this is to make the audience feel isolated and trapped. As the the person speaking speaks faster the scenes jump are rapidly to keep up with the pace of the dialogue. When she exits the room full of water the camera does a low angle show of her opening the doors, this makes Beyonce look strong and in charge. There are many medium shots of Beyonce walking down the street. There is also the pov of a person who lives in one of the houses right were this is all taking place, we see them look at Beyonce from the window. There are quite a few slow motion scenes, this happens when she smashes something like a window.At one point in the music video there is an explosion behind her. At the end of the music video it shows Beyonce hitting the camera lens with a bat, this engages the audience as its almost likes she's hitting us with the bat.

What works/what doesn't
I think that most of this music video works, its unique an the start is rather creepy as its almost like she's having an exorcism and i think the story works, the fact that she'd been cheated on and was very angry. However the one thing i think didn't work was the explosion, it was very unrealistic, i know a lot of the music video is but those bits are unique the explosions, in my opinion is irrelevant and it disappears within a couple of seconds so i think that it could have been left out and was unnecessary.