Stan is a obsessed fan who idolises Eminem. He is a bitter and intense man due to the neglect he claims he has recieved from Eminem after the star has failed to respond to his fan mail. This subsequently drives him mad and the video shows his journey to madness as a result of not having his love reciprocated. Stan's girlfriend's love is not enough for him, and is entirely focused on Eminem and almost shuns her attempts throughout to win him back and in the end her life is over as a result of her boyfriend's actions.
The video has many controversial parts within including him committing suicide and also killing his pregnant girlfriend. It adds to the drama of the video in a story telling like fashion. It is a performance within a narrative as the video feeds off the lyrics of the song as the words are part of the letters written to Eminem and visa versa. The controversy and detail that the video goes into and the literal translation of the lyrics into a story makes it very realistic and almost haunting.
The video starts with Stan centered in a rough looking bathroom, standing over a sink dying his hair blonde - instantly identifying his obsession with Eminem. He looks up into the mirror in a close up shot and we are introduced for the first time to the protagonists appearance. The are flashes of lightning and eerie chords in the background, setting the scene (using pathetic fallacy) for a dark video. Dido is then introduced as his pregnant girlfriend in a tracking shot which almost makes the events seem real as she is featured as she is singing e.g.)"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". These lyrics directly link to the weather unfolding outside at the time showing again this relation between visuals and lyics. Stan's fragile state of mind is then indicated again as he shouts at his girlfriend for calling him Stanley, "Don't call me that!" he screams despite the fact she is in a fragile condition herself. There is a sequence of cuts and aerial shots showing the environment they're in. Pathetic fallacy is then repeated with the audio enhancement of the rain with a Dido track blended over the top. Eminem is then pictured and then it goes back to Stan, showing the contrast between the two. The camera tracks Stan to his basement, which I feel represents his insanity as it is so dark and this is also enhanced with the surroundings - hundreds of pictures of the rapper pasted on the walls. The camera pans round Stan whilst he is writing the letters as he is so transfixed at a low angle showing his agitated expression. You can see the concentration etched on his face through the close up and mid shots of him in his chair. Again the lightning brightens up his face presenting him as a threatening and scary character - stereotypically in horror films.
There are many sound effects within the video. Little insertions of these such as the scribbling noise of the pencil and the screech of tires heighten the narrative and the way the production is recieved by the audience - making it seem more like a film perhaps than a music video. There is also a lot of fading up from black as well jumping between events such as the present and then his letter in the post to represent an ellipsis of time. The video then shows his memories involving Eminem and showing how he was let down thus explaining his anger at the lack of interest on Eminem's part - an example of this is him "waiting in the freezing cold for 4 hours" and it shows him waiting for Eminem with his brother who are then ignored. Another example of this is where he meets Eminem at a book signing where Stan hugs him with adoration demonstrating his 'love' for Eminem.
There is a constant relation between the lyrics and the story on screen.. as if it is a direct recorded account of all the events therefore the video is built around the actual narrative. This was another major part of the video as you watch Stan get progressively more frustrated and mad. The notion of looking is used throughout so that the protagonist's emotions are visible and the watcher can almost empathize with him. A prime example of this is when Stan looks into the mirror and sees Eminem staring back - it again shows his idolisation and desire to be just like him. The pivotal part of the video in my opinion is where there is a shot of only his hands and a photo of him and his girlfriend ; and he pastes a picture of Eminem over her so in the photo they are next to each other. It shows the seriousness of his insanity and obsession. Again at this point the lightning has still remained as a constant throughout, echoing his fragile state of mind. Stan is then framed in a close up in his car recording a message on a tape which again is the lyrics of the song. He appears distraught and this is also enhanced by the weather. The rain is repeated again as this is the climax of the play. A picture of Eminem hangs from the mirror in the car showing his absolute devotion and idolization of the star.The car is edited going over the side of the bridge in slow motion to make Stan's exit even more dramatic. All through the video, the lyrics and images on screen crescendo to this final part of Stan's life where he has resulted to such extremities. He is shot in the car in a close up view to show the desperation etched upon his face along with two other angles which are alternated - "I'm doing 90 on the freeway". When the car is pulled out from the lake which is uncovered on the news channel, the news reporter's voice eclipses the track so the reality of what has happened becomes evident. When Eminem is replying to the letter and he clocks what has happened, he is shocked and taken back by what he has just realised and that he is possibly to blame. The notion of looking is used to show his reaction and dismay at the situation which he possibly could have prevented. The use of a mid shot allows this to be seen as he looks out of the window in disbelief."You could've saved me from drowning".
This is a different style compared to Eminem's other videos. Although they are a literal translation on screen in therms of the video's relation to the lyrics but this is specified to Stan the main character. Although he features in it sometimes, the whole video is based on somebody else. Most of his songs are written about his life experiences so his presence in the videos is imperritive. It is said though that his life experiences influenced the video of 'Stan' after his Uncle Ronnie also committed suicide - he is also mentioned in the song. Other intertextual references include links to other songs he has written such as "97 Bonnie and Clyde" where the lyrics in 'Stan' say "If I have a daughter, guess what im'a call her? Im'a name her Bonnie". By making links to his work, he can cross promote his other songs as well as relate the lyrics to his personal life despite them only being subtle references.
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