Music Video Analysis: Smooth Criminal

Concept: 
The overall concept of the music video is to present Michael Jackson who is a smooth criminal. It is presented as a short-film which is based in a 1930's nightclub.  

Narrative:

• A women/girl named Annie is in her apartment when a man breaks in and attacks her, then leaves. He's asking throughout the song whether she's okay.
• MJ has been presented as a 'smooth criminal' among the other criminals around him as they're trying to attack him. As he is able to defeat these criminals this makes Michael Jackson a 'smooth criminal'. 

Visual effects:

Lighting is a crucial effect used in the music video as the main lighting focus is on Michael Jackson throughout the song which reinforces how important and well-respected he is. 

• The framing of the entire video directly links to the power Michael Jackson possesses. In almost every shot, Michael is in the centre of the frame, presenting the fact that he is very important as he is the main focal point for the audience.
• Editing has been used in the prologue to the song when Michael Jackson throws a coin from one end of the Speakeasy to another, landing in the Jukebox and starting the track.
• MJ's anti-gravity lean- it is a dance move that he is able to master and do naturally. He leans forward close to a 45 degree angle, creating the illusion that he is defying gravity.

Representation: Taken

Taken 

Taken uses a wide variety of representations throughout the movie. The different types of representations used consist of: Men, Women, Teenage Girls, Americans and Non- Americans (Albanians). In the movie, the Men (especially Liam Neeson) are perceived as over-protective and superior as they make the main decisions. Also, the men which are used in the non-american gang are portrayed as powerful and a stereotypical interpretation is that foreign gangs are usually seen as a threat to innocent people. The Teenage Girls are seen as vulnerable and stereotypically Teenage Girls in movies are naive and tend to put themselves into dangerous situations. Despite the fact that females are used in the movie, there are fewer women used overall ; a possible reason for this is because stereotypically it's the male's role to protect and fight for his family and in this movie the main male character (Liam Neeson) is out to protect his daughter.