The video for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is analyzed. It is categorized as rock/grunge based on elements like long hair whipping around during live performances, drums and guitars. Images in the video relate to the lyrics by showing a crowd entertained by the performance, and emblems of adolescence through a school gym setting and cheerleaders. Through shots of the band playing and people tapping their feet, the quick cuts of roughly 166 help quicken the pace to match the music. The artist is presented in a rough, casual way typical of grunge to seem less manufactured than boy bands. While cheerleaders are included, the camera does not linger on females

1. NIRVANA- SMELLS LIKE TEEN
SPIRIT
VIDEO ANALYSIS

2. What genre?
• Rock: (grunge)-
• This is reflected through the long hair
whipped around
• Drums, guitars; live performances are a
natural element of Rock videos.
• Moshpits are linked to concerts originating
from the rock scene.
• Fire and smoke are also visual elements
associated with Rock

3. How do the images relate to the lyrics?
• ‘Entertain us’- Key part of the chorus-reflected
through the crowd watching the performance.
• TITLE: ‘Teen spirit’, there are many emblems
of adolescence; mainly in the setting: -School
gym hall –Concert atmosphere –Cheerleaders

4. How do the images relate to the
music?
• Shots of band playing their instruments
• People tapping their feet; opening shot
Roughly 166 cuts
• The cuts are often very quick, hence the
difficulty to count, this quickens the pace.

5. How is the artist presented to ‘sell’
them?
• Rough image, very casual; casual clothing, not
trying hard( as opposed to boy bands with
dance routines, matching outfits etc.)

6. Are females presented voyeuristically?
• Despite cheerleaders being included in the
video, and one of the longest shots including a
jumping cheerleader, the camera doesn’t
linger on the female’s body in a voyeuristic
way.

7. Camera work and shots.
• The frontman of the band is mainly framed in
a midshot which emphasizes his rough and
careless edge typical to the Grunge scene.

8. Is there a narrative?
• There is a chronological structure, with the
audience starting out sitting down and
gradually beginning to enjoy themselves and
jump around by the time of the chorus,
however there isn’t really a narrative.