The music video for Paramore's song "Monster" uses various visual techniques common in alternative rock music videos. Dark colors, quick edits, and scenes of direct address to the camera are used to create an intense atmosphere. The video also shows performances by each band member and tells a narrative that reflects the song's lyrics about the departure of two band members. Throughout, there is a focus on lead singer Hayley Williams through close-up shots, reflecting her role as the public face of the band.

2. Paramore- Monster is an alternative rock song. Aspects that normally
link with this genre are:
-Dark colours
-Quick edits
-Direct address
-Band performance
-Narrative

3. Dark colours
In this specific song the dark colours are mainly midnight
colours e.g. silver, blue and grey. When watching this video I
see that the band footage has mainly dark colours. This is
due to dark and electric colours being symbolic references
to the genre of alternative rock. However, there is a
monochrome effect that gives and over exposed effect
exaggerating the dark colours, when looking into the other
videos by this band I discovered the overexposed effect was
a running theme as seen again ‘Brick By Boring Brick’ . I
believe that the dark colours in clothing are used because it’s
there signature look.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoTEnaAI9Fo Quick edits
In this video quick edits are used like many other rock songs.
This is because the edits match the beats of music and
create a sense of rhythm; due to rock songs being fast and
upbeat to match this the edits must be quick. They also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J7J_IWUhls engage the audience and make them want to watch the
video over and over, so that they can see the intricacies of it.
This is in stark contrast to a slow tempo track or a ballad
which would normally involve lots of long takes without fast
cuts. For example, a slow tempo song also from Paramore
‘You Are The Only Exception’.

4. Direct address
During this video, the narrative is shot in water with the band members
looking up at the camera. This engages the audience and creates a
personal connection which would be a marketing scheme and
attempting to give the audience and the lead band member, Hayley
Williams, to have specific connection to the audience. It’s also a
common theme that runs throughout rock videos, this I believe is to
highlight the intensity and intimidating atmosphere of the video want
to create.
Band performance
Through this music video there is a narrative involving the band and
actual band performance. During this you see the several shots with
the band member and their instrument. There are also clips of band
members running through a collapsing building. This would be done
to create focus on each band member so the audience see all of the
band, this can be done to market the band as a whole and it’s in
context to what the song was written about, an old band member
leaving, so this is done to try and avoid accusations of the female lead
singer taking the lime light.
Narrative
From the beginning of the narrative there is a sense of calm and
awakening, giving the audience a sense that the band have realised
something. As the video continues we see a light bulb explode and
each band member is shown as a close up. This is done to link to the
actual context of the song, that two band members have left, that the
band are together and on there own. This is exaggerated by the
member being stood on their own and uniting at the end of the video.

5. In this video there are few links to the visuals through lyrics.
“You were my conscience These lyrics link to the visuals as the band members are in water.
So solid, now you're like water However, the water also connotes the calm and a slow tempo
And we started drowning” before the music picks up and the bass kicks in. This gives the
audience a tranquil feeling and the change of music to and
buoyant rhythm keep the audience interested.
“But I let my heart go In this clip the camera shot moves down to signify her heart
It's somewhere down at sinking to the bottom like the lyrics express.
the bottom”
In this shot we see the lead singer, Hayley Williams, hitting a wall
“I'll stop the whole and holding the wall. This should connotate the fact that she is
world, I'll stop the whole holding everything back, it’s showing her as a strong character,
world” this also links to the lyrics as she's claiming the band are stronger.
“Well, now that you're At the end of the song, she sings about how they world is
gone, the world is ours” theirs. This shot shows this as they are all united together.

6. There is a link between the music and visuals as when the
guitarist starts playing heavy music, the light bulb explodes.
This is done to show intensity and power that the band
member possesses. It also relates to the genre as rock is
commonly known for loud and explosive music.
At the beginning of the music video, the tempo and
beat is calm. The music reflects this as the band
members are lay still in the water. This in turn creates
a gentle atmosphere for the audience, creating more
of an impact when the heavy music kicks in.
In this part of the music video, the music relates to
the visuals as the singer is really highlighted so the
shot is of Hayley Williams singing, this really
exaggerates the focus on her.

7. Throughout the video there are repetitive shots of Hayley Williams, this is because she
is the lead singer and the main focus for the public is her. The marketing side of it is
that she represents the band so the close ups of her sell the band more. However,
there are several close up of the band members this maybe due to the accusations of
the band being focus around Hayley Williams, so the attention on the band will stop
the media from causing drama around them.

8. Throughout the music video’s that Paramore
have created there is always a monochrome
effect. I believe this is done to exaggerate the
paleness of the lead singer, to create a
stereotypical look of a person who would listen
to that type of music. It also highlights the colour
of her hair to help marketing as she is known for
her bright hair colours, therefore, appealing to
the audience and advertising more. Paramore ‘Monster’
Paramore ‘Playing God’ Paramore ‘Brick By Boring Brick’

9. Looking at most of Paramores videos, with the genre alternative rock, I noticed that
direct address is used a lot. This because it’s appropriate to the genre and gives the
certain atmosphere the music video would want to create. With this in mind when
focusing on the ‘Monster’ video it is used direct address sixteen towns. However, all the
direct address and looking effect were all used during the narrative. This could be
because they want to create a certain connection with the audience to get the musical
point across.

10. While looking for intertexual references, I cant find any that link directly to
Paramore. However, I believe this is down to the marketing scheme of the label as
the genre of the band and bands like this are commonly known for the individuality .
The band advertise and promote themselves by the image. As we can see Hayley
William is the female lead singer, the rest are males, so to highlight the fact there is a
female singer (which isn't common in bands of the genre) she has bright red hair, this
separates her from the dark haired males.