simontelo, October 14, 2008 1:26:48 AM CEST
Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)"

         
I liked it. Kept me interested the entire time, which is more than I can say for most videos nowadays. I must be getting soft in my old age. I've been liking far more than usual this month. ;)

K.
         
incredible! out of breath watching it (in a good way)
         
I enjoyed it too!
         
dir. jake nava.
original? gwen&bob eat choreogs jaquel knight & frank gatson for breakfast. think we'll see a shout-out by jake to u2b for the concept?
(that said, this is pared-down-tight. btw: where do i find a study on tribalism and the women of pop?)
         
Totally awesome and original. This looks amazing on TV.
         
i wonder what those other 2 girls from Destiny's Child are thinking of this video....

Great song, and I too watched the whole thing. It's not some amazing concept or anything but who knows; maybe it's just nice to see some choreography without all the cutting. Or maybe it's just her legs.
         
camera moves, choreography, long shots/thoughtful edit and leotard groin grinding in black and white. refresher...
         
WOW

is there something neat going with the leotards or is it just funky youtube compression?

high quality version or visual descriptions greatly appreciated.
         
Frankly, I think I was most impressed with the fluid aesthetic choices...OH MY DEAR GOD, Beyonce's booty.

I do like it, and indeed I should have put a ring on it.

Plus, girl's got a fuckin Power Glove
on.
         
The song carries this well. It's good, but only on the strength of the track.
         
yep. likin' the freaky compresion bits.. deliberate or not. and def respect for the straightness of concept, and a lovely edit.
         
This is not good. This is not sexy. Sex sells. I see asses. Thats it. Don't like porno style vids.

If you like to see a woman in black and white better watch PJ Harvey - This is Love:

www.youtube.com


I mean. Look at the "Beyonce" Video. Go into your City to a photographer Store.... and you will find black and white nude pictures that looks exactky like the video from beyonce. Perfect Lighning and all. But also very cheesy. Nothing new. Only lighning tricks where the ass looks fine. Thats so boring. This video sucks.
         
Hey Luk, this isn't supposed to be wank fodder. This is a strong woman doing some great moves and proving her strength as a performer by keeping it simple.
I am a woman and this IS hot.
         
ooohh. "Strong woman". Of course... this is what "the media" and "the girls itself" want to tell you. "the weapons of a woman". We are showing our ass like in "gansta hip hop" videos... BUT we are strong. Because we "use" this image... and we sing. And the word "bitch" is not longer negativ.. no its positiv.

fuck that. My gf allso wearing short pants and i love it. I got no problem with sexy looking girl.

Just one thing. Look at the shoes. This is sick. No woman I know will put those shoes on. This has nothing to do with "strong woman" or whatever.

And all those shiny legs. It's so cheesy. So cheap. I love tits and ass. But not in this way.

To me this video looks like FHM or Playboy in Black and White (its "art", you know) and thats it.
         
Got nuffin, against most of her dope, but personally I think this clip is rather naff
         
Hey luk...I'm assuming English is not your primary language, could you post a representation of women from your native land you agree with? Could you also post some pornography? Thanks in advance.
         
Its bin nobbled @ u2b
c-loop
         
hiconcept: No, english is not my "primary language". And speaking of "porn". I study media-sociology. Porn has not only something to do with vaginas and penises. If you go in a supermarked and look at TV magazines in 80% you will find a blonde girl smiling. A model. This is "porno". It's more about the "way". On the other side... in art you can show a pussy.... and its not porno.

My english is not that good but I hope you get what I mean. I thought "porno (style)" is known as "idea/item/term".
         
I don't think thats quite right, to attribute, a blonde girl smiling in a TV magazines as a form of porno? It's a portrait, voyeuristic for sure, but the only visual image convention regarded as an adequate substitute for the body. Attention is always directed at the subjects face which leads to the convention you describe as porno. of the model using a facial expression to guide the spectator to read in some representation, which maybe open to a range of interpretations

I'm not satisfied either, such an item described, would come under the title, 'pinup pose' proper! For that suggests that the image would contain most of the subjects body.

What ever, pinups are still are defined by constraints of formal conventions and self censorship!

In soft porn the image starts to move away from such, but keeps the conventional pinup poses ie the entire body is always framed in a set of images arranged in sequence to reveal of the person's (woman usually) body

In hardcore, such pretense is dropped and is defined by the accentuation within the image of the fetishistic fragmentation and isolation of certain body parts

Since you are studying media-sociology luk Perhaps u should dig this book out, and browse tru it

The Power of the Image: Essays on Representation and Sexuality - Annette Kuhn



         
thanks. It goes even further. The term "porn". There is a book out there called "Pornoland". It about porn... but the writer also says that for example "all-inlusive Holidays" are also "porn". Because you get everything you want. The sun, the pool.

With the beyounce clip... you get this pin-up look. Or whatever we/you want call it. And "porn" can also be a smiling blond on a TV Magazin.

It's "perfect". "porn" in this connection means: We show you everything you want. We give you everything you want. "its can't get better than this". But allways in a very simple and easy way.

Look at the photgraph shops in your town and you will exactly the same lighnig stlye for nude images... like the beyounce shop. Its a "commercial lighnig". To sell things. No matter if its Beyonce or an apple. Its good. No questions. But whates behind that image?

We got a singer. And music. And a choreography. No problem with that. But if you look at the comments on other sites like youtube (but not only there) the comments are:

Hot, nice ass, hot, so hot, etc...

I got no problem with a hot clip... but its "hot" in a "porno style" direction.

Take a look at the kids today. More and more kids scratch themselves, etc. And more and more kids have sex... but don't know the feelings about felling in love.
(That sound very harsh)

The "images" are very important. And once again. I have nothing against sexy images... but this beyonce clip to me.. ist 80% porn an 20% real content.

And most of the other people say: "hej. its not porn, its just hot, etc.." but they say that because they (and also me too) grow up with all the commercials of perfekt womans... with a perfect smile (or pefect legs) from TV Magazines... or whatever.

I click on my TV and the News about the weather is presented by a hot girl. This is not normal.
         
When words are diluted, especially to the extent that you are attempting to dilute the word porn, they quickly cease to have any true communicative value and intelligent discussion is soon, thereafter, made impossible.

K.
         
Where did the writer get that definition for the example "all-inclusive Holidays" are also "porn"?
From the 'I'm Making It Up As I Go Along Dictionary'?
The definition of Porn/o seems to have only one meaning as far as I can ascertain, even in the 'Urban Dictionary'
         
i think the writer created it. And a lot of other people adapt it. Porn (the real porn) is a phenomena. And many sociologist want to decode it. I'm not really into this anymore. And there are many theories about it. And one theory is to compare porn with other mass-phenomena like "Title Magazines", "Holiday", "Football Games" or the fascination of simple soap series on TV. Its almos allways the same. And its a kind of perfection the producers want to create. Football, Soap, Holiday... whatever. And it all has a very boring side, too. A very absurd and meaningless side.

It's like a shiny perfect round shaped apple... which taste bad. But millions of people buy the apple every day... because its so shiny.

You can transfer the porn-thing (aspect) on other things... very easily. And it makes sense. It's not absurd. The whole world is kinda porn.

Hollywood is porn, arthouse not.
(if you want it simple and stupid)
No. that was really a bad example. Because even the Film Matrix got very good points. With the "Virsu" Smith in it... but most of the people will not see it... and think: cool Action movie... nice special effects.

And looking at Becouncy is: Nice Shoes, nice legs, Nice ass, nice etc..
oh wait... and maybe the music is nice, too.

;)
         
A comparison of likeness or similarity of phenomenas is one thing, but a definition of a word is quite another, So it sounds like "Pornoland" if not already, will soon be consigned to Bookstore Bargain Bins around the world!

Sorry mate Buzzword clap trap! Don't fall for it!

         
is this pornucopia or what?

oldie but goldie, by eco:
non-compos-mentis.blogspot.com

         
Unless simont got it hopelessly wrong, and its really Jenna Jameson, Nikki Nova, and Jenna Haze appearing in the clip, then on the balance of probabilities, I'd have to say no, legion!

Tho if I follow non-compos-mentis's reasoning that t'Beyonce characters take much longer than I would like, running 'round in a circle from A to B, then in all probability the clip is pornographic right? :)
         
hehhehe, robo, you're as sharp as a butterfly knife except the guy's name was eco, umberto eco, but yes, that's what i was hinting at, you got it right
         
sidestepping the debate for a second: this is an interesting song with a cute video, and a good choice for a single B-side. on its own, it wouldn't sell shit.
         
Anyone got a QT for this? I need to add it to my "collection."
         
digging in the dirt
         
your argument is retarded luk. that's no porn.
         
Threads like these are why I encourage directors that actually want to have a career to disregard 99% of all comments on this site. So out of touch, so focused on minutia, so full of hot air.
         
Agreed. Jake did a good job here, it looked like he had fun, and, judging from his previous work, it looks like he's pushing himself creatively.

And I'm f'in crazy, if that didn't make sense to anyone then fuck it I'll never make sense ever. People always wonderin where the f- I'm comin from, right out my ass, that's what..
         
@ budget
Guess that presumably means, the left over 1% of comments, u encourage directors to regard, flows from t'budget's own lips? :)
         
My advice to young directors: Don't listen to people on this site who reference Godard, contemporary modern artists, or Marshall Mcluhan.

Only listen to me, your rep, and Dale "Rage" Restighini.
         
Actually, i'd rather work then spend all my time blogging here like certain do. Time passes you by, where's the work? work what it's about. I used to come to this site and add opinions, but I realized the energies are better spent finding out ways to make things happen instead. Have an opinion? great. If you aspire to do something, get out of this site and go do it.

Make some videos. You will have a fulfilling perspective as a result. That's what it's all about. It's ok to be a commenter though, it's not what I'm saying.
         
quicktime
         

         
funny skit was funny.
         
I don't do Beyoncé but this song & video are massive.
         
what does NBC think it gains by hiding the snl parody video the very moment that folks want to see it? suits: what have you achieved by forcing me to find it via emule and/or torrent (what a surprise: it's there!)?
can anyone try to explain th'idiocy?!
         

         
obama's down with it (at 7:00).
         
More parody. This one's actually funny.


         
just won video of the year. Well deserved.

But shit, I just realized it was nominated in the Art Direction & Editing categories??????? Are they fucking serious??? 4 edits and a white syke!
         
lol, even worse is the nomination for the completely CGI-ed Vida La Vida video: "The video for this charting-topping single has the band performing in a hazy, deformed version of a painting--now that's directing art!"
         
screenville analysis, including botticelli.
         
art direction is a big stretch, but i always liked the cut. stitching together long takes is way harder than working with 2 second fragments. it could have been such a mess this video, but the edit stays unfussy, and there's some really neat invisible snips in there too. it's the same guy who did crazy in love, which was one of the first edits i ever saw which did that clever match/cross cutting between the beginning and ending of set-ups.