Music Video: Theory

1) How does the This Is America video meet the key conventions of a music video?

• the music video en tales singing/ performances aswell as lip syncing
• dancing
• fast paced camera to match the rhythm
• a narrative/ music    

2) What comment is the video making on American culture, racism and gun violence?

the music video comments on the fact that no matter how much america claims/ conceals the fact that racism and gun violence  isn't as prevalent as the media portrays, american culture has and always will have an element on violence and racism to it .

3) Write an analysis of the video applying the theories we have learned: Gilroy, Hall, Rose

• gilroy (black atlantic) in the video their are a variety of groups of black people who are all doing different activities like gospel choirs, musicians, dancers --- this links to gilroys "liquidity of culture " 
• hall- the video doesnt specify the social class or any other specific details 
• rose-- the portrayal of black people doing violent things supports roses theory that the new mainstream hiphop portrays young black people promoting violence.

Read this Guardian feature on This Is America - including the comments below.

4) What are the three interpretations suggested in the article?

• donald glover is fooling the auidience with dance 
• donald glover "is jim corw"
• donald glover is taking on the police 

5) What alternative interpretations of the video are offered in the comments 'below the line'?

• the suggestion of how being black in america is dangerous and "deadly "
• the fact that most racial crimes are stirred up by the media