Carol Vernallis - Music Video Analysis

Vernallis' Theory centres around 4 concepts that all relate to the way music video is constructed.
They are:
Narrative
Editing
Camera Movement and Framing
Diegesis

Looking at Mariah Carey - Honey




Narrative

When looking at what Carol Vernallis says about the narrative it is evident that the music video although has a clear narrative, the lyrics however do not match this narrative! The video is a mixture of narrative and Mariah Carey's performance when dancing. This video would also match Vernallis' view when she says that the video may pose questions that it doesn't actually answer. It is clear that not only is the music the driving structure but also the narrative and performance. 

Editing

Looking at the editing in the video it is clear that some of the editing does match the musical phrases and/or the beat. We see many jump cuts, extreme jumps in time and space and cutting within the lyrics. Pace of editing is the same as the song which isn't too fast or too slow. 

Camera Movement and Framing 

Vernallis says that when it comes to shot types extremes are very common and this is clearly seen in this video. Eg: Ariel shots and underwater shots. 

 

Character, Mariah Carey moves and dances to the music. There are also many repetitions. Eg: Musical Phrases, the beat, themes, lyrics, performance, images, colours and camera positions. 

Mentioned in Carol Vernallis' book.... She mentioned specific camera shots of this particular video saying that "Mariah Carey's 'Honey' features a variety of shots of the star. A sultry low-angle view of her breasts inside a tent; a provocative machismo come-on of her thighs and legs on a desert island; a close-up of her face pouting like a sex kitten. We see her also frolicking on the beach, and bumping and grinding, on the prowl, on the deck of a boat."