Analysisi of representation

1. Representation: Music video part 2
Girls – The 1975
Brooke Smith

2. Location
• The location used is a warehouse. This is the only location seen in the whole video so has
allowed the band to be original and creative with the decoration. This has created the illusion
of separate locations however, only one location is used. This location is also cheap which is
useful for an indie band like The 1975. (1)
• The video was released as one of the bands first music videos, therefore it allowed the band
to use the warehouse artistically; showing the audience who they are. However, the set up is
simplistic for the majority and seems as though the band are trying to get a message across.
• Although, the band address their intentions in the beginning of the video. “It feels like a
really pop video. The whole scenario, it’s not really what we’re about. It needs to be black
and white for a start”. This introduction tells the audience that the location has been used in
a different way to how the band actually wanted it. But it proves that the location is suitable
for any genre of music, which could be an artistic statement from the band as they are
flexible in their genre. It also implies that the band are doing their own interpretation of a
pop video, so the video is full of irony and humour.
(1)

3. Genders
• The band is all male, so the women in the video are used simply as accessories. This is
apparent in the music video as the women are sexualised; wearing only underwear. This
contrasts the fully clothed men, which reinforces the sexualisation of women. (2)
• Gender is highlighted frequently throughout the video since the lyrics constantly refer to
‘Girls’ and the stereotype of teenage girls being clingy in relationships. The video supports
this as the girls sit with the band members as they try to play their instruments. The girls can
even be seen taking the place of the band members which is a metaphor for the girls taking
over the life of the male in a relationship. Therefore the men are portrayed as weak as they
let the girls take control, this is challenging the stereotype of male dominance however, it
does reinforce the stereotype that girls are clingy and can take over a mans life.(3)
• The use of framing portrays Matty Healy as dominant. This is an Andrew Goodman
technique, where the artist uses several stereotypes of sexes.
(2) (3)

4. Class
• The video mainly represents the upper class. We see the old fashioned car and girls who are
clearly dressed in expensive clothing. They wear designer lingerie and evening dresses. (4)
• The clear representation of the upper class is used on purpose, we know that the band come
from upper class backgrounds and so the video reflects their real experiences with upper
class girls.
(4)

5. Ethnicity
• During the whole video we see one ethnicity. The band and actors are all white, this, like the
class represented, is reflective of the bands experience. Matty Healy sings about the
experience he’s had with the white upper class girls that he has always been surrounded by.
So the video is constantly linked to the lyrics since the video is saturated with white upper
class, models. The band seem uninterested in the girls which reflects the lyric ‘they're just
girls’, this stereotypes beautiful white girls as dim and uninteresting.(5)
• The ethnicity is represented as unresponsive and unfeeling, this reflects the over polished,
‘Barbie’ look of the whole video. Which implies that the band were trying to reflect the
stereotype of ‘upper class white kids’, which is materialistic and bland in personality. (6)
(5) (6)

6. Costume
• The costumes are typically black which fits the aesthetic of the band. The bands outfits
represent the grungy, indie style and keep them looking good together as they all wear black.
It also allows the band to look good together as no one member stands out. (7)
• The girls’ outfits contrast the band’s as they wear lingerie, which sexualises them. However it
is black so still fits the aesthetic of the group and allows the audience to see the girls as a
female version of the band. Lingerie has connotations of the upper class, which are clearly
represented in the video and in the lyrics. The use of underwear can also make the video
more attractive to audiences as sex sells. (8)
• The girls outfits change into colourful swimsuits, however the boys enter the scene wearing
the same outfits as before. This shows that the girls are changing and trying to create
something out of the relationship, but the boys want to stay the same. This reflects the lyrics
“What happened to just messing ‘round”. (9)
• The girls change into evening dresses which represent their class and show the contrast to
the band’s black casual outfits. (10)
(7) (8) (9) (10)

7. Props
• The band uses the instruments and the studio hardware to show that they are performing in
a studio. (11)
• One of the key props in the video is the ‘Girls Girls Girls’ neon sign. Not only does it reflect
the lyrics but it also shows how the band views girls. These signs are stereotypically seen
outside a stripper club, which reinforces the idea that women are objectified. Also the prop
was the first to start their neon sign aesthetic. (12)
• The car and lamp posts make it clear that the video is taking place in a studio which adds to
the over the top representation of the upper class. The whole scene is still fitting with the
aesthetic of the band as they try to create hypothetical situations in the studio. (13)
(11) (12) (13)

8. Product placement
• The band use all ‘Marshall’ speakers which could appeal to the audience as this is a well
known brand. Also, fans may want to buy these speakers to fit the aesthetic of the band. (14)
(14)