
In Katy Perry’s Rise music video, she inspired more than just her fans, she inspired Olympic athletes. The song is motivational and can encourage almost anyone to achieve greatness, which is strongly portrayed in her music video. In the music video for Rise, Katy is always pictured with a parachute on her back until the end. The parachute has a larger meaning than just a physical conflict in the video. The parachute from Katy Perry’s Rise music video portrays to the reader a visual motif of a mental obstacle that can be beaten if you are willing to believe.

At the beginning of the Rise music video, Katy is filmed trying to run with the parachute on her back, but fails. The camera angle is shot full body, to get the entirety of her struggle. Katy gets up time and time again but cannot seem to succeed. In this shot, the parachute represents Katy’s struggles and how she is letting them overcome her. Katy is not physically or mentally strong enough to succeed therefore the parachute has overcome her. The parachute relates to the audience because it represents any conflict that someone may face. The video portrays this scene in order to show the audience that overcoming a problem may take everything you have. Throughout the video, Katy is always pictured with the parachute on, which shows the viewer that the conflict may never go away until it is beaten. The parachute on Katy' The parachute is a vibrant pink compared to a dull background to specify the subject of the shot. The shot mostly focuses on Katy and the parachute so that the audience is focused on the conflict at hand. The tactics used convince the audience to tune in and eventually causes them to think deeply about the meaning of the parachute in relation to their own life.

       When creating the Rise video, Katy Perry had stronger intentions than just being able to run with a parachute. Katy was directing her message to a larger crowd that needed an “extra push”. The video is used as inspiration for Olympic athletes to achieve greatness, and even for the New Year’s resolutions to start. Katy’s uses a pathos appeal to spark emotion in the viewers that will get them through the extra step to succeed. The video’s point may not be as prosperous if it was in another form, like text. Seeing the visual struggle and how Katy’s overcame her obstacle can be seen as more moving than a paper telling someone to be the best. The video sends a message to the reader that makes them think, ‘if Katy can do it, I can do it too’. Parachutes can be seen a form of security and safety on their own, which is what cushions Katy in her music video. Katy’s breakthrough with the parachute and ascend on her own shows that she doesn’t need the support anymore, and that she can be successful on her own. Katy was holding back when she was first trying to run with the parachute, but once she believes in herself she overcomes the parachute, which was her safety net, and flies on her own. 

Near the end of the video Katy is pictured running with the parachute, and the last scene is of the parachute lying on the ground. After a countless number of tries, Katy finally succeeds because she did not give up. Throughout the music video, Katy progresses through stages with the parachute. At first, Katy can barely get up, and then she is able to walk, then run, and eventually fly. This process shows that conflict cannot be beaten right away, it takes time. The many attempts by Katy to overcome the parachute portray to the audience the idea of believing in yourself and never giving up. The message that hard work pays off is seen when Katy achieves her goal, which is relayed to the viewers. The video and conflict with the parachute inspires the audience in their own life. The success at the end of the video persuades the audience that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and if Katy can find it, they can too. The ending scene is of the parachute lying on the ground which is the final stage of progressing, where the obstacle is completely beat.

       Throughout Katy Perry’s Rise video, the parachute is a motif for physical and mental struggle, which can be overcome through determination. The parachute is used as a way to persuade and connect with the audience, as they reflect on their own life. In order to inspire an audience like this, Katy’s message would not have been effective in another form, like a reading. The music video uses the watcher’s visual senses to stimulate the need for action in their own lives. With this video, Katy has inspired thousands of people, old and young. 
