Media Meditation #3: Subtle Sexuality

If you've ever seen The Office, you'll be able to appreciate the subject of my meditation. As it's a video, I would have liked to post the video directly on the blog, but (I've never seen this) embedding for the video has been "disabled by request". I can provide the link: Watch Subtle Sexuality: The Music Video!

This particular media text is appealing to me for a few different reasons. It's a rockin' music video starring great characters from a hilarious show.

Firstly, it's a well composed song. My limbic brain is engulfed in the music and lyrics as they are coordinated to various physical act

ions by the beautiful duet of Kelly and Erin (beautiful people right there). Neocordically speaking, my aim is to interpret the clever lyrics. The production techniques being used encourage your attention. The fast cuts and aforementioned coordination between sound and sight keep the speed rapid and a viewer's attention tightly grasped.

Through analyzing the ownership of this video, some interesting revelations come about. This video is about a male prima donna. Ry

an Howard, from the Office (he's Mr. Understood, the guy in the white get up near the end) is Kelly's (the star) boyfriend in the show and in real life! The lyrics are definitely influenced by this and its funny to realize that this song, from a show, is about a relationship in real life that exists in the show as well.

Cleverness is seen through persuasion. Humor is obviously a technique being utilized, but some of the lines invoke certain thoughts that keep us watching. The line "Like Shakespeare said: To be or not to be, sometimes you're Romeo with me" is using a non traditional form of testimonial. Kelly and Erin use strawman to cut down Ryan (the male prima donna). For example:

You're cute but you think you're blazin' hot

You're short and you think you're not,
You look gay in your skinny tie!
I hope you get killed in a drive-by!

The most incredible part of the video is about two minutes in, when this guy first makes his appearance:

His inclusion in the video brings back nostalgic (nostalgia) memories of the Nard Dog's introduction and legendary translation from the Stamford branch of Dunder Mifflin to the beloved Scranton Branch. If you don't know the Nard Dog, you don't know The Office. If you don't know The Office, well, read up on that first link I provide.

The personal shift shows us that this video's creation has larger implications than simply another production. This is essentially a side project, not included in any episode of The Office. Producing a series of webisodes, The Office cast has begun to participate in the digital community. This one features the four cast members found in the video, but not The Office crew as a whole. Some other series of webisodes features other members from the office (one series is primarily Kevin and Darryl, for you avid Office viewers). The same information can show us more through the technological shift. We have a song and a video being meshed into the digital world by being purely an internet based video. This allows companies, like NBC, and shows, like The Office, to reach out to its audience easily and provide further details about the show without cramming it into the time frame of slotted broadcast television.

The Nard Dog's sexy smile, Mr. Understood spitting fire and his hilarious gestures (the cut to him in the bathrobe as he says "SO SLOW!" was too funny!), and Kelly and Erin's facial expressions and motions (particularly Kelly's face; she looks like she's having a great time) made a fantastic video that gave some of the references in the actual show some substance.