A2: Rhetorical Analysis of a Music Video
Composition I by Tiffani Tijerina and Magnus Florini is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Composition I by Tiffani Tijerina and Magnus Florini is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Music videos are complex multimodal texts where sound, visual storytelling, lyrics, and performance work together to persuade, move, or inform an audience. A song on its own tells one story, but its official music video often expands, reinterprets, or elevates that story to make a broader cultural, emotional, or social argument.
For this project, you will write a rhetorical analysis essay dissecting how a music video of your choice uses a combination of visual elements, audio choices, lyric content, and cultural contexts to persuade its viewers to convey a specific core message.
Length/Scope: Approximately 1,000 - 1,250 words
Rough Draft & Peer Review Deliverables/Submissions:
Post your rough draft of the rhetorical analysis to the designated discussion board in Blackboard as either an uploaded .docx file or a link to a Google Doc. Make sure the permissions are set to allow viewing by anyone with the link (not editing).
Post your two peer reviews as responses to your classmates on the discussion board. Choose classmates who have not already received two peer reviews.
Final Draft Deliverables/Submissions:
Submit the rhetorical analysis final draft to the designated assignment folder in Blackboard as a .docx file or a Google Doc link. Make sure the permissions are set to allow commenting by anyone with the link. This will allow Tiffani to provide direct feedback on the document as needed.
To set yourself up for success, select a track you already know and love:
Pick a familiar song: Choose a song you are deeply comfortable with--one you already know most (if not all) of the lyrics by heart.
Locate the official music video: Find the official music video released by the artist or record label. If your song does not have an official music video (e.g., it only has a lyric video, a fan edit, or an audio track), you must pick a different song.
Your essay should move beyond simple summary or a review of whether the video is "good" or "bad." Instead, apply the rhetorical concepts from our readings to answer the question: How does this video work, and what argument is it making?
Your essay must include:
The Rhetorical Situation: Identify the core context of the video.
Creator/Artist: Who made this, and what is their style, background, or brand persona?
Target Audience: Who is this video specifically trying to reach or influence?
Kairos (Timeliness): What was happening culturally, socially, or historically when this video was released?
Analysis of Multimodal Elements: Examine at least three specific modes working within the video.
Visual Rhetoric (what you see): Color palette, lighting, costume choices, set design, camera angles, cute/pacing, facial expressions, and symbolic props.
Textual/Lyrical Rhetoric (what is said): Key lyrics, storytelling devices, metaphors, or contrast between what is sung and what is shown on screen.
Auditory Rhetoric (what you hear): Tempo, rhythm, musical shifts, silence, or non-musical sound effects added specifically to the video.
Rhetorical Appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos): Explain how the video builds credibility (Ethos), invokes specific emotions in the viewer (Pathos), or structures a clear message/narrative logic (Logos).
Post your rough draft of the rhetorical analysis on the designated discussion board in Blackboard by the rough draft deadline. Then, choose two classmates who have not already received two reviews.
Peer review is not about line-editing or simplying saying "good job!" It is a collaborative rhetorical space where you act as a critical audience for your classmate's draft. Your goal is to help your classmates determine whether their essay analyzes the music video's argument rather than just summarizing its plot, whether they use concrete evidence to support their claims, and where their essay can be strengthened before final submission.
Thesis & Rhetorical Situation:
Identify the writer's thesis. Does it identify the video's core argument and the specific techniques used to make that argument? If the thesis only summarizes the song or states a general opinion, suggest how the writer can make it an arguable rhetorical claim.
Does the author clearly establish the target audience, the artist's background, and the Kairos (timeliness/cultural context) of when the video was released? Where could they add more context?
Multimodal Analysis & Evidence:
Does the writer analyze specific visual elements (lighting, camera angles, color palette, costume, staging)? Point out the strongest visual example they used, and identify one place where they need more visual detail.
Does the writer examine key lyrics or sound choices (tempo, musical drops, silence)? Do they explain how the music reinforces or contrasts with what is shown on screen?
Are specific timestamps (e.g., at 2:14...) included to ground their evidence? If timestamps are missing, remind the writer where to add them.
Structure, Tone, & Rhetorical Appeals:
Is there a section of the essay that falls into "plot recap" (telling what happens step-by-step from 0:00 to 3:30) rather than thematic analysis? Highlight or list the paragraphs that need more analytical commentary.
Does the essay discuss how the video uses emotional appeals (Pathos), establishes credibility/brand (Ethos), or builds logical narrative connections (Logos)?
Peer Reviewer Summary:
What are the two best elements of this draft? (e.g., an insightful insight into symbolic props, strong organization, clear writing voice).
What are the two most important changes the writer should focus on making before turning in the final draft?