Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” is an iconic visual text that has come to represent how music videos can represent a character’s narrative and convey an empowering message without the use of textual elements.  A visual text is a text that we view and through images working together to create meaningful patterns, symbols, ideas and messages, readers are able to interpret a message from the images. Visual texts can contain written information within the images and representations which allows the words and images to work together to create meaning. Many film makers and creators of visual texts go through the same process as writers to choose their words and organize their thoughts based on the message they are trying to convey and the audience they are trying to reach. Eminem challenges the stereotypical representation of rapper’s other music videos which is used to represent how a visual text can be used as more than an exploitation of inappropriate pop culture. The style of the video is not conventional to the flashy displays of and over sexualized females which is a prominent theme normally seen in music videos. The stigma surrounding rap music creates controversy over music videos being legitimate representations of visual texts but Eminem uses “Lose Yourself” to represent rappers as people who are relatable and to create the realistic narrative of his own life. This visual text was featured in Eminem's first movie, 8 Mile which is a narrative film based on Eminem's life as he strives for success within the music industry. 

The intimate shots of Eminem throughout the visual text create a personal relationship with the audience and images from the beginning of the video combine perfectly to create the narrative as Eminem struggles internally with an identity crisis. The close ups of Eminem interacting with himself in the mirror conveys the thoughts that one should never let go his beliefs, no matter where he is on his way to success. The hook of the song “You better lose yourself in the music, the moment/ You own it, you better never let it go/ You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow are highlighted by the fear we see as Eminem’s character faces his fear and gets on stage for the first time. The close up of Eminem on stage is a critical image the viewers have to understand Eminem’s feelings and create a more personal narrative. The very first lyrics of the song “Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity/ To seize everything you ever wanted-One moment/ Would you capture it or just let it slip?” are meant to open the image of a young man who has a chance of doing something he has ever dreamt of although he is depicted as seemingly alone and struggling.

The lighting of this visual text is predominately dark supported with dark settings and neutral large clothing. The settings of this video take place on a bus, in rap battles, and Eminem committing violent acts in the streets which are all dark settings. The dark lighting creates the somber negative tone that goes along with the struggling narrative being conveyed. This video is taken out of a film so there are various types of camera shots being used to capture Eminem’s life. The main focus though is the camera just on Eminem singing alone. This is a medium long shot showing quite a lot of his body in the frame and creating a personal shot for the audience to connect with Eminem’s character. The beginning of this music video is composed of establishing shots of the city and surrounding settings that allows the audience to understand the setting of this narrative. 

Pathos appeals to the reader’s emotions and through Eminem’s use of dark mood lighting, somber lyrics and emotional close ups, the audience is left rooting for Eminem as he strives for success.  The last part of the song describes the way the artist feels after he managed to reach a certain amount of fame and overcome his initial fears. The very last lyric of the song is the moment when the viewers realize that the young, inexperienced artist in the beginning of the video can very well be the same one at the end of the song. The image created at the end is an empowering long shot that captures Eminem’s character walking away down an alley having overcome his struggles.  He says that, although he had “been chewed up and spit out and booed off stage”, he kept writing and performing as he believed that he had to pay for his expenses and those of his family. At this point, Eminem realizes he has to overcome his identity crisis and think more about the consequences of his actions as he progresses through the rest of his life. “Lose Yourself” is a visual text that creates a vivid depiction of a young artist going through life’s struggles only to realize that the identity issues he had in the beginning haunted him all along are going to be obstacles forever and that is the way life works. Eminem wrote this song and directed this visual text to communicate that no one is too good and that everyone should always strive to do his or her best regardless of the situation.
