Macklemore and Ryan Lewis: Same Love feat. Mary Lambert

Another video that deals with homosexuality and religion is Macklemore’s and Ryan Lewis’: Same Love feat. Mary Lambert. The video has a very different approach in the, what once was, controversial issue, and portrays the men’s relationship in a positive way. Of course problems when growing up are picked up on, for example: 1.42, but at the end we are left with a very positive feeling.

The video portrays the circle of life. It begins in a hospital when a baby boy is being born; I believe this is to depict how we are born equally. Footage of children playing follows, very stereotypical views on boys and girls are shown. For example girls’ playing with dolls and boys climbing trees/playing football. There is also a frame at 1.14 were a young boy gives a girl some flowers, depicting this is ‘the norm’.

Fire and religious symbols are also used, similarly to Hozier: ‘Take me to church’. At 2.40 footage of a cross on fire is shown.When they are used in ‘Take me to church’ it is in order to portray hell and how God will not accept the couple for being gay, these views can be linked in 'Same Love'. Like the Hozier’s video, this frame is shot in black and white, again reflecting these views are dated.

Light is another use of symbolism in the video. A bright white light is first shown at 0.01 till 0.08; in this shot the light dims allowing us to see it is a hospital lamp, setting the scene of a hospital. The use of bright light depicts birth; I plan to use light in my video to also portray birth. This shot is again used at 4.47, when the male protagonist is elderly and back in hospital, illustrating the circle of life. Sunlight is similarly used to portray hope and love for example: at 3.38, when the ring is being put on his finger. This initiates the beginning of their life together, likewise to the wedding scene, when rays of sunlight beam into the windows of the building (3.47). This again depicts hope and new beginnings.

The Male Protagonist

I chosen to use Jack Cowley as my male protagonist. His character will grow up throughout the music video but he will remain the same age as I want to show it as a more symbolic metamorphosis.

I have chosen Jack as he is a fan of Bonobo, the artist I have chosen to use, and his appearance is that of a typical Bonobo fan, therefore I hope this will appeal to my target audience.

Jack's experience in acting is primarily through school work we have done, however, I don't think this will be a problem as the shots I will have of him aren't so much acting and more just walking, jumping etc.

To the right is a photo of Jack. He is a seventeen year old male (but I think he looks older) with brown hair and stubble.

Hozier: 'Take Me To Church'

Mr Buckmaster showed me, Hozier: ‘Take Me to Church’, in our lesson last week. The song is an extended metaphor comparing a lover to religion. The music video imagery portrays this perfectly.

In the video we are introduced to two male characters that are in a relationship. It is clear they are wary of the hooded youths around them – watching them. Foreshadowing they will react later on.

The video is shot in black and white throughout. I also want to do this in mine. I think the significance of this is to focus predominately on the context of the video. No attention is drawn away due to the colours. In ‘Take Me to Church’; the context of the homosexual relationship is the significance of the song so this is heightened by the lack of colour. Black and white also portrays old fashioned movies; I think the disregards of homosexuality are depicted in black and white as homophobia is seen as an outdated view.

Symbolism is also used in the video. The box with a chain around it first appears at 0.07, in the flames. This is a depiction/foreshadow of the end of the video. We then see it being closed, locked and buried as the video endures. I have interpreted this as a symbolic physical metaphor of their relationship. They try to hide it from the hooded youths in their town, hence why they bury it. It isn’t till the end of the video, when the youths discover the box that their relationship is exposed. Fire is also used symbolically. The video focusses on religion so the fire can be interpreted is hell. By the youths throwing the box into the fire it is as if they are condemning the relationship to hell.

Overall the video has a very big impact on the viewer; it focuses on a very significant issue in society and makes you think.