CASE STUDY 2: Dizzee Rascals (Dream)
PAPER 1: Section A
CASE STUDY 2: Dizzee Rascals (Dream)
Narratives
Based on the lyrics:
- this is Dizzee's autobiography
- rise to success
- inspiring message for future generations
- Pop + Rap + Grime
Representations
- They have power contrasts within the video using props and race
- Also showing how Dizzee has sold out where he came from as he moved to pop. Also references to Captain Sensible and kind of showing that he sold out and moved to pop and to gain money
- Use of urban stereotypes
- Starts with generic middle-class old white lady and ends with same person
- Dizzee Rascal put back in the box
- All props are toys apart from Dizzee
- Size of white lady compared to all the toys
- Use of golliwogs
- Challenging stereotypes: Black dad pushing pram, drunk scotsman, police brutality
- His microphone giving him his own voice and his rise to fame
- Use of Paul Gilroy
Narrative
What is the main narrative and message of the song , and how is this added to or altered by the visual elements of the video ( e.g lighting and colour ,camera framing ) and the techniques used, such as the use of puppets ?
The main narrative or the song at face value is a vibrant colourful pop song with kids toys all messing around which is directed at everyone due to its bubbly nature and upbeat tune. It also includes a inspirational speech for future generations at the end as well as speaking about his own come up story and his struggles. But that's barely any of what Dizzee really wants to show. There are many hidden messages within the video alone of how racial stereotypes are perceived, social imbalance and power contrasts between race and gender.
Firstly, Dizzee Rascal's name is spelt out using bright pastel-coloured toy blocks which definitely is a binary opposite when compared to a normal grime, trap hard song which consists of dark colours. This would certainly confuse Dizzee Rascals normal followers as this is not what they're used to. This could represent Dizzee's change in target audience(teenagers to everyone) and music genre (from rap/grime to pop). This can be supported by the sneaked in reference of Captain Sensible saying "this too sensible for me" as well as covering a chorus from one of his songs. He also uses toys/puppets in the whole video which is usually meant for kids.
Secondly, Dizzee Rascals use of toys may look innocent and fun at face value but there are many hidden messages from how racial stereotypes are perceived, social imbalance and power contrasts between race and gender. Power contrasts can be represented in the video by the old lady playing piano and all the toys. In the video Dizzee is "in the old lady's world"
Representation
How is ethnicity, age , gender and class represented in the video ? What binary oppositions are created or shown in the video between different stereotypes?
Intertextuality : What cultural or media references does the video and song make and why ?
- It uses Gilroy's theory of the knock-on effects of colonialism from the 1500s.
- Shown by the size difference between white lady and dizzee rascal's friends
- Shown by clothing difference with white lady and Dizzee and friends
- All of dizzies friends are puppets and could show that they're viewed as "playthings"
- White lady tells Dizzee when to come and go
- The setting and background is quite middle-high class due to the piano
- Dizzee Rascal follows the piano's tune to rap to
- Shows many different negative stereotypes of different races (drunk Irish man, black man with his child)but white lady is quite high-class/elegant e.g. playing piano, clothing, how she speaks
- binary opposite of dizzee and white lady's voice?
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