These two videos take two different approaches to the same joke by utilizing different visual elements. One defining difference in the two videos is the use of space. In “Mommy Knows Best,” majority of the images consist of very flat space, providing a sense of claustrophobia with the boy in his mother’s world. Toward the end of the video, the images suddenly utilize very deep space as the actions become more dynamic. In “The Bitch in the Kitchen,” the majority of the images contain much more deep space separating the mother and the son from each other. The son is in a colorful playroom while the mother exists on a completely separate plane in the kitchen. When the boy is sent to the basement, the images are suddenly composed with flat space to contrast with the “free” space he has upstairs. A visual element that is similar between the two videos is a similar motif involving line. This motif is of the knife in “Mommy Knows Best” and the ladle in “The Bitch in the Kitchen.” In both of these the tool that the mother is using acts as a stark line to break the flow of movement in the scenes. These tools symbolize the authoritative function of the mother and the means by which she attacks her son.
The videos also differ in the degree of contrast and affinity between the sound and the images. In “Mommy Knows Best,” the music is classic horror-movie music that creates affinity with the use of black and white to generate the atmosphere of an old horror movie. In “The Bitch in the Kitchen,” the soundtrack is light rock music and contrasts with the general theme of the video which involves an abusive mother. Even when the son is in the basement crying the music maintains a sense of lightheartedness. The music indeed is a central element in how the two videos distinguish their different approaches to the joke.
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