king for a day analysis

1. King For A Day
Pierce The Veil Ft. Vic Fuentes

2. Overview
The video inspired by ocean 11 was a well made video which gained
great momentum in the alternative scene. The song which is about
getting pushed pass breaking point really portray the corruption and
injustice people face. Though a bit exaggerated in terms of plot it really
emphasises the lyrics.

3. Genre Characteristics
The song follows the characteristics of rock video. You see the typical
thrashing, head banging scene throughout the performances scene and
it cuts in the narrative which is a bit unorthodox. They cut these scenes
in time with the beat to the music. All the cuts are straight cuts which
are quite clean yet abrupt which is another characteristic of rock
video’s.

4. Mise-en-scene
They are very stereotypically dressed, skinny jeans, vest (band merch)
and snapbacks. Their guitars are unorthodoxly painted. The setting of
where the band plays is a DIY skate spot etc. Throughout there are
costume changes for that scene of the story. There are close on this to
emphasise the bands prescience early on and continue to enforce this
throughout with their clothes and instruments.

5. Video and lyric links
The song itself is all about being pushed to breaking point and people
reacting to this. They portray this by showing workers who rob a bank
where they worked due to a corrupt bank manager. "you want a
martyr, I'll one" and this is clearly represented in the song the word
being pushed to breaking point and the two workers forming a plan of
justice. Also towards the end “Imagine living like a king some day” is
sung as champagne is popped open.

6. Narrative
The narrative is really well brought into the video. They bring it in but
don’t take away from the performance elements nor the artist
themselves. They do this by getting the artist to play character in the
narrative. They video is inspired by ocean 11 and they try to being
theatrical to show this. They have a little intro at the beginning which
really helps emphasise the story line.

7. Representation of the artist
The artist is still sticking to their typical rock look, however the story
helps represent them as being more moral. They are trying to show
how people are pushed to breaking point and how you use this to get
justice.

8. Colour
Their a filter put on the video which numbs the colors this makes the
office scene seem even more dull and put greater emphasize on the
scenes with colours. This could be to show a clear difference between
the dull boring life and their more enjoyable part of life. It could also
help enforce that due to their life being so dull they don’t assume
anything is wrong when little anomalies occur.

9. Intertextual reference
The video is inspired by ocean 11 a comedy film in which they rob a
bank. You can see the link at the end where after the whole bank is
robbed in such a serious manner but the guns were water guns. This
clearly appeals to a rock fan base it isn’t too serious.