ABSTRACT
This chapter reveals that Monae’s video is about so much more than the color pink, including gender, sexuality, and the rich intellectual tradition of Afrofuturism. It leverages observations about color and light into interpretations that take into account the bigger picture of music videos. Cinematography in music videos all ultimately hinges on a camera operator’s ability to master various camera angles and movements that bring music videos to life. Though the history of film and music videos might be said to contain a nearly infinite number of unique camera angles and movements, several are common enough to recognize as well-worn tropes. Whereas controlled smooth movements afforded by a camera dolly lend slick professionalism to videos, the opposite is also common. Handheld shots lend a sense of authenticity by promoting the idea that the viewing subject is privy to some minimally edited “real” experience.
