Rihanna – Shut Up And Drive

Summary • Artist: Rihanna• Track: Shut Up And Drive• Length: 3minutes, 33seconds• Released: June 12th, 2007• Labels: Def Jam• Producers': Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers• Writers: Carl Sturken, Evan Rogers, Bernard Sumner,

Peter Hook, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert• Genre: New Wave, Pop Rock• Type: Performance

Conventions• Music video conventions:

- Lip syncing.- Choreographed dancing (performance).- Incorporates 1970s ad 1980s musical styles.- The song refers to cars and car parts throughout the song.

Mise-en-scene• Rihanna:

- Rihanna subverts to the typical roles taken on by females in videos. > She is seen as a mechanic – alongside other females (act in a provocative manner) and a referee to start the race.- However, Rihanna and the other females in the video are all dressed in a sexually manner. An example of Rihanna is when she is walking towards the cars to start the race. She is seen wearing black heels and hot pants, this showing an emphasis on her legs. She's also only wearing a cropped long sleeve, studded leather jacket. This fits the scene as boy racers and motorcyclist are usually seen wearing these, however, on Rihanna it highlights her figure. Throughout the video, as Rihanna an her female friends are seen wearing revealing clothes this video adheres to how women are stereotypically dressed in music videos.- The clothing she wears enables the listeners to know she is happy with her figure. However, feminist may argue it is certain showing children this may influence them to dress in this provocative manner. > Post-Feminist would state this identifies the ‘Male Gaze’ - The choreography of this video is not purely based on a whole dance routine however, there is a sense of dance throughout the video. At times the choreography matches the lyrics sung. An example of this is when Rihanna referees the cars to start the race, she sings ‘now shut up a drive’ and the tyres spin as the cars drive off. She also says ‘gangster lean’ and a medium close-up shows her leaning on the car and flicking her head.- There are shots that identify with the male gaze. For example when she steps out of the car, they focus on her legs showing off skin and leopard high heels. Then a long shot and medium close up. The camera almost acting as if it was a male ‘checking’ Rihanna out. - The location is established as a makeshift junkyard and is shot in Prague, Czech Republic hence the foreign registration number plates. - This video and the lyrics are purposely to do with cars as it confuses listeners and goes off topic of its real meaning. From the choreography and the vocals, the song clearly relates to ‘sex’. - Towards the end of the video a sense of rock is established and Rihanna’s clothing matches this. She’s wearing a black dress printed with white stars and the scene is darker. This suggest Rihanna can be represented in many different ways.

Screenshots of Mise-en-scene

Acting as a mechanic in a provocative manner.

Seen as a referee to start the race and reinforces the ‘Male Gaze’

Shows the makeshift junkyard and females dressed in revealing clothes.

Highlights foreign location

Lyrics matching movement – Gangster lean

Sense of rock is established

Camera, Editing and Sound• Camera:

- The establishing shot show two big steel doors sliding apart showing the inside of what is seen as the makeshift junkyard. This shot shows the location.- A long shot shows Rihanna tucking a cloth into her vibrant jeans picking up tools. This reinforces that fact she is being represented as a mechanic. - Another establishing shot shows Rihanna walking to the next location. A mid-wide shot, shows the facial expression of Rihanna and the females behind her. They seem to be walking with attitude and their facial expression match their walk. They seem to think they have dominance as there are more females present then males. Only two men can be seen as ‘Boy racers’ who are in the car. - A high angle shot shows the area of where the race is about to start. - Close ups and medium close ups are used to show Rihanna’s neat facial features and expressions.- Close up of one of the ‘Boy racers’ face allows the listeners to see who the car is driven by

• Editing: - A quick fade is used to move from scenes. We see her walking to the car with tools, to dancing on a gold painted car.- Cross-cutting between Rihanna wearing a studded leather jacket and a red top, shows two different scenes.- Quick cuts at the end show the different main locations shown during the entire video.

• Sound:- It is evident, that Rihanna sings about cars in the video. However the actual representation of her words relates to ‘sex’.- She refers to herself as a car by singing: ‘’ I'm a fine-tuned supersonic speed machineWith a sunroof top and a gangster lean ‘’ These vocals heard early in the song reinforce the representation of sex.- Sound is diegetic.

Screenshots of Camera and EditingEstablishing shot of location.

Long shot showing Rihanna tucking in cloth. Representation of mechanic.

Establishing shot of next location. Showing facial expressions.

High angle of race area.

Close-ups.

Process of fade.

Fast motion at the end showing main locations.