The Heart Wants What It Wants Video Analysis

“The Heart Wants What It Wants” video starts off with Selena Gomez getting dressed, crying, and gazing at her reflection in a mirror. As this is being done, a monologue which she previously recorded about her on again, off again relationship with her boyfriend, Justin Bieber, is playing in the background. This gives the viewer a sense of what the song will be about, and also shows Gomez’s vulnerability. In an attempt to connect with her audience, she begins to sing to the camera, as tears stream slowly down her face. After getting dressed, Gomez makes her way to a room where a few people are gathered. She sits next to a man who is presumed to be her love interest in the video. When this particular song and music video were recorded, Selena …show more content…
This particular music video encompasses that very quality. The entire video is shot in black and white, and there are no visual effects added to it. A lot of music videos today contain many visual effects that draw the focus away from the actors and the meaning of the song. “The Heart Wants What It Wants” video is in hi-definition throughout its entirety. At one point, the quality of the video goes from hi-def shots of Selena Gomez and her love interest, to scratchy film that is not hi-def at all. Though at this point in the video the film is of low quality and scratchy, this technique actually enhances the video in a way. It gives the appearance of homemade videos in order to show the audience flashbacks of a time in the couples relationship where they were happy and in love. When the video returns to present day, you can tell she still loves him, but she does not seem as happy anymore. Some people might say music videos are better with special effects, the decision to not add effects to this particular music video actually made it better. It showed that Gomez was ready to be vulnerable and share how she was feeling. It made it easier to focus on her and the message she hoped to portray. Even though people may judge someone for feeling that way, it is normal to have that internal struggle, and you cannot control what your heart wants. It is the simplicity of this video, and how it is shot and edited, that pulls the viewer into Gomez’s conflicted world of emotions and physical desire. Switching between the high definition black and white and the grainy pictures seems to illustrate the rawness of her emotions. Simplicity in lyric and film can often convey a much clearer message of emotion and conflict then a slickly shot, glossy video