1. Lewis Devine
Arctic Monkeys-Arabella
The musicvideo I have chosen to analyseis by Arctic Monkeys, called
Arabella from there new album AM, the video starts with a mid-shot in
black and white of what seems to be a living room from the 80s, this is clear
use of bricolage as there is a clash of eras between the 70/80sand our
currentera, also the image is in black and white which creates a classical
rock setting and is also stereotypical of the indiegenre. Wethen see a
youngwomen posingin a black nighty which is rather reviling, this shows a
rather negative representation of women and may offend the everyday
feminist as it goes against Marxism. The women is also smiling and seems
happy which gives the music video a sort of upbeatmood, however we see
the video rewind, and this is clear useof reflexivity as it is breaking the
forth wall and shows the clear makingof the video. Wethen go to a closer
shot of the younglady sat on the sofaposing promiscuously, thissets the
scene that this song maybeabout this girl as she is the only character
shown so far in the video. The women has blondehair in the style of
Marilyn Monroe, thiscould be seen as a parody asthe women is not
displayed in the most positiveof light, this is also useof bricolage as it may
been seen as a clash of eras again.
The video then goes to a crabbing tracking shot, of what seems the be LA
Californiaas there is used of iconography with the palm trees etc., the
image is in black and white again which may be used to highlight the
classical rock effect. Wethen go to a close up of an arm holdinga
microphone; the arm has a tattoo on the of a Yorkshire rose, this may be
seen patriotic of Arctic Monkeysand them being loyal and respectfulof
where they are from. However someonewho doesn’tknow that the tattoo
is of a Yorkshire rose and that Arctic Monkeysarefrom Yorkshire, they
may see it as stereotypical rock star to have a tattoo as it seen as cool and
rebellious which are all codes and conventionsof the indiegenre. There is
then a a shallow deep of field used of two women and a younggentleman in
a bedroom, this could once again offend the everyday feministas it is
showing women in a negative way as they are kissing the man’sneck.
However the man is looking away and doesn’tseem to be payingany
interest in the girls, this is not a normalday representation of males as
peoplewould expect the male to be enjoyingthis experiencebut however
he is not.
There is then a mid-shot of a girl dressed in a rather revilingdressagain in
a bedroom in the dark this is once again showing a rather negative
representation of the femalegender suggesting that all women act in this
rudepromiscuousway. Thereis then a jump cutto a mid-shot of Alex
2. Lewis Devine
Turner, singingthe song; this justmakes the viewer aware that what they
are watching is a musicvideo. The video then goes to a shallow depth of
field shot of another younglady speakingto a youngmales i.e. flirting, the
peoplein this shot seem to be smokingillegal substances which may be
seen as a code and convention of this genre as it is breaking the law and
seen as rebellious and cool.
The video consists of rewindingwhichis clear reflexivity as it showing the
clear making of this music video. The video also jumpsto Alex turner
singing, Alex Turner iswearing a white shirt which may be trying to
highlight that there is hope somewhere in this video, as the girls seem to be
living a rather bad life that involvesa lot of drugssex etc., Alex wearing a
white shirt maybe tryingto highlight that there is hope for these young
girls. There is then a bird’s eye view like shot of a group of young
gentleman on motorbikes all stop around smokinglookingrather
aggressive, this may be seen as another codeand convention to the indie
genre as it is seen as cool and rebellious, and also dangerous, which is also
linkinginto how the younggirls are livingthere life’s, and maybe showing
that the video is about danger. The video has a defiantclear narrative
towardsit as there is defiantly a story behind these younggirls life styles,
and what caused them to life such a bad life. The narrativealso keepsthe
viewersgriped as they wantto know what is going on with these young
girls. Near the end of the video there is a hot that would really offend
feminist as there is a younglady lay on a bed with nothing on which is
represtingyoungladies in a negative light once again. The video is also a
performancevideo asthere is constant jump cuts through this video of
Arctic Monkeysperformingthissong which is seen as a code and
convention of an indievideo as other band like the smith etc. have used this
style to their videos, some peoplemay also say that Arctic Monkeysare
payingpastiche to these bands.
