Katy Perry - Katy Perry

Many argue that Katy Perry’s target audience would be young girls, especially from the ages of 14-17. She acts like an older sister/friend to them, guiding them through the ups and downs of the teenage years. She is also appears to be role model to them, someone they could to aspire to be, a strong, self- confident woman who sexualises herself in a non-threatening way. Some of her videos reflect the anxieties, young girls may go through and present solutions they could use to deal with these issues.


I will be looking at five of Katy Perry’s music videos and will be using Andrew Goodwin’s theory to analyse these videos, to show what the particular videos are trying to demonstrate to the audience.


Brief of Andrew Goodwin’s Theory
·Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).

·There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

·The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).

·There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, looking into the camera etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

·There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc.).

Hot and Cold (2008)
In this video, the music video addresses a fear every thing girl has, getting jilted at the altar.

I Kissed A Girl (2008)
• The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style and ‘fireworks’?). 

•Hot and Cold” 2008

•Presents herself as a victim – slightly comic – everybody’s friend – laugh at herself?

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTHNpusq654

•“Firework” 2010

•Celebrate difference – positive message – empowering to young girls? Look at lyrics.

•Elaborate special effects.

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw&list=RDQGJuMBdaqIw

• Wide Awake” 2012
•Reconnecting with teenage fans – almost an apology – Russell Brand figure – female empowerment.

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0BWlvnBmIE

•“Roar” 2013

•High production values – special effects – message similar to Firework video– self empowerment – positive message – don’t need men! – humour once again – elements of being sexy but for herself not to attract a man– look at how clothing changes.

•https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CevxZvSJLk8

and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. Katy Perry’s videos appear ‘Feminist’ but she also appears ‘sexy’ in parts.
“Wide Awake” refers back to “California Girls” and “Firework”).