Music Video Analysis: "Express Yourself" by N.W.A.

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I was first drawn to this music video because N.W.A had some very controversial music videos, and presented another side of culture to Americans that had no idea it existed.

Right at the beginning of the video, there's a group of black slaves harvesting crops in warm temperature, as the white slave owner dominates over the workers. When one man stops working, the white man proceeds to whip him. The slaves then run from their masters, effectively, expressing themselves.The song hasn't even started yet, and the audience is already wanting more. A prime example of pathos, N.W.A. used some disturbing imagery to get across the point that the black man in America is repressed, and unable to express themselves.

The way ethos is used in this video is primarily in the group themselves. This was a rap group that formed in 1986, on the streets of L.A. They saw the injustices that blacks faced on a daily basis in their city. Of all people that would understand and could articulate the feelings of African Americans at the time, it would be N.W.A.

Finally, logos is used in the lyrics and video together, combining to logically show the people of America that not much has changed since the time of slavery, according to the group. Later in the video, the group is rapping while a cop on horseback tries to break it up. He fails. By the end of the video, Dr. Dre is now back on the farm, but now is on horseback, implying they are now in charge.