Research into Real Videos

Marilyn Manson - Personal Jesus

In this video there are a lot of close ups and mid shots of the band and their instruments, especially of Marilyn Manson, the lead singer. This may be because of Richard Dyer's theory of star image and iconology where the focus is mainly on the star in this case the star of the eponymous band is Marilyn. Similarly there a shots that show the band in the background and the singer in the foreground, implying that the singer is more important than the band members are expendable but the singer is not.

Staying true to Andrew Goodwin's music video analysis the video contains a live performance from the band. As he states "Particular music genres may have may have their own music video style and iconography." Although there is also other narrative going alongside the live performance. Showing religious imagery as a visual relationship between imagery and lyrics. With provocatively dressed 'Nuns', a baby possibly representing Jesus and a confession booth.

In the backdrop of the video there are subtle images of historical figures such as Joseph Stalin, Fidel Castro, Gandhi and JFK some of which are quite controversial which builds on Marilyn Manson's star image of causing controversy and rebellion.

Editing is used in this video to give it a creepy appearance to enhance Marilyn Manson's star image. Audience's react to the band's extraordinary image supporting Richard Dyer's theory of the star image, but at the same time lyrically audiences can relate to the band completing the paradox in which Dyer states is one of the fundamentals of creating the star image. Slow motion in throughout the video giving the impression that the singer is not fully human as he is moving in an odd fashion and the slow motion accentuates the movements.

Blurring the edges of the shot gives a psycodelic look to the shots. This implies some sort of drug-taking activities which builds upon the bands star image which involves the consumption of drugs.