R. Kelly - Trapped In The Closet

By Craig Heskey

R. Kelly - Trapped In The Closet

• Hip-hopera

• Hip-Hopera is a series of hip hop songs in the form of a opera, inspired by the concept of rock opera. Hip Hopera tells a story through consecutive pieces of music involving the same character or characters. Hip Hopera may be a purely auditory experience. R. Kelly was asked on IFC how he defines his “Trapped In The Closet" series, Kelly stated that he describes it as a hip hopera or musical opera, but that it's now too long to be called a song.

R. Kelly - Trapped In The Closet

Genre

Representation & Ideology

•Rolando Boyce – Rufus – Stereotypical hard working husband

Leshay Tomlinson - Cathy– Deceitful, Scared & worried

•R. Kelly – Sylvester – Guilty Conscience, Scared, Violent

Artist and Marketing• The songs relate an ongoing narrative, which Kelly exploited by sending

chapters to radio stations one at a time to generate interest. • It has no chorus and is told in a conversational manner, using dramatics and

a cliffhanger. The song tells the story of a one-night stand that sets off a

chain of events, which gradually reveals a greater web of lies, and deceit. • The music video is the beginning of a chain of clips from a DVD released in

parts

• January 2004 saw the 1st 6 Chapters• November 2005 Chapters 1-12 was released on DVD • August 2007 Chapters 13-22 was released• December 2007 Chapters 1-22, was released on a whole.

Song: Trapped In The Closet

• This music video was done too attract the attention of the consumers. The dramatics and the cliff-hanger leaves the audience at the edge of their seat wanting to know more

• The song is a ongoing narrative, with the lyrics playing the role of the narrator, Sylvester's thoughts and the voice of all three characters.• The song has no chorus as it is an ongoing story to an extent is told in dairy form.• The video grabbed the audiences attention with the dramatic cliff-hanger, this makes the audience to want to see more and helps the

record label sell the DVD.

“I’m tellin’ you now, this girl’s so good that she deserves an Oscar”

“I’m tellin’ you now, this girl’s so good that she deserves an Oscar”

Song: Trapped In The Closet

“Don’t you make a soundOr some s*** is going down ”

“Don’t you make a soundOr some s*** is going down ”

“There’s a mystery going onAnd I’m gonna solve it ”

“There’s a mystery going onAnd I’m gonna solve it ”

Form and style

• 83:56 approx• 3:45 Music Video• The use of lilac coloured walls made the flat seem

cosy and welcoming. • The apartment shows that Sylvester won’t be able to

leave easily.• The establishing shot of the city showed that the flat

wasn’t near ground level• The closet plays a role

Technical Aspects• The sound of the curtain being pulled

vigorously by Rufus.• Sylvester's’ Phone Ringing • Sylvester Reloading The Gun.

Sound

Diegetic

Cinematography

Over The Shoulder & Point Of View Shots

Technical AspectsEditing

Establishing Shot :

Shot Reverse Shot Cutting:

“Lady, I’ve got to get home ”

“Lady, I’ve got to get home ”“Please don’t

go out there ”

“Please don’t go out there ”““I got a wife at

home” ”

““I got a wife at home” ”

Mise-En-Scene

• Main Location: The bedroom

• Other Location: Closet & BathroomLow Key Lighting

Shadows

Light Source

Mise-En-SceneCostume & Props:

Dark coloured suit

Gun

Mobile Phone

Pink coloured bathrobe and silver night gown

Soft Make Up

Wig

Dark Coloured clothing

Briefcase

Narrative Or Non Narrative

This video has a clear narrative, as it is told in story form. The Genre Hip-Hopera is hip hop video’s

showed in opera form. Most lyrics are lip synced as it is conversations between the characters . To an extent the story is in dairy form as R.Kelly talks about what exactly happened or you could see it as, he was talking directly to the audience telling them Sylvester’s side of the story.

That could be a reason why he made it seem like Sylvester felt so guilty about having a one night stand. He may be trying to defend him and not make it look as bad as it already is. Especially when Sylvester said “I Didn’t Plan To Stay That Long”.

This narrative shows lies, sex, and deceit between married couples. It can send a message to couples that marriage life is full of lies and you may not know whether your partner is true to you. However it could send a message to married couples that one night stand’s isn’t worth risking your marriage for. As Sylvester feels guilty about what he did.

Institutional Contexts