Pharcyde Drop Textual Analysis

Pharcyde - Drop
Type Of Video: Performance & Concept

The representations within this video shows the rap to convey performers background, living, clothing and possibly childhood by showing the location and area. The use of humorous and quirky shows they are subverting the stereotype of Rap video's to be serious. The use of Spike Jonze show they know famous directors and the use of subverting the conventions of a Rap video show they are appealing to an audience that would see the humorous side to the video.

The representation within the video show the artists to be natural and realistic as they are dressed in casual clothing, messing about by dancing and roaming around Los Angeles. The Mise En Scene within the video shows their own clothes, location in which they were raised in and the use of them stripping show they are comfortable with what they are wearing and showing that they are down to earth and not connoting wealth. The camera techniques show a tracking shot of the artists walking about on the streets showing the different locations within the area and showing the movement of the artists. The use of the low angle shot shows the artists body, clothes and their location. The close ups of the artists show the facial expressions, the lyrics being spoken and the mid shot also shows the use of the artists clothing once again and the mise en scene in the background.

The use of editing in this video shows the artists going forward whereas the background going backwards challenging time. The video also shows a slight surrealistic quality. The video also shows a cyclical narrative as the performance start and end in the same location and scene subverting the stereotype of conventional Rap videos.



How does the video subvert, adhere or develop the genre?
-The video isn't all just performance like most rap videos and dancing s involved. The use of the location which could represent the rap or to represent the performers background to emphasise their identity which was a big thing at that time. The Mise En Scene indicates the performers are comfortable with their clothing and the way they portray themselves, it also shows the the video is conventional but camera and editing subverts it.

Is the video a hybrid?
-Rap and Hip Hop

Is the video a performance, narrative or concept?
Concept as the video is a cyclical narrative showing that time is going backwards but they are going forwards showing the oxymoron of the video.