Generic Conventions o f Miley Cyrus’ music video ‘Cant be Tamed’

1. Generic Conventions of MileyCyrus’ music video ‘Cant be Tamed’

2. LYRICS The music video is very much centred around the lyrics . The most poignant being ‘I can’t be tamed’. Mileycyrus has represented herself as a bird. Birds can either be free (flying) or trapped in a cage. This representation is reflected in her music video as she is trying to free herself. When Cyrus sings about guys giving her ‘constant attention’ the male gaze has been used as she seems quite seductive here. The music video has been adapted to the Lyrics which stresses their influence upon the music video. The chorus is repeated four times and each time it is repeated the more rebellious Cyrus seems to become and therefore the narrative of the story unfolds. This helps to give more content to the music video as it helps the audience to sympathise with her more or at least understand that she can’t be tamed.

3. Mise en Scene As I have said previously Miley Cyrus’s clothes represent a bird like figure which seeks to be freed from the cage. The museum is also an important factor in representing this idea of being freed. Museums are enclosed, which signifies being trapped. The cage in which Cyrus is sitting in/ dancing in helps to reinforce the idea that she is a bird. It also enables the reader to focus on an object that signifies her being trapped, instead of the metaphorical meaning of the bird. Miley is also seen in two sets of ‘Bird –Like’ outfits. The colour of these costumes helps to reflect the mood and the atmosphere of the song. The video opens with her dressed in a black outfit which reflects a feeling of anger and rebellion. Whereas the colours reflect a completely different mood in the second outfit. The colour of the costume is much brighter reflecting how she is able to show her ‘true colours’. The naturalistic surroundings also help to reinforce this idea. The colour of the costume is much brighter reflecting how she is able to show her ‘true colours’.

4. Camera work The camera work in this video is quite ordinary with a variety of shots such as Long shots, which have been used as establishing shots, close-ups, to show detailed expressions to help depict the mood of Miley and the atmosphere of the video, mid shots, to show the backing dancers and an aerial view of when Miley is lying on the floor in an outfit which represents a peacock. I believe this simple camera work has been used so that the focus is more on Miley and to show her off, due to her being a popular singer and all around celebrity, rather than focus on camera work because at the end of the day the producer is aware that Miley is selling the video rather than the song and what shots have been used.

5. Intertexuality Due to the intriguing costume design and lighting there is some intertexuality present within this music video. The audience is engaged in what Miley is going to wear next or what other props are to be used as the audience has previously seen a bird cage and stuffed polar bear. Through the use of the props the audience is kept engaged with the narrative and therefore engaged with the lyrics and beat of the song. The different scenes have been edited in time with the beat of the music. This has been exaggerated through the use of the backing dancers as they are always dancing to the beat which makes the editing a lot more noticeable. Editing