Textual Analysis: Earth Song

I have also decided to analyse the music video to Michael Jackson's Earth Song. I think this is such a great video to study because I feel it is important to recognise that music videos have numerous purposes. In the case of many, the video's primary purpose is to promote the artist and financially advance the record label. However, in the case of Earth Song, it is clear that the video also acts as a way of sending a heartfelt message to a global audience. This is something that the song does alone but I think that the music video really does help to hammer the message home and it is a great example of how music videos can be beneficial from an entertainment and persuasive point of view, as opposed to just another method of generating profit. In my audience research survey, 5 responders said that this was their favourite music video of all time.
Onto the technicalities, then - Earth Song was released by Michael Jackson in 1995 and remains his best-selling single ever in the UK. It is based around the destruction of the earth. The music video is almost 7 minutes long and received a Grammy nomination in 1997 due to its overwhelming global success. The song was in the top 5 of the charts in the majority of European countries. Michael Jackson received much thanks from various environmental and animal organisations due to the song. 

Camerawork

This music video is full of different camera techniques which are used for different purposes. The first shot in the video is a dynamic establishing shot, tilting and panning through the jungle, usually from a low-angle perspective. You even see monkeys! You see the sunlight leak through the treetops. This first shot shows the audience just how beautiful the jungle is, and the low angle implies that it is such a vast, huge place that has an extent of power over us. It is an amazing first shot that shows where the music video is set and what a rare, gorgeous place it is. 

But then, the shot reaches its end - as a wide shot of a giant tractor thing (I've never been very good with vehicles) ploughing its way towards the camera. I think this is a wide shot because it shows more of the background then it does the main model, despite the model being of equal significance and importance. The director probably chose to use a wide shot here because it then continues to show the audience the beauty of the jungle whilst introducing the threat of humanity in the same frame. The shot could also be interpreted as POV, maybe somebody looking around the jungle before seeing the tractor thing come driving towards you. This would allow the audience to be able to empathise with how horrific the event must be for the monkeys and other animals in the jungle, again adding to the main purpose of the message - conveying to the world how we are leading to its destruction. 

The video then transitions to a wasteland, with Michael Jackson walking through it. This is originally presented with the use of another wide shot, this time with Michael Jackson central in the frame, despite being a long distance away. This shot tracks Michael Jackson walking through the wasteland and so pans as he moves. This shot has a similar purpose to the last shot - it is intended to shock the audience by showing what a dreadful impact humanity is having upon the planet by showing a vast wasteland. The frame also introduces the artist, Michael Jackson - and his positioning in the frame suggests he is the central focus. 

The next shot focuses in more on Michael Jackson specifically. He is in the foreground but the location is still clear behind him. The camera continues to track the artist in a medium shot. This shot is intended to clarify with the audience who is singing the song and allows for them to make the connection between the song and the artist. This was perhaps demanded by the record label for promotional reasons, similar to what Goodwin's theory suggests.

Another shot that I think is particularly effective is the CU of the elephant. I am not sure whether the elephant is completely dead, whether he has just had his tusks removed or what, but one thing is for sure - he is definitely suffering and this close up helps to convey this. Again, the shot is mainly intended to deliver a message to a mass audience and will likely shot a lot of people.

The emotion of the previous shot is also reinforced at various points throughout the video. For example, a lot of close ups are used on real life human beings to convey the emotions that they are feeling. The shot of the man with his family looking at the elephant, for instance, shows the audience that people are genuinely affected by the problems that we are causing and that it isn't just animals that are suffering. This contributes to the purpose of the video, and aiming to persuade the planet to change its ways.

Many camera angles and techniques are repeated with different focuses, all intending the same effect. For example, there are many high-angle shots at later stages in the video, such as this shot of Michael Jackson on his knees. This shows that a lot of people are becoming powerless against the problems that we are causing. It shows fear in humans. There are other examples, such as families in the war scene, where high-angle shots are used to convey their innocence and powerlessness.

Sound
This music video makes use of diegetic sound as well as the soundtrack. For example in the first scene, when the camera is panning through the gorgeous jungle, a lot of ambient wildlife noises are playing as well, also adding to the beauty of the jungle. Sounds such as this make the scene appear more realistic and genuine, thus making the video have a much higher impact when you realise it is being destroyed. It makes the audience feel more aware that this is actually happening. And to be fair you need to try and persuade the audience as much as possible after using such unrealistic monkeys.

The audio used in this music video also has a strong link to the visuals, particularly through Michael Jackson's lyrics. For example, one segment of the lyrics questions "did you ever start to notice this crying earth, this weeping shore?", at which point there is a wide shot of the entire wasteland, burning black smoke into the air. The lyrics help to make the audience aware of what the problem is and it helps to clarify what is happening on the screen. The audio and the visuals work together.

Editing
A lot of different editing effects are used. The pace of most of the editing in this music video is particularly asynchronous and does not fit to the beat of the music. This is possibly representative of the disharmony in the world which lead to all of these problems. This is particularly unconventional in music videos - however, breaking a convention such as the rhythm of editing makes the video not only unique (and more interesting) but also delivers the message more powerfully.

The video also includes light leaks during the jungle scenes. It is unclear as to whether these were natural at the time of filming or edited in after filming. However, it is likely they were somewhat enhanced anyway during the editing stages. These light leaks help to make the scene look more sunny and so a more beautiful place. Again, this contributes to making the audience see what a gorgeous location the jungle is before it is destroyed.