The 1975 - Robbers video analysis

1. VideoAnalysis –The 1975, Robbers
The videofollowsadysfunctional
relationshipthatfocusesmassivelyon
the use of drugsand how in love the
couple are together.The couple live in
a rural, damagedareaand clearlydon’t
have a lot of money throughthe ripped
clothestheywear.The female
character has make up onwhichlooksquite dirtytoalsoenhance thislowerclasssocial class,even
thoughtheydon’thave anythingmaterialisticitshowsthattheirlove isenoughtomake them
happy.The couple alsohave a planto steal froma supermarket,whilstdoingsothe protagonist
(leadsinger) isshotinthe stomach.The videothenbecomesveryfastpacedalthoughhe does
survive inthe end,hisfriendsgive himcannabistosmoke to‘’chill out’’whilsthe hasa bleeding
woundandhis girlfriendkisseshimandthroughlipreadingyoucansee she says‘’youlookso cool’’.
Thisreallyreflectsthe indiegenre asusingthe word‘’cool’’todescribe someone whohasjustbeen
shotis far too calm. It alsoimpliesthe ideathat‘’all youneedislove’’,theyalsohave alotof money
at the endwhichisbeingthrownaroundandtheyare clearlyextremelyhappydancingaroundthe
room.
The settingof the videoisan isolatedrural citywhichhasthe theme of America witha desert,
vintage style cafésandsupermarkets.Partof the café scene there iseggs,bacon andpancakeswhich
isiconicof America.Theywill have usedAmericaintheirvideoasit’swhere the bandare currently
livingandobviouslyaplace theylove astheyare originallyfromManchester,England.Theyhave
usedthissettingtomake the videopersonal tothemjustas theirmusicispersonal tothem. Other
iconographyusedisa guitarand a microphone;these are iconicof the indie genre.A gunand drugs
are alsoused,these are iconicof the narrative andalso applyingthe usesandgratificationtheoryit
may identifywiththe audience’spersonality asitisquite rebellious.Thisvideodoesn’tbreakany
conventionsof the indie/rockgenre.
Lead singer,MattHealy,playshimself inthe videoasa youngmale whoisin a relationship.There is
alsoa female whoisrepresentedasanextremelysexual characterthroughthe mise enscene –
clothesshe wearsandat one pointwhere she hasno clotheson.The couple kissa lotthroughthe
videoconveyingtheirlove forone another. The close up camerashots complimenthow inlove the
youngcouple are althoughthere are many complicationssuch ashow theirrelationship isstrongly
focusedaroundtakingdrugs together. Drugtakingisa typical conventionof the indie/rockgenre
whichiswhyit has beenused. The videohighlightsthe hetrosexual relationshipof the two
characters especiallythroughthe mise enscene, redisusedthroughoutwhichissymbolicof
love/lustbutitalsousedwhenhe getsshot.Therefore the videomaybe abit conceptual conveying
that beingsoinlove withsomeone cankill you/isdangerous.
A lotof technical techniquesare usedsuchasbokeh,shallow depthof fieldandnegative space/rule
of thirdsthisisto emphasise the narrative andfocusonthe twocharcters andenhance theirlove is
the maintheme.