The music video for "Heavydirtysoul" by Twenty One Pilots takes place inside the protagonist's mind. It features the band members playing in unusual locations while the protagonist escapes from a car that represents controlling influences. The video uses symbolism, lighting, and a looping narrative to explore themes of insecurity and mental entrapment without providing a definitive interpretation, allowing viewers to understand the meaning in different ways. Its purpose is to promote the song and album while resonating with the band's core young adult fan base.

1. Music Video Analysis:
Heavydirtysoul
By Twenty One Pilots

2. Genre
The song Heavydirtysoul is an alternative/indie single recorded by American alternative band Twenty
One Pilots. The video of the song is interpretative as it indirectly links to a lyric that implies that the
video takes place in the individuals head.
The music video recorded for the song fits into a few of Goodwin’s theories, the most predominant
being the second where the video amplifies the lyrics to the song, taking on board the idea of the first
lyric: ‘There’s an infestation in my minds imagination’. It seems as though the events of the music
video unfold within the main character/lead singer of the video’s head, where a shot from the
beginning of the video is repeated similarly at the end, as though nothing changed.
The video also has components of the first theory, where the video demonstrates elements of a stage
performance by having the drummer from the band play the drums in the middle of a road and later on
have the two members of the band performing in the same scene.
It is also evident that the third theory is employed where the camera mainly focuses on the lead singer
of the band, Tyler Joseph, as well as heavily featuring the second member of the band, drummer Josh
Dun. Additionally, a motif of the band is followed where the makeup that Joseph wears is a constant
theme throughout both the music videos from the current album and the band’s stage shows.

3. Cinematography
The cinematography helps to convey the meaning of the music video as follows.
At the beginning if the video there are two
separate rotating canted angled shots featuring
the two members of the band respectfully who
seem to be asleep, which makes the viewer
believe that something isn’t right.
There is then a wide shot showing the car, that
the lead singer is sitting in, driving with the sun
setting in the background. This is then
juxtaposed by a mid shot of the drummer
‘waking up’ with a light sky behind him, and a
crane shot that follows Joseph in the car,
focusing on the road behind him that is clearly
set during the daytime. Again, this shows that
something is not quite right, and could tie in to
a dream like state, where time changes.
The shot is then followed up by a wide shot
seemingly from the point of view of the car as it
drivers carelessly down the road. This links to
the feeling of lost control employed by the
video. It also fits the pace of the song.
A close-up of the bands logo on the drum kit
reinforces who the band are in the video and
aids with their promotion. Additionally, the fire
in the shot is a theme used throughout the video
and also adds to surrealism.
There is a slow pan from Joseph to a mid shot of
a hooded figure who appears to be driving the
car. This shot is then repeated where it is
revealed that there is no longer anyone in the
drivers seat. It is this figure’s disappearance
that triggers the whole car to later fall apart,
alluding to the fact that the figure that was
once controlling the car (and supposedly
Joseph’s character) has gone, and he can now
break free of the confines of the vehicle.
There are multiple low angled shots of Joseph
as he stands above the dismantled car. This
could connote the fact that he has defeated the
hooded figure who was controlling him and
conquered what he represents: insecurity and
fear.
Near the end of the video there is a tracking
shot that goes past the band playing and falls on
the car, burning in the background, and is then
complimented with a wide shot that lingers on
the burning remains of the vehicle. These shots
emphasise the point that the containment and
figure has been defeated.
A similar shot to that found at the very
beginning of the video is then shown at the end,
with Joseph's eyes closed as though the events
of the video unfolded inside his head and
nothing really happened.

4. Editing
The editing of the video appears slow to begin with, with long shots that establish the scene of the
video. The pace of the video then speeds up in the scene where the car begins to fall apart. There is
quick cutting between the parts of the car falling away and Dun playing the drums. The pace at which
it is cut matches the drum beat of the song that Dun is also playing along to in the shots. The pace
then slows down again as the video finalises.
At the end of the video, after the lingering wide shot of the car burning, there is a fade to black for
about a second before cutting to a shot similar to that shown at the beginning of the video. As
mentioned previously, this could imply that the events of the video didn’t really happen, that the main
character imagined them all or it’s used as a metaphor for how the character feels.

5. Mise-en-scene
Location:
The video is set on a highway road in the middle of winter. Contextually, the video was recorded on a highway in the state of
Ohio in America, which has significant importance to the band as it is where both the members grew up.
Lighting:
The lighting of the video appears quite dark inside the car Joseph is in, and a cold blue out on the road by Dun. This is then
contrasted at the end of the video with the warm orangey glow of the fire.
Props:
The car used throughout the video could symbolise being trapped and controlled, where the inevitable destroying of the car
represents release and escape. The drums give the video a performance style and also link into the fact that the main
instrument of the second member of the band are the drums, which gives the video an authenticity and a solid link to the band
as a whole.
Costume:
The costume that Joseph wears has both significance to himself and the meaning of the video. The clothes he wears are the
same as the ones that he wears when he performs in concerts and therefore feels most recognisable in. As well as this, he has
he hands and neck painted black, as a representation of the areas in which he feels most insecure, an emblem of the album the
song is a part of.
Movement of Characters:
Dun remains in the same place throughout the whole video as the car repeatedly almost runs him over while he plays the
drums, whereas although Joseph remains in the same spot for most of the video in the car, he does a lot of gestures with his
hands and performs very expressively, even when he escapes the vehicle and is in the same shot with Dun.

6. Meaning
Although it is unclear what the metaphorical meaning of the video actually is, it can be concluded that
the main aspect of the video is the hooded figure seen around the 1 minute 42 second mark. It is
thought to be the character named ‘Blurryface’, who was created by the band as a personified
manifestation of the lead singer’s insecurities. It can therefore be presumed that the fact that the
character is driving the car and Joseph is sitting in the back means that ‘Blurryface’ is in control
during the first half of the video. As the video progresses and the character seemingly disappears, the
destruction of the car, that appeared to keep Joseph contained, could allude to the fact that
‘Blurryface’ has been overcome and because of this, Joseph is no longer trapped and controlled and so
can finally escape the car.
However, there is constant reference to loops within the video, as the car repeatedly goes around and
nearly hits Dun. The shot at the end which mimics the one at the beginning could allude to the fact
that the occurrences of the video will happen again, and not, in fact, signify that it is all over. This
therefore means that the video can be left to the viewers discretion, causing them to think about what
they just watched.
Linking to the Audience Positioning Theory by Stuart Hall, there would be a negotiated reading of the
meaning of the video due to this ‘left to viewers own interpretation’ kind of ending. Some may argue
that the ending of the video signifies the end of the ‘Blurryface’ character, whereas others can infer
that the video implies a never ending loop.

7. Purpose
Music videos are primarily meant to be used as a marketing tool for the promotion and exposure of a
song for a particular artist or producer. They therefore help to sell the song by making it memorable
for the viewer. They can also give the viewer a more substantial meaning of the song through visuals,
or conversely leave the audience questioning what they originally thought the meaning of the song
was. Overall, the purpose of both the video and the song alike is to entertain the audience.
The Heavydirtysoul video also acts as a promotion for the first song on the Blurryface studio album by
the band. It was the last video produced from the album and is therefore the last attempt at mass
marketing the album. The music video was published on the video sharing platform YouTube on the
third of February 2017 and has since generated over 37 millions views. Due to this substantial amount
of views, and the fact that it is on YouTube, could entitle the video to revenue from monetisation,
another reason why a music video may be created – to earn money itself, on top of song sales.
Additionally, the short run time of the video means that it can be played on television to further
promote their music.

8. Predominantly, the music video appeals to a young androgynous audience of both teenagers and young
adults. This is due to the fact that the fans of the band averagely fit into this category.
The fact that motifs are used throughout the video, that both identify the band and would resonate
with this audience, evidence that the video is aimed at long time viewers of the band. The video is the
last one recorded from the album, therefore it can be said that it is the final music video in the
‘series’, henceforth it would most likely be directed towards the fans as a conclusion to the music
videos that came beforehand.
The androgyny comes from the fact that although the band are present in the video, they are not
there as a voyeuristic figure and instead are only there to pass on a message through the video,
making it personal to themselves. The fact that the video only focuses on the music and the potential
message they’re trying to convey sways it neither to a primarily masculine or feminine audience.
The abstract theme to the video could link the target audience to those from a C2 social grade as in
order to understand the video, a more educated guess is required. However, a secondary audience may
be the D to E social grading as the video is made as a way to promote the song and therefore to be
enjoyed and, simply, viewed.
Target Audience