Analysis of the Shakira song - Whenever wherever. The Male Gaze.
This video begins with Shakira flying out if the water in long trousers and a bikini top. This shows the audience that she may be perceived as strong and independent.
The scenery of this music video is wide and open and Shakira is alone. So far the audience would think that Shakira is alone and happy to be alone. However, the lyrics to the song contradict this as the chorus is, 'Whenever wherever we're meant to be together' which also suggests that she does not want to be alone.
Forty three seconds in the music video and Shakira is now focusing her dancing onto her hips and the curvature of her hips and waist. The camera angle is a low-angle shot so the camera focuses on her waist and her dance movements.
Shakira is known for hip movements and this is clearly shown in her other song 'Hips don't lie'. it is made clear that she uses the same movements as her fans would like to see her doing her signature dance movements. I believe the singer, Shakira, is trying to convey not only the message of the song but her dance moves.
Shakira breaks the fourth wall many times during this video as she looks at the camera directly smiling and dancing.
Throughout the whole video she is only in a bikini top showing her breast and waist. One line in the song says, 'looking at my breast so small and humble so you don't mistake them for mountains'. This is a very different view of todays views upon the size of women as these song came out sixteen years ago in 2001.
At the one minute an thirty seconds mark, Shakira starts using more 'sexual' dance moves such as sticking out her bum and doing many waist movements. Also, as the video carries on, she looks at the audience in a more 'seductive' way and the camera uses more close-up angles towards her face and a little to her waist.
Near the two minute mark Shakira is shown to shake her bum from a behind shot.
I can clearly see that as the video has gone on, Shakira has gotten more 'productive' with her body and showing off more skin and moves to her audience.
As she is the only person in the video, i believe the audience will have a strong connection to the singer as it is 'just them' if they are on there own.
At two minutes and thirteen seconds Shakira has now sexualised her body movements and is on the floor with one hand on her head and her body making wave like movements. To the audience this may convey sexual messages.
Also Shakira appears muddy, this may show the audience that women aren't afraid to get dirty and do thing for themselves.
At two minutes thirty, Shakira is now seen singing and dancing with a bright sun behind her. This shows that she is now strong and looks powerful. Shakira carries on to do her 'sexual' dance moves all the way through for what I believe is meant to be the viewers pleasure.
The video ends with Shakira gracefully and gladly jumping of a mountain an back into the water so she ended up where she started.
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