National Identity in American Oxygen by Rihanna

The music video of American Oxygen portrays national identity to be the 'American Dream', however uses juxtaposition to portray that America is not just the positives but also the negatives, showing stereotypical features of the national identity, but also then shows a non-stereotypical side. It also shows how those chasing the American dream, immigrants, were treated in America and how it the 'American dream' was not what it seemed to be, again Juxtaposition is used to show this again. Various shots of American flags, spaceships with USA on, and long shots of the statue of liberty all fit the stereotypical national identity. The editing of the silhouettes in front of the building show important events of American history, adding to the representation of the national identity as they're part of the country's history. Close up shots of influential and well known figures in American history such as Barack and Michelle Obama and Martin Luther King Jr that represent the national identity. The use of rapid editing shows the juxtaposition, for example a long shot of people playing american football and then a long shot of riots. At the end of the video, the non-digetic music says 'we are the new America', over close ups and mid shots of black and white people integrating, shaking hands and helping each other, showing that even though the national identity is often seen to be racist, through the history of discrimination against black people, America has changed to become more racially diverse, testing the stereotypical national identity.

Textual Analysis of Pride (2014)

There are various representations that show national identity within the film trailer. At the beginning of the trailer, there are establishing shots of 'the valleys'  and also the famous bridge that leads into Wales. Before we've even seen any of the characters, the mise on scene of these two things immediately indicate to the audience that it is set in Wales. Furthermore, in these shots the lighting is low key and dark, connoting bad weather that is often associated with Wales. The non-digetic music of choir singers also conforms to the representation of national identity as there are famous choir singers from Wales, for example Charlotte Church. There is a mid shot of people in a working mans club which conforms to the stereotype of tight knit communities in small villages in Wales. When the 'gays' appear, there is a change in non-digetic music, it becomes more upbeat and modern, suggesting that Welsh people are old fashioned. Furthermore the use of digetic sound of the elderly woman saying 'your gays have arrived' portrays that Welsh people do not know how to react around new people, it also adds humour to the shot. There is the use of a shot reverse shot to show dialogue between the elderly woman and the younger man as he is too scared to go and speak to the gay people. This conforms with the stereotype that Welsh are less willing to try new situations and are stuck in their own ways. However, as the trailer goes on, the stereotype is challenged as the Welsh miners join with the homosexual group to strike against Margeret Thatcher. They become more accepting of the group, shown through the close up shot of the elderly woman in the people carrier saying that she is a lesbian and sticking up for the group. The close up shot of the gay man and welsh man shaking hands also challenges the stereotype as they have now put their differences behind them and joined forces.