africa shox analysis

One of the ways in which the two music videos are different is that in Afrika Shox the representation of the black man is only ever negative, as a weak character who is a victim. One section that illustrates this point is when we see the man in the parking garage when he is offered help by another black man. This section has been skillfully constructed to position the audience as cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene and editing have all been used to great effect. If we look closely at this section we can identify that the camera angles and positions are very important to establish the power relations. At 4:26 minutes, there is a high angle pov shot looking directly down at the weak black man, then there is a reverse shot where there is a low angle pov shot looking directly down at Africa bambaataa which translates to affectionate leader in Zulu. Finally at 4:18minutes, there is a mcu, which looks as though it is linked to the black mans view. The lighting is important as well. There is heavy lighting from above left behind the witch doctor, this light is similar to the ones that a patient looks at when they are in a hospital. This effect creates a semi silhouette, the composition of the scene is that there is a dynamic use of diagonals in the background, it is generally dark and shadowy and the only real sight of light is through reflections, the effects of the camerawork makes s feel that Bambaataa isa strong and powerful man who helps as opposed to the black man who needs help. The sound is also important, with the wiktch doctor intr scene, there is a non diagetic, where the sound track stops  and we begin to hear a siren and diagetic sounds and then after the witch doctor say’s “do you need a hand”, the sound becomes a mixture between diagetic and non diagetic sound. The no reply from the weak black man shows and emphasizes the weakness and the helplessness of the man. The mise en scene is also very important, this includes the location, which is a multie story car park. The concrete of the car park makes it seem cold and an unforgiving environment. The costumes are key =, as the weak man is wearing a dark green pair of shorts with a short sleeved shirt which is like they wear in the military links to how soldiers are injured and broken like he was. The witch doctor wears big chunky African clothes which link back to Africa. With the props, the aren’t many but one that evidently stands out from the few other is the witchdoctors staff, staffs are usually linked to leaders and are important signs of power, which also links back to his name in Zulu which translates back to affectionate leader, also his jewellery which also links to power but also wealth, there are signs of NVC which are the posture which with the weak back man is bent over, almost crippled as opposed to the witch doctors posture which is upright symbolizing his power. Also the facial expressions, firstly the witch doctors, where we see him wearing his glasses which makes him seem more mysterious., where as the weak black man has a distressed facial expression, as he has an open mouth , with a sign that it is difficult to breathe including his rolling eyes making him seem very weak.