Textual Analysis of Katy Perry - Last Friday Night

This is a textual analysis of the artist Katy Perry's music video 'Last Friday Night'. This video is mainly based around pure narrative with the star image being shown throughout. The opening scene begins with the character played by the star Image Katy Perry called "Kathy". The first camera shot is taken in her room, in which you see it covered with party streamers and 3 other people crashed out on her bed and on her floor. This shot is taken to match Goodwin's theory of visuals to lyrics, in the first lyrical line sang by Katy Perry "there's a stranger in my bed". One girl in specific lays on her floor with party cups surrounding her, implying to the audience that she has passed out by drinking the night before. The props and body language used within this first scene, strongly represent the stereotypical American teenage party. This indicates what the narrative will be based around, therefore setting their target audience to a younger teenage generation.

The second important shot taken is to show the love interest taken within this music video. With Katy Perry playing Kathy; the geeky girl with braces, there are two different types of boys shown, varying from the boy she could never have; the jock, and a boy she would never get with; the geek. A close up shot is taken of the geeky boy "Everette" who shows a love interest in Kathy, and imagines himself being her knight in shining armour. In contrast, a close up shot is taken of the american stereotypical jock she takes an interest in, in which he ignores Kathy, and straight away spots the stereotypical 'blonde' and 'popular' girl in the corner. This concentrates fully on the different american stereotypical aspects, in relation to american high school groups.

Computer Generalised Imagery used when showing 'Everette's' daydream of being 'Kathy's' night in shining armour. 

Contrast shown between stereotypical skinny geek, and handsome jock.

As Katy Perry plays a stereotypical geek with braces and no dress sense, it was obvious from the beginning that she would receive a makeover during the music video. Several shots of 'Kathy' are taken through this process, to show the development of her transforming from a geek, to an attractive young lady, who may show an interest to the more popular boys. The younger generation will take more of an interest in these scenes, relating to them strongly, as they themselves go through the process of developing, and taking interest into the other sex opinions. A pan up of 'Kathy' is taken of her, as she walks down the stairway. The camera purposely pans up her body, to create tension and anticipation for the viewer, as to reveal her transformation. From a geeky girl dressed in baggy clothes, she is changed into more tighter and more revealing clothes, which will attract the male eye; therefore the male audience. This portrays voyeurism, as it sees 'Kathy' become more of a sexual object, showing her feminism, as the tighter clothes portray her women curves. Although her clothes have changed, she is still paired with her braces, in order to keep an element of the old Kathy in her character.

 Transformation of 'Kathy' shown from baggy clothes, to more appealing tighter clothes. The image to the right is a great example of the bright neon costumes used to indicate the 80/90's theme.

Braces still worn to keep an element of the old 'Kathy'.

Another close up shot is taken of 'Everette' to show his body language and facial expressions towards 'Kathy's' new appearance. The shot is taken focusing on him sitting in the corner, connoting him as being the outsider of the party.  As Kathy came across as an outsider of the party at the beginning of the music video, she no longer is after her transformation, therefore leaving 'Everette' on his own.

Computer Generalised Imagery is used in the scene in which you see 'Everette' fighting the jock player, after he is seen pinching 'Kathy's' bottom. This is used partly because if it was filmed using a real life location, it would appear too realistic, and to match the younger generation target audience, aspects of quirky shots and unrealistic shots keep the shot more interesting. This shot can also be seen as humerus  as you see the short, skinny and weak geek fighting the more stronger, taller and big built jock.

Computer Generalised Imagery shown to show 'Everette' fighting the Jock.

There are many shots taken within this video which embark on other famous people throughout. To match the 80/90's theme, a 90's band called 'Hanson' are seen playing in the back of 'Kathy's' garden. Not only this, but a shot is taken in which you see the famous saxophone star 'Lenny G' playing the character of 'Kathy's' uncle playing the saxophone on her roof. As well as these two, Corey Feldman and Debbie Gibson also play the characters of 'Kathy's' mother and father.

 Famous Saxophone player Lenny G.

90's band called Hanson playing in her back garden. 

The band Hanson. 

Corey Feldman and Debbie Gibson; 'Kathy's' mother and father.

A shot is taken in which you see 'Kathy' being sick in a roller skating boot. This relates specifically to the younger generation, as it is a typical and stupid thing they would do. It also implies to the audience that, due to 'Kathy' being so drunk, she was unaware of what she was doing, therefore relating back to the younger generation again, because they are seen to be more vulnerable to alcohol as they do not know their limits.

It is very hard to tell which type of lighting is used. Both in the house and the garden, there are lights added into the setting to give off light; lamps, lights and decorating lights. I think a fill light may of been used, to give off a natural and blemishing glow to the characters faces. The lighting throughout is very soft, therefore I don't think either high or low key lighting were used as there wasn't many shadows produced.

Many low angled shots and wide angled shots are taken in this music video. This was to specifically flourish to the audience the amount of people within the shot, therefore to establish how many people were at the party. This was done to imply to the audience the crazy stereotypical american parties, and how they are known to get out of control.

 Wide shot taken to make there look like there is loads of people. 

Low angle shot taken to emphasise on the amount of people in the room.

The overall theme of this music video is set in the 80/90's time period. This is shown through the bright use of neon outfits, and the large red rimmed glasses worn by 'Kathy', showing a symbolic imagery of the fashion back then.

Overall, the video is very successful as it follow Goodwin's conventions of a music video, and sets a high standard toward their target audience.