The music video being analyzed is "Reptilia" by the American rock band The Strokes. The video primarily uses a performance technique, showing the band singing and playing their instruments. It relies heavily on close-up shots of the lead singer and instruments to emphasize the performance. The editing includes rapid cuts that increase in pace as the song climaxes. There are also fades between shots and a quadruple split screen at one point. The lighting and clothing help set a moody rock genre atmosphere. Both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used to enhance the feeling of a live performance.

1. Music Video Techniques
(Narrative, Concept and/or
Performance and others)
THE STROKES – REPTILIA

2. The Strokes - Analysis #1
The strokes are an Indie American Rock band from New York. They were created in 1998. The
group consists of 6 group members named: Julian Casablancas, Albert Hammon, Jr., Fabrizio
Moretti, Nick Valensi, Nikolai Fraiture
The music video that I will be analysing is called ‘Reptilia’ which was released in 2003. It is from
the album ‘Room On Fire’ which is one of their second studio albums.

3. Music Technique
From looking at the music video in detail, I was able to instantly
identify that the music technique is performance. This is because it
compliments the majority of the conventions of performance techniques.
Firstly, throughout the music video, there is often cuts of the lead
member of the band singing. He is the most important member of the band
since he makes up the entire song. Even though the band has quite a few
members, the focus is set on the singer which is often in rapid close ups
and some cuts of the other members who are only just performing. The
music video barely shows the faces of them since they are not as
important in the song.
Although the setting of the music video is not a performance in front of
a huge crowed, the music video is shows the band performing with their
each individual instruments e.g. guitars, drum kits… Most significantly,
the singer is singing there and then.

4. Media Language - Cinematography
There is predominantly close up shots of the
lead singer since he is the main element of the
song. There is also close up shots of the
instruments to emphasise the performance
technique. Even though that there is frequent
close up shots throughout the duration of the
music video, there is also some medium shots
which shows the performance of other members of
the band.
I had slightly noticed that there is a tracking
shot that is slow in pace for a short time
period. This was deliberately done during the
member who is playing the drum kit and
tracks/cuts into the member who is playing the
guitar. This creates a sense of softness since
the beginning of the song is quite slow in pace.

5. Media Language - Editing
Rapid cuts have used which are usually of either the lead
singer of the band or the musical props that have been used.
Towards the very ending of the music video, the cuts are more
rapid than before which is when the pace of the music speeds
up intensively.
During the duration of the music video, I frequently came
across a constant fade. I believe that this was deliberately
done to not make the song seem as harsh as it sounds. During
the beginning of the video, the lead singer has been
completely blurred and then goes into a strong focus as an
surprising/ effective way of introducing the main character.
I also found it quite fascinating that there is a quadruple
split screen of the 4 members of this particular song. Since
there was 3 instrument players, their faces were not show
clearly enough in contrast to the lead singer. Therefore,
this is the reason why there is only one of the members face
that is shown. This successfully creates a sense of teamwork.

6. Media Language – Mise-en-scene
Quite frequently, through the close up cuts, it is of the
instruments used within the music video. I have recognised the
following instruments: Guitar, microphone and a drum kit. This
supports the music technique of performance since performance
music video's often display the instruments used during the song.
The microphone in particular is the key as part of recognition.
The lighting is fairly dull in colour which empathises a deadly
mood. This is a typical convention of rock related music genres.
This is due to the colours within the setting being a mid dull
grey colour.
Clothing wear is key in order to fit in with the particular
conventions in order to attract initial target audiences. In
terms of the genre of this music video, I am able to recognise
that the band is related to some sort of rock genre. The close up
shots make it very easy to identify each clothing item. For
example: Worn out converses, black leather jackets etc… Quite
strangely, some of the band members were wearing stripy buttoned
shirts that were buttoned to the top of their collar which is not
what I expect of a genre that is rock genre related.

7. Media Language - Sound
There is a combination of diegetic and non diegetic sound within the
music video. I find that combining the two sounds create an interesting
effect.
The non- diegetic aspects of the music video is generally the actual song
that has been recorded in the studio which creates a sense of
professionalism.
Since the technique of the music video is performance, it would make
sense to include diegetic sound to emphasise on the fact that it is
performance base. It actually compliments the close up shots of the
instruments.