Textual Analysis: Stan

Eminem's music video to his hit hip-hop song stan featuring Dido directed by Phillip Atwell & Dr. Dre was released in 2000 under the labels Aftermath and Interscope.

The video starts with an establisihing shot of a window from an old wooden house with the window open and the curtains blowing along with heavy rain, thunder and lightning the camera then moves forward and up to look through the window to show a young female lying on bed. This creates a strong tension in the opening shot along with a depressive mood accompanying the video. It then cuts straight to an ariel shot of the woman on the bed whilst she rubs her what looks like pregnant self.
From there we are then shown a man in the bathroom of the glum run down house that looks somewhat grotesque in the video, he is dousing his head in a bleach, this is when we as viewers know that there is something very wrong in this video.
In the opening scene before the music starts, there is also a non diegetic sound that is being played in the background, this is somewhat rather eary and creates a lot of tension in the video, its very low key and contains music played in the minor key.

There is also another Ariel shot that tracks from room to room when Stanley is in the bathroom, it show dido on the other side of the door to the bath room while she is calling stanleys name who is not responding while in the bathroom. This is a great technique used and creates a good view of two characters actions from a different perspective. 

There is a strong relationship between the lyrics and the visuals as we can see that the basement room in which 'Stan' is situated, the walls are covered in photos and picture of Eminem, this relates to the chorus 'but your picture on my wall - it reminds me, that its not so bad, its not so bad' another clear example of where the lyrics have been related to the song is when the line is sung 'There probably was a problem at the post office or somethin' to which we then see on the video the letter that he had sent got left behind on the floor of the post office, this signifies that enimen has not been replying to stan and it shows the escalation of stans anger.



In the second verse, we see a small montage of clips being shown of when stan saw/met eminem, the first is at his concert, then outside in the snow and lastly at what looks like a book signing, throught out all of the this there are quick jump cuts to a television playing a black and white video of enimem
'Remember when we met in denver, you said if i'd write you, you would write back' here we can see when stan and eminem met and shook hands.
'I even got a tattoo of your name across my chest' when these lyrics are sung we see Stan in a tattoo parlour where he is getting a tattoo that says 'Slim Shady' on his chest, Slim Shady is Eminem's alternative stage name.

There is no clear point in the video where the it cuts to the beat, i found that it cuts more to the lines in the verse as you can see in the scene where he is in the car (4:58-6:14) as the scene opens the car drives past the camera and then it will cut to him in the car, as this happens he immediately starts the verse this continues with jump cuts in side the car of him singing, the lines in the verse correspond to the cuts in the video.

In the end verse where Eminem is writing back to Stan, we see him on the tour bus writing the letter, the lyrics are what Eminem is writing on the letter. As the verse continues we see flash of lightning and we notice the face of Stan in the tour bus window when a flash of lightning occurs, this is an example of the notion of looking, this has been done to create tension between the audience and the video it may have also been done to in a way scare the audience, the facial of expression on Stan's face is an angered one, we see him staring straight at Eminem and looking like he is going to hurt him, creating an uneasy tension.

The music video is narrative based as it is a story of the lyrics, there is no performance shown in the video other than when Eminem is on stage in one of the clips and it isnt concept based either.

The video does a very good job of selling the track to the audience, around this time there was a lot of controversy over Marshal Mathers and this video helped defend him, because we see in the video a devoted, slightly psychotic fan that is trying to get in contact with Eminem via letters, we see his anger escalate as he doesn't get any replies but us as the audience find out that its not Eminem's fault. When Eminem eventually gets a letter from his fan Stan, he replies straight away showing his dedication to his fans but by this time Stan has already killed himself, the end verse shows Eminem replying to him and the deep thought and intent behind his writing he even advises him on his issues which shows he is a caring person.

My tea's gone cold I'm wondering why 

I Got out of bed at all 

The morning rain clouds up my window 

And I can't see at all 

And even if I could it'll all be gray, 

But your picture on my wall It reminds me, 

that it's not so bad, 

It's not so bad 

 Dear Slim, I wrote you but still ain't callin' 

I left my cell, my pager, and my home phone at the bottom 

I sent two letters back in autumn, you must not-a got 'em 

There probably was a problem at the post office or somethin' 

Sometimes I scribble addresses too sloppy when I jot 'em 

But anyways, **** it, what's been up? Man how's your daughter? 

My girlfriend's pregnant too, I'm bout to be a father 

If I have a daughter, guess what I'm a call her? 

I'm a name her Bonnie 

I read about your Uncle Ronnie too I'm sorry 

I had a friend kill himself over some ***** who didn't want him 

I know you probably hear this everyday, but I'm your biggest fan 

I even got the underground **** that you did with Skam 

I got a room full of your posters and your pictures man 

I like the **** you did with Rawkus too, that **** was fat 

Anyways,I hope you get this man, hit me back, 

Just to chat, truly yours, your biggest fan This is Stan 

 [Chorus] 

 Dear Slim, you still ain't called or wrote, 

I hope you have a chance I ain't mad, 

I just think it's ****ed up you don't answer fans 

If you didn't wanna talk to me outside your concert 

You didn't have to, but you coulda signed an autograph for Matthew 

That's my little brother man, he's only six years old 

We waited in the blistering cold for you, 

For four hours and you just said, "No." 

That's pretty shitty man, you're like his ****in' idol 

He wants to be just like you man, he likes you more than I do 

I ain't that mad though, I just don't like bein' lied to 

Remember when we met in Denver, you said if I'd write you 

You would write back, see I'm just like you in a way 

I never knew my father neither, He used to always cheat on my mom and beat her 

I can relate to what you're saying in your songs 

So when I have a shitty day, I drift away and put 'em on 

Cause I don't really got **** else so that **** helps when I'm depressed 

I even got a tattoo of your name across the chest 

Sometimes I even cut myself to see how much it bleeds 

It's like adrenaline, the pain is such a sudden rush for me 

See everything you say is real, and I respect you cause you tell it 

My girlfriend's jealous cause I talk about you 24/7 

But she don't know you like I know you Slim, no one does 

She don't know what it was like for people like us growin' up 

You gotta call me man, I'll be the biggest fan you'll ever lose 

Sincerely yours, Stan, P.S. We should be together too 

 Dear Mister "I'm Too Good To Call Or Write My Fans", 

This will be the last package I ever send your *** 

It's been six months and still no word, I don't deserve it? 

I know you got my last two letters; I wrote the addresses on 'em perfect 

So this is my cassette I'm sending you, 

I hope you hear it I'm in the car right now, I'm doing 90 on the freeway 

Hey Slim, I drank a fifth of vodka, you dare me to drive? 

You know the song by Phil Collins, "In the Air of the Night" 

About that guy who could a saved that other guy from drowning 

But didn't, then Phil saw it all, then at a a show he found him? 

That's kinda how this is, you could a rescued me from drowning 

Now it's too late, I'm on a thousand downers now, I'm drowsy 

And all I wanted was a lousy letter or a call 

I hope you know I ripped all of your pictures off the wall 

I love you Slim, we coulda been together, think about it 

You ruined it now, I hope you can't sleep and you dream about it 

And when you dream I hope you can't sleep and you scream about it 

I hope your conscience eats at you and you can't breathe without me 

See Slim, 
 Shut up *****! I'm tryin' to talk! 

Hey Slim, that's my girlfriend screamin' in the trunk 

But I didn't slit her throat, I just tied her up, see I ain't like you 

Cause if she suffocates she'll suffer more, and then she'll die too 
Well, gotta go, I'm almost at the bridge now Oh ****, 
I forgot, how am I supposed to send this **** out? 

 [Chorus] 

 Dear Stan, I meant to write you sooner but I just been busy 
You said your girlfriend's pregnant now, how far along is she? 
Look, I'm really flattered you would call your daughter that 
And here's an autograph for your brother, I wrote it on the Starter cap 
I'm sorry I didn't see you at the show, I must of missed you 
Don't think I did that **** intentionally just to diss you 
But what's this **** you said about you like to cut your wrists too?
 I say that **** just clownin' dog, Come on, how ****ed up is you? 
You got some issues Stan, I think you need some counseling 
To help your *** from bouncing off the walls when you get down some 
And what's this **** about us meant to be together? 
That type of **** will make me not want us to meet each other 
I really think you and your girlfriend need each other 
Or maybe you just need to treat her better 
I hope you get to read this letter, I just hope it reaches you in time 
Before you hurt yourself, I think that you'll be doin' just fine If you relax a little, 
I'm glad I inspire you but Stan 
Why are you so mad? Try to understand, that I do want you as a fan 
I just don't want you to do some crazy **** 
I seen this one **** on the news a couple weeks ago that made me sick 
Some dude was drunk and drove his car over a bridge 
And had his girlfriend in the trunk, and she was pregnant with his kid 
And in the car they found a tape, but they didn't say who it was to 
Come to think about, his name was, it was you 
Damn!