A2 Media Studies Research

1. Paramore
Now

2. Style; performance, narrative, mixture,
cameo
• This video is part performance and also has a
narrative as Hayley (the lead singer) sings but
also acts to fit in with the story (narrative).
• The whole video looks like a battle scene from
a movie which puts a story behind the song –
helps the audience understand the lyrics.

3. Camera; shots, angles, shot, length,
movement
• Extreme long shot – of Hayley and a soldier –
either side of the frame facing each other
which shows they are against each other but
also equal in terms of who is winning.
• At 1 minute, there is a low angle of a soldier
looking down at Hayley. This shows that she is
less powerful, weak compared to him and
vulnerable – she’s being brought down.

4. Editing; pace, cutting, special effects
• The pace of the cuts are slow at the beginning
when things are peaceful. However as the song
goes on and the music gets faster and louder the
pace of the cuts quickens. This shows that
everything speeds up and is more hectic when
the battle gets going.
• When she walks forward at 1:24 minutes, there
isn’t any cuts until 1:30 minutes. This gives us
time to see what is going on around her and how
she reacts to it.

5. Sound; Diegetic, Non Diegetic
• There is mostly Diegetic sound of the song in the video.
• There are also Non-Diegetic sound effects of the wind
and the birds singing – which shows the peacefulness
of the scene before the battle breaks out.
• There is the Non-Diegetic sound of the soldier
releasing the pin from the grenade and the sound of
the soldier throwing the grenade.
• The music starts as soon as the grenade is thrown at
the start. This shows how quickly the battle starts and
represents how things are all ‘go-go-go’ as soon as it
starts.

6. Mise en scene; Costume, lighting,
acting, make up, props, setting, colour
• The soldier is the first one to pull the trigger/throw the grenade.
• The lead singer (Hayley) wakes up to war and fighting/bombing.
• Clothes – army colours to fit in with the narrative/scene. The worn look of
the clothes shows the pain and damage (shows how worn out she is).
• Hayley is acting and her character represents hope and the love in the
world. The army is trying to ill her which symbolises them trying to kill the
love in the world.
• Hayley’s make-up is light and her eye make up is white which represents
this idea of hope. The bright colour of hair stands out in the battle scene
which could show that she is the target and everyone is focused on her.
Her clothes are similar to the other soldiers clothes (dark army colours like
pale green and black) which shows that even though she represents the
love she is still part of the battle.
• The red smoke can be seen as a metaphor of blood suggesting that there
can be a lot of blood and pain long before there is love but love will always
win in the end.

7. Representation
• Love is also more powerful than
hate/war/pain and it always wins.
• Even though there is war, there is still hope.
• We just want to end war/pain/suffering.