Goodwin Analysis: Snoop Dogg - Doggfather

What genre characteristics does this video display?

This music video is not typical of the urban US rap genre, as the mise-en-scene revolves around the idea that the video is set in the 1930-1950 era in America. The video however does show some characteristics of the genre as it focuses on the artist, and shows him in a position of power, as is the case with most the male figures who can mostly be seen sitting back smoking cigars, while the artist's character has the opportunity to appear even more powerful and masculine due to the way he treats the owner of the club, like he is an inferior being.

Is there a relationship between lyrics and visuals?

There is a massive relationship between the lyrics and visuals in this video as the chorus uses the word 'Doggfather' which is a play on words of 'Snoop Dogg' and 'Godfather', and in the video Snoop Dogg appears to be a powerful, wealthy, but dodgy looking man, similar to the protagonists in the Godfather movies, which follow the lives of mafia bosses. 

Is there a relationship between music and visuals?

The music and visuals hold a relationship to an extent as the video is mostly smooth and keeps with the pace of the track. There is a consistent pattern in the editing, where a new shot is used at the start of almost every line, and half way through the line, it cuts to another shot, however this is not always the case for the whole of the video. The visuals are usually neither sped up or slowed down as the song is not a particular slow or fast pace.

Is there lots of close ups of the artist and does the artist develop motifs which recur across their work?

The video contains many close-ups of the artist, and he is the only notable character throughout most of the video. Some motifs that recur across Snoop Dogg's work include him often appearing smoking (often he is seen smoking marijuana in videos, however he is seen smoking cigars here) and the fact that he is often portrayed as a powerful figure and worshipped as a wise man, something that is very notable here.

Is there frequently reference to notion of looking and particularly 

voyeuristic treatment of the female body?

There is frequent reference to the notion of looking in this video. One notable example is the way that Snoop Dogg sits down in the club and then observes the performance of the singer/rapper on stage (also played by Snoop Dogg). There are many cuts to close ups of Snoop's face as he watches the performer and we can see his reaction to the performance thanks to these shots. There is also evidence of voyeuristic treatment of the female body at 1:58 as one of the men in the club can be seen watching a lady from behind in a voyeuristic manner as she walks past him. 

Is there intertextual reference?

There is clear intertextual reference in this video, inspired by the name of the song. The song's name 'Doggfather' is a play on the word 'Godfather' (referring to 'The Godfather' movie trilogy) which allows for the video to parody the general mise-en-scene and behaviour of characters in this movie. As the Godfather movies were mafia movies set in 1930s America, the video is also set in a similar time period, as we can see from the mise-en-scene, with characters wearing clothing from that time period. This time period reference is made clearer by the fact that the video is in black and white, as all footage from that era was. The video also contains dancing similar to that which would be seen in that era, especially in movies and musicals, adding to the intertextual reference.