Afraid – The Neighbourhood Pt 2

1. AFRAID –THE
NEIGHBOURHOOD
(CONTINUED)
Sayema Begum

2. Notion of looking
Most of this music video supports Goodwin’s theory of the notion
of looking (through screens, telescopes, crowds etc.), as we see
the band through someone else’s eye, literally.This may have
been done as the boy is looking at what he has become.

3. Goodwin’s theory also states that there is a particularly excessive
use of female sex appeal.This music video completely subverts this
notion as there are no females present in it. However, the main
singer is naked and there is a second of the music video where his
penis is shown. Nevertheless, this is not done in a sex-appealing way
or to attract a female or male audience.This has been done as a
form of art, in which the artist is completely baring his soul to the
audience and his fans.This contradicts Berger’sWays of Seeing
theory where he says that females are usually the ones who are
naked.

4. Intertextual references
The video is shot in mainly black and white, which is a similar style to
some of their other music videos, where greyscale is used, such as in
‘SweaterWeather’, ‘Daddy Issues’ and ‘Female Robbery’, although the
band themselves do not feature in ‘Female Robbery’.This may have been
done to give the videos a more retro look or a gloomy atmosphere.
‘Female Robbery’‘Daddy Issues’‘SweaterWeather’

5. Narrative, concept or performance
based video
Narrative and performance work hard in the hand it makes it
easier for the audience to watch over and over without losing
interest.The artist acting as both the narrator and the participant
helps to increase the authenticity however the lip sync and other
mimed actions remains the heart of the music videos.The
audience needs to believe this is real.

6. This could be seen a performance-based music video as the band
members are giving a little performance on how their life used to be and
what they are interested in.There is also a moment in the music video
where the audience get to see the band performing.
This could also be seen as a concept-based video the video is based
around the concept of anxiety and depression.
This could be seen as a narrative-based music video as it tells a story that
the audience can relate to and it leaves room for the audience to use their
imagination to put further meaning into the video.

7. Overall, this music video has a very deep meaning and message
behind it which revolves around the theme of depression.The
song deals with the notions that not everything lasts and that you
need to spend your time wisely, giving a good message to the
audience.