The video depicts male characters representing different aspects of the singer's personality and life. Though the narrative is unclear and nonlinear, it seems to symbolize the characters' desire to escape from everyday responsibilities represented by suits, and embrace a carefree attitude represented by Hawaiian shirts. The beach setting and shipwreck may symbolize wanting to break free from normal life but being unable to fully do so. Recurring imagery like a blue door suggests the characters all face the same problems despite differences, and could provide insight into the singer's true emotions which are conflicted between responsibility and freedom.

1. Chloe Gimour
Character:There is a male representationdepictedinthe video.The bandplaydifferentcharacters
withinthe video,whichistypical formusicvideosof thisgenre,forexample ArcticMonkeys’,Why
Do You OnlyCall Me WhenYou’re Highvideo. The leadsinger’scharacterisseenthe most
throughoutthe video. Throughtheirquestionableclothingthe charactersseemtohave a‘don’tcare
attitude’.Forexample the leadsingeriswearingasuitwitha floral shirt,or anothermemberwitha
wintercoatand a similarshirt. Itisstereotypicalformalestoadoptthisattitude inthe mediathey
seemtobe charactersfrom a comedymovie suchas GrownUps. It alsolinkstothe lyrics‘thisismy
life’therefore theycandowhattheywant withit.It isto promote individuality. Inaddition,theyalso
have childlikequalitiessuchasmakingpaperhats whichconnote innocence,whichbreaksthe
stereotype of malesbeingdominantandstrong.
Narrative events: Because of the unclearorderof eventsandnonlinearnarrative the videohas
creatednarrative enigma.Forexamplewe couldassume thatthere hasbeenashipwreckbefore the
videobegan,howeverbecause theyare playinggolf andmakingpaperhatswe can’tbe sure that
thisisanothereffortto prove theircare free attitude. Itseemsthatthe people onthe beachare the
representationsof people goingthrougheverydaylife andbuildingthe boatcouldbe the symbol for
gettingawayfromit all,sowhenitcrashes theyhave tocome back to normal life,becausetheycan
neverfullyescape it.Itlinkstothe lyricsof the song‘sometimesyouwanttogetaway fromyour
life’.Thistheoryalsocouldbe the reasoningbehindthe clothing.They’re wearingsuitswhich
symbolisestheireverydaylife andthe Hawaiianshirtscouldbe the symbol of escapingthat.There
are alsoabstract and performance elements.Forexample,some partsof the videoare inreverse;
theyare subtle andcan confuse the audience.Performance basednarrativeisastereotype formost
musicvideos;howeveritisn’tjustthe singerperformingaswe couldinitiallyassume.There are
objectsthatreplicate the othermembers’instruments,suchasthe toy
drum.
Iconography:The blue doorisseeninall of the videoscreatedforthe
album,as seentothe left. Inall of the videoshe isstoodinfrontof the
door withthe same headwounds.Itcouldsuggest thatno mattershow
differentthe charactersare everyone sharesthe same problemsand
fearssuch as war anddeath.It suggestsa linkbetweenpeople’slives
evenif we don’t knowwhotheyare.The doorcouldalsobe an
entrance/insighttohisreal emotions. He isconflictedbetween
responsibility(the suit)andwhathe wants to do withhislife (the
Hawaiianshirt);the characterscouldjustbe personifiedversionsof his
feelings.
Setting:Asexplainedpreviouslythe characterscouldjustbe hisinside
emotionsof whathe reallydesires,escape andtolive hislife.Beaches are synonymouswith holidays
and the ideaof paradise.The beachincomparisonto the seacouldalso be a metaphorfor all the
thingshe couldand wantsto do withhislife andthe beachissmall comparedsuggestingthatit’s
whatthe character hasactuallydone withhislife. The beachalsolinkstothe shipwreckstory
establishedabove,howeverbecause there isnarrative enigmawe don’tknow fullythe reasonfor
the setting.
My Life
Meanwhile Up In Heaven
ComingHome

2. Chloe Gimour
Technical codesandaudiocodes:The firstshots within
the videoare longshotsto helpestablishthe setting
and to introduce the maincharacterof the video,who
isplayedbythe singer.The leadsingeroftenplaysthe
leadcharacter inmusicvideosbecause theyare most
well knownwiththe fans. Inaddition,thereisalsoa
cut away frombinocularstothe maincharacter; we
assume thatthe personwiththe binocularsislooking
at himbecause of the curvedbackground. It couldbe
suggestingthe similaritiesbetweenthe characters
personal experiences.The coloursusedare dull which
worksincontrast to the highkeylightingtowards.
These couldbe the representationsof hisaspirationsandwhatthe characterslife islike now. Lastly,
there isalsoparts where the wavesretract,whichisimpossible inreal lifewhichconfirmsthe idea
that itis all justthe personificationof the emotionsinhishead.
Neale’sMental Machinery:Manyvideoswithinthe genre have performance basednarrative and
abstract storylines,suchasSnapOut Of It by ArcticMonkeys.There are alsocould be dark themese
suggestedinthe videowhichiscommonforindie bands,theyare usuallymore feelingbasedwithin
theirlyrics.