Concept
‘Umbrella’ is used in this song by Rihanna as an extended metaphor about a positive love relationship going through good and bad times, hence the ‘rain’ and ‘sun’ references used to describe her relationship. The quote ‘you can stand under my umbrella’ shows how she will always love and be there for him, through the good and bad times. These contrasts are portrayed through the music video by the use of black and white and sun and rain themes.
Narrative
Jay Z acts as a narrator and introduces the main singer, Rihanna. He is representing the male in the relationship that she sings about in this song.
Performance
In this video, Rihanna’s performance has connotations of a sexual nature. This is shown by her dancing around her umbrella using submissive poses, and she treats the umbrella as though it is a phallic sculpture to be worshiped. She subjects herself to utter objectification, a sexual fantasy to men. This video reinforces the idea that she is a ‘good girl gone bad’, which is again, a contrast, which is the title of her album.
Technical aspects
The camera goes in and out of focus creating a blurred image of Rihanna, giving connotations of rain and mist, which represents the negative times in her relationship. The split screen in one shot of the video is coloured white and orange, this has connotations of the sun, representing the positive times in her relationship.
Black and white is used throughout the video to represent different times in her relationship. I think the black background creates a sinister atmosphere, which suggests that Rihanna is not a ‘good girl’, but she has hidden depths.
Mise-en-scene
Costume- Rihanna wears a black leather jump suit with a trilby. This outfit is sexually dominating and suggests sophistication and domination. Her fishnet tights give connotations of a sexual aura. In contrast to this outfit, she also wears a white dress, which suggests innocence and purity. This could also be representing the happier times in her relationship compared to the dark times (in the black outfit).
Rihanna also wears a black ballet dress with ballet slippers. This outfit, although black, shows a softer image, as the ballet slippers are associated with young girls and are seen as ‘delicate’.
Another outfit of hers is a black maid’s outfit, with fish net’s and red shoes. The red shoes are seductive and show sexual power. The maid’s outfit could suggest Rihanna’s contribution to the relationship, through the good and bad times, she will be there.
Her final look is when she is naked, but sprayed silver. I think this image is showing that he should love her for who she is, it is showing ‘underneath her clothes’, what is inside of her. There is something almost foetal about this image which suggests purity, she is untouched.
Actors
The actors are Rihanna herself, Jay z who is her boyfriend in the video, and her dancers. There are male dancers dressed in black, which makes them look as though they are simply in the background, and makes Rihanna stand out.
Props
The umbrella is used in most shots, being the main theme of the song. The umbrella is Rihanna’s safety.
Make-Up
Rihanna wears smoky black make-up which is seductive and also shows a sexual side of her. She wears red lips which has connotations of seduction, maturity and sexual desire.
Setting
She is in a studio, which is completely black, except for one window which has a ray of light peering through. She also dances in a dance studio, which is completely white. Again it is giving the contrast of black and white, good and bad.
Camera and editing
The video contains a range of camera shots, including close-ups, extreme close-ups, full shots and long shots. It allows us to not only view her performance, but see more clearly her emotions (with the extreme close-ups.)
There is a lot of fast editing where the camera shakes. This foreshadows shaky experiences in her relationship.
Special Effects
Smoke, rain, and a fuzzy effect of the camera are used to show different types of weather, which represents different times in her relationship. Glitter is also used, which is another way of representing the rain, but in a more glamorous way. It could also represent a time of celebration.
‘Umbrella’ is used in this song by Rihanna as an extended metaphor about a positive love relationship going through good and bad times, hence the ‘rain’ and ‘sun’ references used to describe her relationship. The quote ‘you can stand under my umbrella’ shows how she will always love and be there for him, through the good and bad times. These contrasts are portrayed through the music video by the use of black and white and sun and rain themes.
Narrative
Jay Z acts as a narrator and introduces the main singer, Rihanna. He is representing the male in the relationship that she sings about in this song.
Performance
In this video, Rihanna’s performance has connotations of a sexual nature. This is shown by her dancing around her umbrella using submissive poses, and she treats the umbrella as though it is a phallic sculpture to be worshiped. She subjects herself to utter objectification, a sexual fantasy to men. This video reinforces the idea that she is a ‘good girl gone bad’, which is again, a contrast, which is the title of her album.
Technical aspects
The camera goes in and out of focus creating a blurred image of Rihanna, giving connotations of rain and mist, which represents the negative times in her relationship. The split screen in one shot of the video is coloured white and orange, this has connotations of the sun, representing the positive times in her relationship.
Black and white is used throughout the video to represent different times in her relationship. I think the black background creates a sinister atmosphere, which suggests that Rihanna is not a ‘good girl’, but she has hidden depths.
Mise-en-scene
Costume- Rihanna wears a black leather jump suit with a trilby. This outfit is sexually dominating and suggests sophistication and domination. Her fishnet tights give connotations of a sexual aura. In contrast to this outfit, she also wears a white dress, which suggests innocence and purity. This could also be representing the happier times in her relationship compared to the dark times (in the black outfit).
Rihanna also wears a black ballet dress with ballet slippers. This outfit, although black, shows a softer image, as the ballet slippers are associated with young girls and are seen as ‘delicate’.
Another outfit of hers is a black maid’s outfit, with fish net’s and red shoes. The red shoes are seductive and show sexual power. The maid’s outfit could suggest Rihanna’s contribution to the relationship, through the good and bad times, she will be there.
Her final look is when she is naked, but sprayed silver. I think this image is showing that he should love her for who she is, it is showing ‘underneath her clothes’, what is inside of her. There is something almost foetal about this image which suggests purity, she is untouched.
Actors
The actors are Rihanna herself, Jay z who is her boyfriend in the video, and her dancers. There are male dancers dressed in black, which makes them look as though they are simply in the background, and makes Rihanna stand out.
Props
The umbrella is used in most shots, being the main theme of the song. The umbrella is Rihanna’s safety.
Make-Up
Rihanna wears smoky black make-up which is seductive and also shows a sexual side of her. She wears red lips which has connotations of seduction, maturity and sexual desire.
Setting
She is in a studio, which is completely black, except for one window which has a ray of light peering through. She also dances in a dance studio, which is completely white. Again it is giving the contrast of black and white, good and bad.
Camera and editing
The video contains a range of camera shots, including close-ups, extreme close-ups, full shots and long shots. It allows us to not only view her performance, but see more clearly her emotions (with the extreme close-ups.)
There is a lot of fast editing where the camera shakes. This foreshadows shaky experiences in her relationship.
Special Effects
Smoke, rain, and a fuzzy effect of the camera are used to show different types of weather, which represents different times in her relationship. Glitter is also used, which is another way of representing the rain, but in a more glamorous way. It could also represent a time of celebration.
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