Analysing Music video (Andrew Goodwins)

Thank you, Next Music Video Ariana Grande

This music video uses many postmodern features (Baudrillard).  There is a lot of Intertextuality as there are direct references from movies that Ariana Grande admired. So her music video is also a pastiche, as she pays homage to films like Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, Bring It On and 13 Going on 30 by channeling their storylines. Which allows the audience to engage more, which provides them with gratification if they recognise the link. The music video type is a lip sync, choreograph and free dance style.

The music video starts off with intertextuality by referencing 2004 movie Mean Girls we can see this by the opening scene, first-off by the typography used, which is the same font used within Mean Girls. This music video is also a parody due to the first scene seems to mock Mean Girls, by using the characters to mock high school characters for being stupid for example “Ariana says honest to God knock me out, so i decided to punch myself in the face it was awesome!”

Within the next scene it features original artwork which mimic the mean girls’ infamous “Burn Book.” Andrew Goodwins Standard Theme is present here Love as she flips through her past romantic relationships.  

Another standard theme is also used within this music video being Political consciousness is also used due to Ariana reading a book which featured a subtle political message. This is an intertextual reference to legally blonde. Within thank you next She is seen reading an Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy casebook, ostensibly showing support for those seeking refuge in the U.S due to Trump’s administration's continued trend toward controversial immigration policies, it's an especially important and meaningful message.

Other intertextual references from legally blonde include the infamous “bend and snap”,which is a movement in order to attract the opposite sex this could link to the male gaze.

The visuals reinforce the lyrics which give us nostalgia to these rom-com movies and set a mood for example how Ariana gets very emotional, she starts to tear up within the 13 going on 30 scene “God forbid something happens, at least this song was a smash” which makes the audience sympathise with her as a result.

Multiple close-ups of Ariana Grande are used using provocative angles an example of this would be  

which is done to objectify the artist Laura Mulvey’s male gaze and Van Zoonen’s theory this causes a fetishisation of the artist by the audience. Voyeurism also plays a major part within this music video as Goodwin found that represented voyeuristic angles of women used to sexualise the artist and cause a fetishistic connection for the male audiences for example the winter talent show the girls are shown in sexual ways due to certain dance moves  which are shot from the back, the same as the choreography within the cheerleading sequence which defines these girls as sexual objects within the shot their legs are the focal point, again sexualised qualities are identified. Close-up angles used which encourage the male audience to objectify her within the cheerleading scenes inspired by Bring It On due to their short skirts and Ariana’s alluring eyes. Their short dresses and knee high boots also contribute within the Winter talent show and skimpy short skirts within the cheerleading sequence. According to  Laura Mulvey’s and Van Zoonen females also take on a metaphorical male gaze as they are bombarded with repeated imagery of female objectification.

Intertextual references from the movie Bring it on are inclusive of the toothbrushing scene, as well as the cheerleading scene.