Turntables - Representation and media language

‘I can’t be a pessimist’

• The MV opens with an archived audio clip of ‘I can’t be a pessimist’ by James Baldwin from 1968. The use of an old clip suggests the issue is long term.

Costume

• Seems like a 1940s military style uniform

• Links Monae to the American military and patriotism.

• Connotes that this is a war/fight for equality

• Old uniform suggests that it’s an old, ongoing issue

• The overcoat, hat and suitcase give her a sense of power and makes her seem important

Young girl

• Young black girl with unusual hair and a VR headset

• Futuristic

• The use of the blue colour palette adds to the futuristic feeling

• She’s watching Monae on the TV as if it’s a past event which she can only experience through VR

• Arguably showing that this idea of racism and protest are things of the past in this alternative future. The girl can only experience and learn about it through VR.

• This gives a hopeful message of the future

Old vs new

• Binary opposition between the futuristic technology and the vinyl record.

• Suggests that what we’re seeing is old to the little girl but more current for us as an audience

• Adds to the theme that things need to change

Archive footage

• Archive footage of real civil rights related events adds to the sense of realism and truthfulness of the video

• It is intercut amongst shots of a happy black family enjoying breakfast together. Adds a contrast between the awful things black people had to suffer through and the positive? modern, happy family of the future. This is a binary opposition

American flag

• Monae standing facing the American flag adds to the theme of nationalism, and the country being relevant to the video and song

“I keep my hands dirty and my mind clean”

• Lyrics suggest that the singer is actively involved in the fight against injustice

Large crowd shots

• Emphasise the important nature of these issues affecting many people

• Images of police in riot gear and people protesting reflect the rise of the BLM movement in the US in recent years

• Draws attention to injustices amongst the justice system too eg racial profiling, police brutality etc

• Fists in the air is an iconic symbol for black power, used to connote solidarity, pride and equality

• These fists combine with shots of Monae punching the air and imagery of boxing and violence, help to reinforce the message that we need to fight for equality and justice

Anti American

• “America, you are a lie”

• Statues toppling over

• Connotes the idea that there are integral problems with America and the way in which it’s run

Images of voting

• Suggest that politics is one of the main problems that needs to be tackled

Canted angles

• Canted angles combined with lyrics about turning, suggest that change and disruption is needed/coming

Happy montage

• Montage of happy smiling dancing people creates a positive, hopeful outlook

• We see pride flags, empowering

“You fuck up the kitchen, then you should do the dishes”

• Political comment

• Combined with clips of the environment eg fires, oil, fuel burning

• Calling out the older generation

The video is inclusive of a wide variety of people from different backgrounds

• People with Afro hair

• People with braided hair

• People with disabilities

• Different sexualities

• Reflective of Monae’s own cultural identity and the importance of inclusion to her

Toys

• A black girl choosing between a white and black doll and is pleased to have found a black doll

• Reflects the racial inequality in the toy market where there is often a lack of ethnic diversity in dolls for example

Footage of politicians

• Including Stacey Abram’s, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reinforces the issue as being real, and suggest Monae is pro democrat

Imagery of struggle

• Passionate screaming

• Dragging the statue - extreme wide, shows the scale

• The statue has a weapon - shows that it’s a fight

• Monae slapping the floor

• Reflect the hard struggle many face in the fight for equality

Child with umbrella

• Sparks falling down on her

• Connotes that the world is a dangerous place and children are innocent and vulnerable and need to be protected

• The sparks could connote racism or sexism

• The wide 2 shot of her and Monae, looking at each other. Sparks could connote a bright future (polysemic). Could be Monae looking at her younger self?

Amazon doc

• The song was written for ‘All In: The Fight For Democracy’

• The documentary focused on voter suppression in America

• Tackles the fact that in many elections black and other minority citizens are often stopped from voting via a range of illegal or unethical methods

Aims of the video

• Provide a message of hope

• Encouraging people to vote

• Empowering black people

• Challenges stereotypes and promotes diversity

• Monae in interview - wanted to give energy to the movement

Woman with cockerel

• Connotes that we need to ‘wake up’ (cockerels wake people up)

Family

• Woman reading newspaper

• Dad cooking

• Subverts gender expectations

• Shows an aspirational future

bel hooks

• Oppression

• Intersectional, LGBT, black, female

Civil rights

• Lyndon B Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law

• The video shows injustices prior to this as well as after

• Voting rights are still an issue in America despite this law