
Ever wonder how it feels to live a life of wealth and fame. Or ever think how your life would be if you were famous. We are raised to see the pretty picture of how the rich and the famous live their lives. In reality we don’t seem to quite understand what it takes to reach that level of success. With all the wealth and fame, it takes a toll on how these people go about living their lives. We take advantage of our freedom and our ability to get away from the world and be alone. One of the most iconic artist of today, Kanye West, represents that feeling of living life free and being normal. Therefore, Kayne knowing how the famous life is lived he expresses his thought of how we are all supposed to view them. In his recent music video, “Famous”, he uses filmic language in different shots to show the viewer that all the people (including himself), that have given him the ability to rise to fame, have a normal life.

In the video “Famous” by Kayne West, West and his wife, Kim Kardashian, are lying on the bed, but they are not alone. Laying on each side of the couple are people that have had a controversial impact on Kayne’s famous life. The video is directed to those who have seen Kanye grow as an artist and don’t fully understand his way of expression during his peeked in fame.  Close to the middle of the video (minute 7:30) there is a focused shot on West and Kim only directing their eyes towards each other. This shot is called a close up, it gives the viewer no other option but to direct all of their attention to the two main characters. The shot accurately depicts the passion portrayed in the couple. Being that it is an emotional shot, the viewer sees adoration through all lenses. The way that the couple is positioned, Kim slightly touching Kayne gives the viewer an understanding that the partner approves of such action. A passionate feeling is evoked that can be interpreted by the viewer in many ways. The reason West chose the close up shot was to tell the viewers that emotions and passion for one another is allowed to be expressed. It should not be judge upon the public whether we agree or disagree, because who are we to argue how others should love or feel about each other. 

Although the two main characters are very important in grasping the viewer’s attention, the other characters in the larger frame play a very important role in developing the video’s theme of freedom and respect. What Kanye aims to portray is everyone has relation to his own rise to fame since he could not have accomplished his celebrity status by himself. It is still difficult to understand why the people around Kanye had a positive effect on his fame, relationships, life, and overall his feelings of empowerment. He contradicts his own status, though, because in the earlier frame of just him and his wife he expresses the fame revolving around him, when in reality it is vice versa. Further along in the video, a zoomed out frame (minute 8:50) is used to direct the viewers’ attention from the center onto the surrounding celebrities that are significant to Kanye’s current ritzy life. Also, West labels himself as a God, him being a figure of royalty normally doesn’t associate himself with others that were his stepping stools to fame. He uses a bird’s eye view to make him seem more insignificant, and therefore more vulnerable. The reason why West uses this shot is because he recognizes that he wouldn’t be the man he is today without these controversial people. In the frame we see people from Donald Trump, to Kaitlyn Jenner. All different personalities lying in one bed with a sole purpose of relaxation. West respects the people and acknowledges them for the enhancement in his social eruption. Therefore, knowing the life that they go through of being observed on every little aspect, West sets up the scene in the frame to show freedom. By all of the celebrities lying on the bed with the comfort and worry free of being watched is when they can finally enjoy a peaceful night sleep. 

Throughout the video, it is possible that the viewer could get confused, which results to open interpretation. The genius in Kanye West makes the video a discreet and complicated way to voice his message. Noticing how all of the celebrities in the video are controversial to his rise of fame, the audience first sees the frames as a taunt to his famous friends, but also as a “thanks” for contributing to his fame. In the world today, these celebrities are constantly being observed and judged by paparazzi and fans for the actions they choose to make. Therefore, Kanye made this video of all of the people that have been involved with his successful career by displaying them in peaceful way, enjoying sleep as an average person would. He attempts to allow a glimpse into the personal life of the rich and famous to show that everyone is the same in the sense that at the end of the day, we all rest. 
