- The narrator receives a virtual reality headset that allows him to escape from his dreary, lonely life into an exotic fantasy world. When he puts on the headset, he finds himself transported from his rainy, gloomy flat in London to a tropical beach paradise, where he swims with fish, rides elephants, and attends lavish parties. Throughout his experience with the VR simulator, the video cuts back to shots that contrast his impoverished real life with his luxurious virtual escapism. In the end, his fantasy comes to an end as his VR experience runs out, represented by fireworks and his gun running out of bullets, leaving him back in his lonely reality.

1. -‘I GOT U’
Representation and Media Language-
The narrati ve of the video is about ‘escapism’. The openi ng scene of
the house evokes an average lifestyle. The cup of tea, and choice of
clothing; warm jumper suggest winter. At the back of the lounge there
is a bike leaning against the wall; cannot afford other transport, or a
car, a slight insight of his lifestyle.
It is raini ng outside, typical ‘English’ weather, maki ng the viewer feel
gloomy and depressive. The mood of the surroundings and him
reflects on the audience’s mood. However when he opens the door
for his package his facial expression reflects the switch in mood, from
negati vity to extreme happiness. This not only lifts the viewer’s mood
but also makes the audience question what the package contains.
The piece of card in the box read: “better than life”, creating
anticipation towards the package, locking the viewer’s full attention.
Inside is a simulator headpiece; the item is futuristic, therefore
assuring us that it is not real life, purely fantasy.
Again his facial expressions express his excitement, shifting the
excitement onto the audience, the thought of the ‘unknown’.
The use of bright lights and strobe effects suggests time travel, again
futurism. The next shot is a complete juxtaposition of the previous
surroundings. The bright sun, blue sky is a contrast to the rain and
gloomy atmosphere. Flashbacks of ‘reality’ are used to exaggerate
the different lifestyles as well as enforce the fact it is not real life. As
the viewer sees through what he sees it connects the audience,
bringing them into the situation; releasing a sense of escapism.
Fruit and luxury foods are used to emphasis the difference between
the reality of his cup of tea and the present. We can also see this as
now he is wearing swim shorts, compared to his winter jumper, the
different cultures are exaggerated. Again the palm tress, blaring sun
contrast to the raining streets of London. In London, the rain was seen
as a negative, depressive and gloomy, however in the simulator water
is aesthetic to the viewer, almost worshiped. The colour of the blue
pool and sea are bold, unlike the dreary greys of the rain and paint in
the flat back in reality. The diverse scene switch from the pool to the
sea, as he swims with fish reinforce the exotic change, leading the
audience into the unknown, not like everyday, typical activity and
surroundings. This effect gives the audience a sense of hope and the
switch in mindsets. The view of the sea, caves, mountains and the yacht
reflect the diversity of his sad lonely dull bike at home, him comparing his
dreams to reality. Again we see water is symbolized as peaceful and beautiful,
as he relaxes on a boat with his feet dangling into the sea. The sun is
bouncing off the water, increasing the brightness of the waves and onto his
skin. Everything in the simulator is positive and healthy looking, like everybody
dreams off.
The exotic animals; the monkeys and the elephant enforce the tropical culture,
making it very surreal for bot him and the audience. The two topics of reality
and fantasy are challenged here when he is riding the elephant, compared to
his normal ‘lifestyle’ of him riding a bike.
White sand on the beach symbolizing purity and freshness, not light the grainy
yellow sand in Britain. The shot of the coconut drink with the sea washing over
his feet has religious connotations; evoking purity of the new lifestyle.
At the beach party, the atmosphere encourages the excitement and enjoyment
of the video through his adrenaline. The long fire on the sand is symbolic
because fire represents passion and fear. The fear of living the unknown and
the passion incorporated due to underlying emotion. Facial expressions of the
girl implies flirting, letting the audience know he is sexually attracted to her, the
fact she is in a bikini is also significant as it could be recognized as sexualized.
The change of scene, to the city with the colorful lights along the streets show
him enjoying the nightlife as well as the sun, he is having the full experience.
The flick shot between reality and fantasy are exposed during his experience
through the flickering screen and the reverse shot of him kissing the girl,
suggesting he is not in a relationship.
The fireworks at the end of the party are symbolic because they represent the
celebration of his experience coming to an end, as well as him loosing his
bullets in his gun; they’ve run out, like his fantasy.