Music Video Analysis; Ariana Grande, Into You

'Into You' is a dance-pop song recorded by famous American singer Ariana Grande for her third studio album, 'Dangerous Woman' (2016). Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the music video was debuted on 24 May 2016 and so far as surpassed over 165 million views.
Music video for 'Into You' can be watched here: Ariana Grande, Into You.

Mise-en-scene:
The majority of the music video is set in a rural environment, as the song is about the emotions felt towards a loved one- signifying that love creates a feeling of only two people in the world. In every frame in which the lovers can be denoted, the girl is looking up at the male, this conforms the common stereotype that girls are below males giving males a sense of importance. The two character's behaviours are juxtaposed against the isolation connoted in the surroundings- a common stereotypical location for a horror movie. However, by the energetic and happy posture and actions of the character the ideology of horror is subverted, fear isn't the main focus when spending time with a loved one.

2:36 minutes into the 4:14 minute long music video, cross cutting between the familiar love between the two character isolated from the rest of the world, is now continuously interpreted by the low key lighting scenes where the artist is denoted walking through a crowded room. This connotes that when in love being around the person you feel more complete and less lonely than being in a room surrounded by hundreds of friendly faces. The second male introduced is denoted grabbing the artist's arm in a unpleasant forceful way, as these two character were previously seen in a stereotypical 'couple' scenario, it signifies that love cannot be forced for anyone or in this case cameras, and the love he is trying to force is only a show for the cameras and to gain fame in the media. On the other hand, her secret romance is one of pure love but, cannot be shown in the public eye because the gentleman may not be conform to the life of fame and their relationship would be frown upon in the media. The high key saturated lighting used in the motel connotes the happiness felt in love.

Camera:
Through the different camera angles, shots and movements the hegemonic readings of a typical love pop song is subverted and conformed. Low angles which denote the artist looking down at the camera connotes her as a powerful character, by taking the genre and style of the music video into consideration the demographic can connote that love is what makes the artist (or people in general) powerful. However through the edited sequence and shot types a common code and convention of a pop genre music video portraying love is subverted. In a long shot of the two lover laughing and running into a motel room (as the door opens the denoted high key saturated lighting in a pink tone floods out the room) this along side how the movement of the camera is stationery for one of the few

times throughout this music video. As the audience are forced to not follow the characters it brings connotation that signify that the characters are looking for private 'love making' time. However this previous connotation is subverted in the next scene where a mid shot is denoted of the two characters now in the bedroom, the camera/target audience was once restricted from. Sitting on the floor playing cards, the behaviour of the two subverts the ideology of 'love making' and sexual activities that is a common convention in pop genre music videos, as it is replaced with the enjoyment of each others company, signifying love is down to the little moments shared together, this ideology not only subverts the common convention of a pop music video but casts as a counter-type.

Soundtrack:
'Into You' music video by Ariana Grande doesn't equally denote non-diegetic and diegetic soundtrack. The non-diegetic soundtrack of the fact pace beats are synchronous and parallel to the changing of the shots, connoting as the heart beat of the artist increases when she's around her loved one, the pace of the non-diegetic soundtrack is also parallel to the fast moving and high energy scenes of the romance between the two, not only does this combination connote the happiness on screen, it's a 'psychological trick' (Steinbeck, 1950) to pick up the mood of the target audience. The lyrical non-diegetic soundtrack where the artist sings, 'Baby don't let them see it' conforms to the previous ideology of a secret romance between the lovers.

However the lack of diegetic soundtrack throughout the duration of the music video, especially denoted in the scenes of the two lovers, connotes that love is a deafening and over-powering force, where the words of the artist is encoded as the focus point, more so than the surroundings sounds that would be heard. Oppositional view is that the lack of diegetic soundtrack delusion the reality to the point that love over-powers.

Editing:
The high key lighting scenes in the rural environment, denoted a pink tinted filter overlaying the scene, this connotes disillusion caused by love, and the feeling of love that makes reality and everything seem 'dream-like', this edited filter also signify that we are looking through the eyes of someone that is in love. However other editing techniques applied to the music video, such as slow motion add to the sense of a dream like emotion, bringing connotations that love isn't long lasting just like a dream, therefore we must enjoy the moments we have. The cross cutting between the two juxtaposed shots, there is one scene of the artist denoted being photographed with a different male, with whom she doesn't look happy with, this connotes that a relationship with both the male characters is happening and the same time, conforming to why one relationship must stay a secret romance. The flashes of lightening cross cutting in the flashes of a camera is connoted as a symbolic link where the lighting is the warning before a storm, and the camera flashes signifies as acting in the same way, foreshadowing a tragic event that may take place.

In spite all the connotations and conventions that signify the emotion of 'love' the title of the song, 'Into You' connote more of a partial liking in someone's appearance rather than a deep love in their personality, this subverts the emotion felt during the song, and music video, this could connote a corruption in today's society and the movement of the new generations ideology of love.