The music video for Alt J's "Breezeblocks" depicts a story of domestic violence between a couple in reverse. It shows the events that lead to a woman's death in a bathtub, with a breezeblock on top of her. The video fits conventions of alternative music videos by using its visuals to represent the song's meaning in a dark, artistic way. It effectively uses camerawork like close-ups and editing techniques like varying shot speeds and a reverse narrative to immerse the viewer in the unsettling story.

1. Alt J Breezeblocks
ANALYSIS OF A NARRATIVE MUSIC VIDEO

2. The Video.

3. ‘A Murder In Reverse’ – the
Narrative.
 The video is a narrative based video; it creates a story only in reverse
(from the use of editing). We initially see a dead woman lying in a
blood-stained bath tub with a cinder concrete ‘breezeblock’
collapsed on top of her with her lover/murder looking devastated at
the result of their destruction. The reversing then begins and we see
what lead to the woman’s brutal death. We see images of physical
domestic violence between the couple; the woman is not wearing
her weeding ring which may represent she has betrayed her
husband or wanted to leave him.
 The narrative fits the lyrics perfectly which almost makes the story
feel and seem more ‘real’. It is an interesting take on depicting the
subject of domestic way; though it is very graphic the editing and
camera work makes the video seem more ‘artistic’.

4. Alt J an Alternative Band – Does the Video Fit
Common Alternative Music Video
conventions?
 Yes. Alternative bands are usually known for ‘thinking outside the
box’ focusing more on a topic in their music video rather than just
picturing themselves in the music video like many Pop music videos.
It is very common for alternative bands to represent the meaning
behind their song through their music video so they can create a
connection with their audience explaining the thoughts behind their
music.
 The video is also quite dark and obscure feeling which many
alternative bands like to incorporate into their music video to create
a message.

5. Camera Work
 The main shots used within the music video are close up shots, mid shots, establishing shots and panning shots.
 Establishing shots are used at the very start of the music video – this is done to set the scene. The first shot of the
girl in the blood-stained bath tub with the ‘breezeblock’ on top of her so when we initially first watch the video
we get a sense of what the narrative entails, this close up shot somewhat ‘foreshadows’ the destruction that has
taken place.
 We see a mid shot of the man with his head in his hands – we are then introduced to what we think is all the
characters within the video. We then are shown a close up shot of the mans hands highlighting the importance
of his wedding ring. Close ups are used to highlight the importance of certain objects which then the audience
can then use to create assumptions and their own idea of what has happened.
 We see many close ups of the running bath taps, this shot is flickered in-between the fighting scene to reinforce
what all this fighting will lead to. The tap is almost a symbol of the girls death.
 A close up of the girls limp lifeless hands is shown submerged in the bath water, this shot has a eerie sense to it
and highlights how she is lifeless and dead.
 We see a long shot of the man standing in the door frame, it then flashes back to the girl rising ‘out’ from the
bath, then then see this same mid shot of the man only he his holding the breezeblock which took the woman’s
life
 We than see many close up shots of the mas facial expressions which reinforce that sense of anger that he
beholds.

6. Camerawork Continued.
 We then see a mid shot of the girl looking at the man, she looks in fear but almost emotionless which creates an unsettling
feel to the audience, it somewhat looks like this fight is no surprise to her.
 We then see a close up of them fighting over the breezeblock, which again shows the objects importance within the fight.
Whilst this fighting over the breezeblock is taking place we see a close up shot of their feet – it almost looks like they are
dancing which creates quite an unnerving feel to the audience considering the unhappy context that it is in.
 We see close ups of the actors, this is the first time we really feel a slight connection with them as so far we have seem
them as cold and emotionless.
 We see a panning close up of a bottle (that would have been thrown at the wall) becoming ‘put back together’. We then
see an over the shoulder shot of the girl aiming for her lovers head, at this point it is confusing as we cant tell whether this is
in a act of self defence or if she was trying to hurt her lover. We then see a mid shot of her still aiming for him however, he is
covering the camera with his body – this shot is confusing as it creates a sense of suspense but we already know she has
missed him.
 We see a low angle shot of the girl on the floor it looks as if she is hiding, she is then trying to drag the man down but it looks
as through she is struggling this creates the idea that he has the most power and she is inferior. When we see a mid shot of
him lying on the floor (after the fall that is about to take place) he looks like he is ‘weakening’ as the shot stays on him lying
their for a prolonged amount of time.
 We then see a long shot of the girl being pinned up by him which creates the effect that he is stronger and is the
antagonist.
 We then see a close up shot of another girl crying because of the destruction that is taking place. Which portrays her as
weak and helpless.

7. Camerawork Continued.
 We then see a mid shot of the man standing and the girl sitting which reinforces the idea that he beholds the
most power again.
 We see a panning close up shot of the man face he still looks blank and emotionless about his actions, in the
blurred background of this shot we see the first girl swinging a knife in her hand standing over the man. He is
now positioned as weak and powerless.
 We then see a mid shot again of the man with the second girl, it looks as though he is cupping her face
wiping away her tears which creates a ‘caring’ feel. This is then contradicted when we see a close up shot
(which happens after another shot of a running tap) of him taping the girls mouth up, this pictures the man as
evil.
 A panning shot is then shown of the man shutting the second girl away in a cupboard. This depicts him as
inhumane and evil.
 Then we see a sequence of close up shots picturing his coat, keys, and his turning of the lights. It then looks as
tough he is leaving the destruction – running away. T
 The video is finished with a mid shot with is a silhouette of his figure which then fades into black. This creates a
‘done’ feel, he is done with everything and is now leaving (when in reality it has yet to begun due to the
reverse effect).

8. Editing.
 The editing is used in a very clever and successful way. Though the video does not feature effects such as split
screen, green screen effect. It is very well edited to the beat of the music and to the lyrics. For example the
opening lyrics are “She may contain the urge to run away but hold her down with soggy clothes and breeze
blocks” and we see the shot of her in the bath then on the upbeat “La La La” the shots change quickly in time
with the music which fits well with the song.
 The use of variation in speed of the shots is also very successful. We see a lot of slow motion which fits in time
with the music then the shots are then abruptly speed up following the faster beats of the song. When the
music goes quiet we even see extremely still shots of the characters just still. We can see a great variation in
speed to fit the song which is successful as I keeps you engaged and really connected in the fight, you can
imagine how it feel to be there.
 The most apparent use of editing is the use of the reverse effect , this is successful as we can see what caused
the death in another way. It leads back to the fight rather than leading to the death. Using this reverse effect is
also confusing as we can’t really tell who is go and who is bad. For example the man is pictured as evil tapping
the second girls mouth however, this is in reverse so surely he is actually freeing her? There are many points like
this that are confusing. The reverse effect pictures him as evil but it’s in reverse so is he actually good?
 To ‘show off’ this reverse effect we see a bottle being pieced back together again which really reinforces this
effect as well a levitating objects, bodies, coats and keys.
 I feel a slight use of colour correction has also been used to give of that overall dark frightening feel.

9. Use of Mise-en-scene
 Lighting – The lighting is very dark and gloomy, however the lighting does tend to become lighter on
object of importance which s done of obviously to highlight their importance. The dark lighting really
gives a unsettling unhappy feel. All characters are in dark lighting so there is no real sense who is
‘purer’ than one another.
 Location – The location looks to be in a modern house however because of the dark lighting it
almost looks dusty and unkempt which emulates that destructive feel. By picturing a slighting
modern house they are also reaching out to their modern audience through their location. Lastly,
the house is pictured as quite plain, there are no signs of colour within the house so all focus is on the
fight.
 Costuming – Both main characters are wearing dark toned colours so we don’t get a clear sense of
who is the clear protagonist between the two and who is the antagonist. The girl that we later meet
in the video is wearing lighter clothes which could suggest that she is a victim watching the fright.
 Makeup – All characters are very natural looking, also very plain looking which somewhat represents
the lack of emotion that the two main characters have. The second girl is seen with mascara
running down her fact from crying which is done to picture her as weak and scared.