
Ever wonder how it feels to live a life full of wealth and fame? Or ever think how your life would be different if you were famous? Through social media and television, we grow up witnessing the perfect lives of the rich and famous. We cannot quite understand what it takes to reach that level of success and the sacrifices that come with popularity. With all the wealth and fame, it takes a toll on how celebrities go about living their daily lives. We take advantage of our freedom and our ability to get away from the outside world and spend time alone. One of the most iconic artist of today, Kanye West, is a good representative of a celebrity living a free and normal life as well as he can. He has firsthand experience of the famous life, and he openly expresses his thoughts on how he believes the public should view celebrities. In his recent music video, “Famous”, he uses filmic language in different shots to express to viewers that everyone who has given him the ability to rise to fame, including himself, has a normal life and deserves freedom, just as much as common people, from the endless spotlight.        In the video “Famous” by Kanye 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. Close to the middle of the video (minute 7:30), there is a close-up shot on Kanye and Kim Kardashian directing their eyes towards each other. The video is aimed towards those who have watched Kanye grow as an artist and do not fully understand his way of expression during his peak in fame. The shot accurately depicts the passion portrayed by the couple and being that it is an emotional shot; the viewer sees adoration through all lenses. The reason West chose the close-up shot was to illustrate that emotion and passion for couples and loved ones is permitted to be expressed. The way that the couple is positioned with Kim lightly touching Kayne illustrates the understanding that the partner approves of such action and delivers the same amount of love back. A passionate feeling is evoked that can be interpreted by the viewer in many ways. Understanding the elements that are felt with the intimacy of this shot, it is difficult to bash on the love they have for each other. Since the couple is staged in the middle and shown first in the video, this makes it clear that he would like to be free to love just like everyone else.        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 normalcy and freedom. Further along in the video, a bird’s-eye view frame (minute 8:50) is used to direct the viewers’ attention from the center onto the surrounding celebrities which also face the constant spotlight, without the ability to be comfortable and free.  The birds-eye frame illustrates the connection within all the celebrities. In the frame, we see all kinds of people from different aspects of society like Donald Trump and Kaitlyn Jenner. All different personalities are lying in one bed with a sole purpose of relaxation.  The frame allows for a very controversial discussion about exposing these celebrities that have reached such immense popularity statuses. However, the frame's purpose is to illustrate the right to freedom within the community of the rich and the famous. The bird’s-eye view allows the viewer to understand the entire frame in a perspective that shows all the celebrities in unity that voices a stronger message. The shot develops strong feelings in the viewer and portrays the message accurately. To fully understand the genius in Kanye, it is easier to break down the events leading to the final picture. The use of controversial celebrities who are very influential catches the attention of the viewers and forces them to notice the overall message. The frame illustrates the freedom that these celebrities wish they had. It shows that the constant spotlight does not allow them to express or relax with the continuous concern of them being observed all day, every day. West respects his companions and acknowledges them for the enhancement and benefits he experiences in his life. Therefore, knowing that they can relate to his paparazzi driven life, West sets up the scene in the frame to show freedom. When all the celebrities lie on the bed with comfort and no worry of being watched, 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. Kanye West makes the video a discreet and complicated way to voice his message by using a staged frame where he connects the relatable problems of living life as a celebrity. All the influential people in the video are controversial to his rise of fame and these celebrities, including himself, are constantly being observed and judged by paparazzi and fans for the actions they choose to take. Therefore, the video displays all the celebrities that have been associated with his rise to a successful career by displaying them in peaceful way, enjoying sleep as an average person would. The different frames in the video relay the similar views towards the overall message of freedom while having a normal life and the close-up shot with the bird’s-eye view allows for 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.
