Music Video Analysis

This music video for Janelle Monáe's "Q.U.E.E.N." has a combination of performative, narrative, and conceptual elements. At the beginning of the video we are given a story: that what were are viewing is a museum full of rappers from throughout history frozen in time. That story carries throughout the video when we see Monáe and co. brought to life to perform the song. The performative and conceptual elements come into play throughout the video, during dance shots and during the last minute of the video where Monáe delivers a rap verse.

The video is very styled by color, line, shape, and light. The color scheme stays consistently black and white throughout the video, with pops of color shown in outfits and parts of the scenery. Straight horizontal black and white lines are shown frequently in the background, and several backup dancers are wearing dresses with horizontal black and white stripes. The background is also defined by shapes, with large rectangular display tables shown in several shots. The combination of these rectangular shapes and the bright lighting in the scene sets the atmosphere of a futuristic museum. During the rap verse in the last minute of the video, several elements change. The rectangles and stripes seen in the background previously are replaced with two large round areas of light, and the lighting changes to a spotlight on Monáe.

This last minute of the video is the most key part. As Monáe delivers her message, she is shown center stage, and the camera slowly zooms in on her. Another key moment in the video happens towards the beginning, when a record player is shown close-up as the instrumental part of the song begins. Immediately following this, we see several shots, both close-up and far away, of the performers in the museum coming alive.

The camera stays largely static, with the performers providing most of the movement in the video, however it does pan in and out slightly in a few shots to put emphasis on the scene.

The video follows the main messages of the song and carries some similar elements and concepts, but also has a unique feeling due to the story of the futuristic museum. The way the video is presented during the rap verse gives additional emphasis on the message of the song.