April 13th 2013
SPCM 100-17
Death to Mr. Rose
The media and its relation to the American culture can become a slippery slope into a world of unrealistic exceptionalities. Beside magazines and movies, music videos and video games hold a very large influence over the youth of the American society. Which in other words, is the future of the American society. In his first most popular music video “Rack City”, Tyga takes the focus off of his contumelious lyrics to act out a criminal/love story. This essay will be analyzing Tygas first “Rack City” video, centering in on its storytelling and gender & sexuality methods, as well as analyzing the significant source of the overall theme. The video begins telling us that it is difficult to stay alive in Rack City, but Tyga has managed to do so for 22 years. Next, we learn that Tyga is a young gangster in Rack City and Mr. Rose is a “big boss”. The story starts when Tyga and his gang steal a bag of gold from Mr. Roses warehouse. Afterwards he goes to, Redrum Midnight, a club that Mr. Rose owns and falls for a dancer named Chyna. The following day, Mr. Rose kidnaps Tygas new love interest and sets a meeting with Tyga to let him know the situation, and how they would be able to make a trade. As the video ends, Tyga returns to the bag of gold back to Mr. Rose, for Chyna. But, he plants an active bomb in it and before the club blows to pieces, himself and Chyna run for their lives, making it out in the knick of time. Before the death of Mr. Rose, he tells Tyga to be careful; Rack City is a dangerous place. This story could be giving off more messages than intended and expected. The use of the storytelling method helps identify different ideas used to enhance the message. The video is significant, because without it, one would never imagine this kind of story behind the lyrics. It is a narrative video based on characters and a story line. This video is using romance, action and crime as the genre.
Cited: Page Amber, A2 Advanced Portfolio, July 2012, Blogspot.com Barili Knick, HardKnock TV, November 2011, Season 2 Episode 17, Youtube,