Analysis

These are the elements that will help you with your analysis of “This is America” by Childish Gambino. 

The music video has a chronological structure and it can be roughly split into seven scenes. The video also includes several points of tension which often create suspense.

The main character featured in the music video is Childish Gambino, which is the rap persona of Donald Glover. Other characters include the group of school children Gambino dances with and a gospel choir.

The setting of the music video is a warehouse. The atmosphere in the video is intense and chaotic. 

When it comes to cinematic techniques, the music video uses framing, camera angles, and references to other texts to highlight its message. 

The music alternates between two distinct styles of music and atmospheric sound is often used to create a stronger impact on the audience. 

The lyrics of the song are complex and often have deeper meanings. The language used in the song may also be harder to understand because of the heavy use of slang words. 

The music video also includes many symbols, which are most notably either symbolic characters or related to the setting. The symbols enhance the message of the music video and highlight its themes.

The main themes Gambino addresses in his song are gun violence and racism. These are reflected in different ways in both the music video and the song and lyrics. 

You can read a full analysis of the music video on the following pages.