Music video assesment

Explain how the Little Mix ‘Black Magic’ Video uses Media Language (15 marks)

In the music video 'black magic' there is lots of use of mise-en-scene. For example, in the video, the band start off dressed as stereotypical geeks,wearing glasses and having poor uninviting body language which presents them as closed and shy,therefore  they are ignored by the 'popular' kids and are powerless. However, once then they have their 'magical' transformation and are dressed as stereotypical popular girls, with short outfits filed with bright inviting colours presenting themselves as having a newfound confidence, voice and power.

The music video also uses high angle shots, for example when the girls are in a circle praying for the magic to work. The use of the high angle shot makes the band look inferior and maybe silly for attempting 'magic', reflecting and reinforcing the steortypical geek theme carried through the beginning of the music video. However when they make their entrance into the school after their transformation the camera is at a low angle making the girls seem superior and giving them a sense of authority within the school.

The lighting changes throughout the video, in the beginning the lighting is dull and bleak, the same as there outfits, representing their un noticed school life and their down emotions. Later in the video after their trnsformation the lighting along with the colour of their clothes brightens up portraying their new found self belief and excitement of being noticed in through their change in personality and also representing the groups strong friendship that is unbreakable.