2. Andrew Goodwin
Theology (Music
Videos)1 The music video demonstrates genre characters (Performance videos for rock/heavy
metal bands, dance routines for boy/girl bands).
2 There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visual elements (Illustrative,
amplifying or disjunctive).
3 There is a relationship between the music and the visual elements (illustrative,
amplifying or disjunctive).
4 The demands of the record label will include the need for close ups of the star and the
artist in turn may develop trends that remain consistent and are associated with their
work such as a visual style or identity.
5 There are frequent references to the notion of looking (can be influenced using props
or through conventions of portrayal of gender/sexuality) and a particularly voyeuristic
(sexual) treatment of women
6 There is often intertextual references to other media elements (films, TV, other music
videos, etc.)
7 Whether the video is primarily performance based, narrative based or concept based
and how these elements are conveyed.
3. ‘Drown’ – Bring me the
Horizon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkV5709EG5M
1. The music video demonstrates genre characters
(Performance videos for rock/heavy metal bands, dance
routines for boy/girl bands).
Because of the bands style, the image that is created here is
tainted by elements such as the vocalists (Oliver Sykes) tattoos
that are visible even though he is wearing a suit. By doing this,
it communicates elements that are stereotypical of the rock
genre as the visual element of having longer hair and tattoos is
expected of a member of a rock band, especially the leading
band member.
This video is primarily performance based with a
narrative/concept running along beside it. The band are also set
out in a traditional ‘rock band style’ with the lead vocalist at the
front and in the prominent focus of the camera. Whilst the video
is performance based, the group appear to have been placed in a
narrative where not everything as it appears to be as the warm
lighting and clean cut suits are not conventional of the rock
genre.
Throughout the video we see these conventions warped as the
image of the clean cut ‘gentlemen’ is distorted into something
more sinister. For example, the vocalists eyes change into
something almost snake like and the bass players hand
disappears temporarily. Also, later on the drummer mutates into
a werewolf and has to undergo an exorcism. The supernatural
references are conventional within the rock genre as the genre
tends to sway towards the darker themes and ideas in life.
4. 2. There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visual elements (Illustrative,
amplifying or disjunctive).
The song ‘Drown’ describes the idea of being trapped or not being able to escape from
something. The context of the entire album ‘That’s the Spirit’ from which this song is from
revolves around the idea of mental health issues, depression in particular. The chorus
states:
“Who will fix me now? Dive in when I'm down?
Save me from myself, don't let me drown.
Who will make me fight? Drag me out alive?
Save me from myself, don't let me drown”
The use of bubbles is interesting as well as the over use of the warm lighting. As the song
is talking abut trying to find a way out of a difficult situation, the bubbles almost appear
like a mockery or a feeble attempt at making someone feel better. This is relevant to the
lyric because the lyrics are asking ‘who will fix me now?’ as though the artist is completely
open to suggestions and so far the bubbles are the only thing that has been suggested. It
also relates the idea of mental patients being treated like children which echoes the
stereotype of people who suffer from mental illness being treated like children.
As the group are singing about a concept rather than a narrative in particular, there is no
clear narrative to the song apart from the fact that the band appear to be performing to a
group of mental patients which could suggest that they are giving those who are suffering
from mental health issues a voice where in reality they might have one. This could also be
communicated by the fact that none of the patients have the ability to speak and seem
completely unable to understand or control what is happening to them. The supernatural
elements such as the vocalists eye change might also suggest how some patients are
blinded to the truth by society. The eye change occurs when the lyrics say: “It comes in
waves, I close my eyes, hold my breath and let it bury me” suggesting that when the
changes and the emotions occur, he simply has to blind himself and let it happen as it isn’t
socially acceptable to let these emotions show through.
By amplifying the meaning behind the song through the idea of something supernatural,
the genre is being conveyed effectively as often there are references made to things that
aren’t of this world and people are generally afraid of. This is interesting as the idea of
depression is often made too real, therefore by portraying the idea through the medium of
something that isn’t directly connected to the norms of everyday life, the concept can be
expressed effectively and to an engaging standard.
5. 3. There is a relationship between the music and the visual elements
(illustrative, amplifying or disjunctive).
The visual elements are interesting as the costume, setting, lighting and
general mise en scene are not conventional of the rock genre and challenge
convention completely. As the music style doesn’t match the visual elements,
the relationship between the two are disjunctive. However, there are also
elements that could be argued as being narrative or conventional such as in
the end of the video where the cleanliness has been ruined and the
behaviour, lighting, style, etc, changes and becomes more relevant and
stereotypical of the genre.
In the beginning of the video, the artists are dressed in clean cut suits with
they hair relatively calm and they look as though they have been styled to
appear ‘normal’. This is unusual as the rock/metal genre tends to challenge
the convention of the ‘proper gentleman’ with messy hair, ripped or
outrageous clothing and a general disregard for how their appearance
overall. Also, the instruments do not match the sounds that are being
created as well as the way the artists are playing them. The instruments
appear too old fashioned and just aren’t fit to be seen playing something that
sounds more ‘hardcore’. This video contrasts greatly to the way that the song
is performed in reality. The image placed on the right shows the way that the
song would be sung naturally (taken from a live performance in Wembley).
Opposite is the image that is portrayed when the artist ‘sings’ in the video.
Once the video has taken a turn for the work and the drummer has been
‘cleansed’ of his demons, the video then becomes more conventional with the
use of darker lighting, similar to what someone would expect of a rock video.
The lights are similar to those one might see at a rock concert, and the
camera has a lot more movement to create a more frantic tone to the video.
The suits become less neat as the suit jackets have been ditched and their
shirts have become untucked. To seal the contrast, their behaviour also
changes to communicate their ‘true nature’ as they do the stereotypical
action of headbanging and the way that the frontman sings the words
becomes more of a true/accurate presentation.
6. 4. The demands of the record label will include the need for close
ups of the star and the artist in turn may develop trends that
remain consistent and are associated with their work such as a
visual style or identity.
‘Bring me the Horizon’ are signed with FILL BLANK and are known for
their prominence in the rock genre (some believe they fall in the genre
of ‘deathcore’) The stereotypical image of a metal/rock artist is the big,
burly man with a beard, lots of muscles and some tattoos. However, in a
way Oliver Sykes as well as the rest of the band members subvert this
image as they are rather skinny and don’t really scream ‘metal’ to the
naked eye. The only thing that gives Oliver Sykes away is the fact that he
is quite skinny (suggesting he is quirky and has his own issues that
influence his music) and he has longer hair as well as being almost
completely covered in tattoos.
From the very beginning of the video, we see Oliver Sykes front and
center so we immediately see his stance that emphasises his figure and
the fact he is wearing a slim cut suit also helps to flatter his shape. Later
on when he begins to sing, we see a close up shot of him that is repeated
throughout the whole video. This shot is taken slightly off to the right so
that we have a clear view of his neck and his whole head in general. This
emphasises the tattoos on his neck and hands when he raises the
microphone to his lips. We also see the wildness of his hair and how the
curls contrast to the iconic image of cheekbones. This also aids in
contributing the idea of his ‘otherworldliness’.
At the end of the video when the lights change as well as the style and
overall performance given by the band, we see a reflection of the
conventions of the genre as the camera angles and shots of Oliver Sykes
as well as the rest of the band become more erratic and a truer
representation is given of the artist, genre and stereotype.
7. 5. There are frequent references to the notion of looking (can be
influenced using props or through conventions of portrayal of
gender/sexuality) and a particularly voyeuristic (sexual)
treatment of women
As this is an all male band, the need for sexualisation isn’t as high
men aren’t often subject to the idea of the male gaze. However, as the
band are younger and have a predominantly female target audience
of teens aged 15+ up till maybe the late 20’s, they still have to appear
aesthetically pleasing to the eye and have to attract an audience using
an image (especially as the band are known to romanticise darker
topics).
At the beginning of the video, the band are shown to be calm,
collected young gentlemen. They are wearing well fitted suits and
look very respectable. What’s interesting though is that eye contact
or a direct mode of address is very rare if non-existent from Oliver
Sykes. This almost cuts us off as an audience as we don’t feel as close
to the artist or as involved with them as we receive no eye contact
from them. Oliver Sykes also seems to be looking off into the distance
or to a separate audience, further distancing us from the group.
Later in the video towards the end, the band then begins to perform
in he way a rock band is expected to as they start to dance and
become more conventional within the genre. It is here that we gain a
connection from the band and the camera and focus becomes
centralised and we are directly in front of the band so we become the
main audience. Even here, we are not subject to any objectification or
sexualisation of the band.
8. 6. There is often intertextual references to other media elements
(films, TV, other music videos, etc.)
There Is little reference across the video to other elements within the
media (cinematically and musically). The video tackles ideas that are
darker in terms of themes and ideas. There are references to popular
idea in the darker, almost ‘gothic’/cult culture. Ideas presented in this
music video include the ‘wolfman’ (who possesses the drummer) as
well as insanity (presented by the patients) to create a general
unstable atmosphere.
There is also homage paid to the popular 90’s film ‘Back to the Future’
as at one point during the video the drummer’s hand disappears as
though a part of him in transferring to a different dimension.
Overall the video alludes to the ideas and themes that are associated
with the gothic ideas and themes that help to almost create a horror
story that both amplifies the meaning behind the song as well as
creating a level of confusion to add to the tension and thrill of the
events that occur during the song.
A symbol is also shown in the video where the stars would usually
appear on the American flag. This symbol in the unicursal hexagram
and is commonly used in TV shows such as ’supernatural’ and is
linked with similar ideologies within the video.
9. 7. Whether the video is primarily performance based,
narrative based or concept based and how these elements are
conveyed.
This video is primarily performance based to showcase the band,
however the performance takes place within a certain setting with
an added narrative both within the band itself and around the
band.
The band appear to be performing to an audience of mental
patients who in turn have their screen time to make a point of the
fact that they are clearly insane which is also implied by the setting
of the video and limited interaction from the band.
The song reflects on the issues that arise and are current within
most of us a humans which expose us and make us feel as though
we ourselves could be mental patients due to the way we may feel
as though we are drowning.
In a way., this video could also be concept based as the visual and
musical elements tend to dance around a theme of our inner
instability and the fact that we all have something wrong with us
that we feel compelled to hide. This is explored in many ways such
as the possession of the drummer and they way that the guitarist
also disappears along with the way the vocalist’s eyes change into
that of a snakes temporarily.
