Here is a music video analysis of Hozier - Take me to church

1. Music Video Analysis
Hozier – Take Me To
Church
Kaan Gunduz

2. Video Concept
This music video has been made so that it is completely
narrative and there is no artist representation or
performance. The music video has a powerful narrative
which shows the difficulties of being gay in this society.
Throughout the video we can see that there are jump
cuts and that the coupe are in danger and it is rapidly
approaching them. We can see that the couple realise
that they're in danger and so they start running away
and there is juxtaposition between them and their
chasers. The chasers look like the locals and live a
traditional ife style. However, one key note to focus on is
that the video doesn’t just focus on the negatives of
being gay, in this case being chased by homophobes.
The video clearly connotes that the couple share a
powerful love between each other. This shows the
audience that fear cannot separate them. This song goes
with convention by making a powerful narrative which
goes with the indie pop
genre.

3. Camera & Editing
The whole music video is in black and white. This suggests that what is
happening in the clip is just shots of the past, and therefore its history. The
dark colours also suggest that there is some sort of evil in the world and what
gay people have to overcome. The shot on the right shows a gangster/mob
and this is evident through his bandana and also the stereotypical view of
gangsters when they have their hood up. As well as this, it is a low angle shot
looking up at the mob which connotes that he is empowering and dominant.
This also suggests that there is a dangerous nature of him as he is
overpowering the shot.

4. Camera & Editing
This shot shows us the gay man running away
from the mob/ gangsters. In the music video, the
editing is fast paced which connotes the frantic
nature of the situation as they desperately try
and get away. Another factor about this shot is
that it is positioned so that we see the character
and the view behind him. The fact that the shot
shows the background suggests that the
character is constantly having to look behind
him for threats and he has to run away from
these threats.

5. Representations of the character &
artist
In this video they find innovative ways to represent the
character emotions and desires. In the first shot we can see
the couple looking up at the sky watching a plane fly away.
This symbolises their dreams to fly away and leave their
problems behind. In other words, to be free. In the society
that is shown In the video, the couple have to try and hide
their relationships away from the world. The director
symbolises this by giving the couple a box to hide their
feelings away from society. The troubles being when the
homophobic mob find their box with their secrets. After this,
there Is a big bonfire where they are burning the box. This
shows the audience that society is trying to destroy what
they are.