To help me see what camera movements are typically used within the indie genre, I decide to analyse the camera movements in The Lumineers ‘Hey Ho’. This will help me understand what camera movements I can feature in my own music video.
In the establishing shot, the camera is show to track from left to right across a wall showing fairy lights on a wall. When the camera pans to the right at the end or the corridor, it shows a male character in the centre of the frame. The fact the camera tracks from left to right can represent a progression as the camera moves in the right direction. This is confirmed by the lyrics ‘I’ve been trying to do it right’ suggesting that ‘trying’ has been successful. This conforms to Goodwin’s theory that the lyrics have a relationship with the visuals and also foreshadows that the music video will be showing a positive progression, possibly conforming to Todorov’s narrative theory of order disorder, order. The fact the doors shown on either side of the symmetric frame are closed, can represent the beginning of the character’s journey as all doors are closed, having a symbolic meaning of there being no hope or opportunities (disorder).
This however, is juxtaposed as the camera begins to track the character walking away from the ‘dead end’ corridor and it stops as the camera walks past an open door. Within the room the audience can see a window showing high key lighting to represent hope and opportunities. However, the prop of fairy lights are hung across the doorway and there is a prop across the window, creating a physically barrier between the character and the hope/opportunities. This continues to show progression but connotes to the audience that the character is still on a journey to reach his hope/dreams.
As the camera cuts to a low angle hand held shot, the low key lighting is contradicted by bright flashing lights. This can represent the character looking at his goals brightening. The fact the camera has also moved closer to the lights, shows that the character is closer to reaching his goals. When the camera cuts again, two more characters are introduced which can represent the support he has as they are positioned on the right and left of him, showing he is surrounded by support. Also, the characters are walking towards the camera as it tracks backwards, this can show the character is catching up to his destination; what he aims for.
How can this help me?
Overall, the camera movements in this music video are used as symbolic meaning of a progression. This conforms to Goodwin’s theory that the visuals have a relationship with the lyrics and visuals as the lyrics are about two characters coming together. This has helped me as I know that when I plan/storyboard my music video, I will have to ensure the camera movements symbolise what is going on within the narrative/lyrics. I could also challenge the way the movements have been used in this video if the song I chose is about regression by tracking the character moving away from the positive symbolic codes.
How will this help me?
After looking at how reoccurring themes throughout the indie genre are represented, it has helped me as I now understand how they are portrayed to the audience. For example, through the more controversial topics like alcohol and drugs, I have learnt that they are typically symbolised through lyrics, visuals and props rather than being shown themselves. Eg. A melting clock is seen in the Arctic Monkeys video which has connotations of the effects of drugs but it never shows any substances. This conforms to Barthes narrative codes which suggests things the audience see have deeper meaning. Also, I have realised that the gender of the person in the video is represented in according to what the gender of the artists is. For example if the artist is male then they represent males as strong and dominant (conforming to stereotypes) and females as being sexualised and conforming to the male gaze theory. If the artist is female, typically, both genders are represented as being more feminine and emotional which challenged male stereotypes.
To help me see how indie artists are represented, I decided
to research Lana Del Reys representation. I did this by looking at her tour
posters, albums and covers, styling and branding. This will help me to identify
what consistencies there are and how there is synergy created across different platforms.
How has this helped me?
This has helped me as I now understand how a representation and image of an artist, is kept very consistent throughout their whole image. There is also synergy created throughout all platforms of advertisement and products eg. Album and Tour Poster has a clear link. In addition to this, there is a greater level of synergy. For example, the image as a whole is consistent, however, then through specific times there is a stronger consistency. So the tour poster, album cover and style of the artist will be very similar at the time of their release. This helps to keep the image and branding of the artist relevant and current and allows smaller changes to the image to again, be current.
As part of the planning for our group, we had to decide who we were going to cast to be the main characters within the music video. We have three main characters so we needed to make a final decision based on these three characters. However, as the first section of the music video will be establishing the red thread theory, the actors and actresses we will use for this section can be improvised depending on what friends we all have available on the filming days we allocate to the three main characters. This is because we will rarely feature their faces when establishing the red thread theory as we want the audiences focus to be on the thread. Therefore, we ca follow our storyboard for this when it is appropriate to do s rather than casting people for the roles.
The person we have casted to be the singer (Lüna) and the protagonist within the music video will be Lydia Dudley. We chose her as she has featured in my coursework before so we know she is good at taking directions. She is also confident and therefore we feel she can fill the role of Luna well as she is an eccentric singer and therefore her live performance may be demanding to act. She can also sing so when it comes to learning the lyrics for the live performance, she would find it easier and as a result, it would look more accurate and professional.
The bisexual character within our narrative will be played by Ella Ryan (right). We picked Ella as she is a similar age to Lydia and has also featured in my course work before. Also, she is friends with Lydia so there will be no awkwardness if there are 'intimate' scenes within the narrative. She also has brown hair whereas Lydia has blonde which helps to create binary opposition.
The straight character within the narrative will be played by Tom George. This is Ella's boyfriend, so again, it makes it more comfortable for them to film any 'intimate' scenes. He also has brown hair which can be utilised within our colour palette to make Ella and Tom appear to be more 'consistent' together than Ella and Lydia.
To help me see if there are any themes throughout the indie genre within the visuals the audience see, I decided to analyse the Arctic Monkeys videos as they are within the indie/rock genre I am interested in.
Are there any reoccurring themes throughout the indie genres’ visuals within music videos and how does this help appeal to the genres target audience?
In the Arctic Monkeys ‘why do you only call me when you’re high?’ the first thing the audience see on the music video is a parental advisory symbol. This instantly appeals to reformers as they feel like they are being ‘rebels’ by watching the video, engaging in the danger they are being warned of. This makes the video seem more exciting and as if they are joining in with the dangerous lifestyle by rebelling against the warning. It also instantly represents The Arctic Monkeys, as a band, to be exciting and 'cool' whilst creating the representational issue that explicit themes are desirable. This can conform to the hypodermic syringe theory, making illegal situations seem acceptable.
When the camera cuts, the setting of the video instantly becomes apparent. The bar and the props of the beer stickers on the wall suggests they are in a pub. This initial equilibrium, in terms of Todorov's Narrative Theory, can conform to the parental advisory warning as it suggests that this situation is a regular occurrence and normalises the event. Furthermore, the prop of the pool cue and table with the apparent dominance of males within the frame conforms to the stereotype that males enjoy drinking and want to be part of the ‘lad’ culture. The use of all black costumes and leather jackets has connotations of danger again adding to the excitement of the setting and representing the characters as dark and intriguing.
When the camera cuts again to reveal an eye-line match of the clock that the band member (Alex Turner) is looking at, CGI is used to make the clock face distort. This can be linked to the name of the song ‘Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High’ and can represent him being 'high'. This explores drug culture and as it is being represented in a positive light it can create the representational issue that drug use is an everyday thing that is casual and acceptable. Also the fact that drug use is illegal can again conform to the fact the audience feel like the life the band are living is desirable as it represented as exciting and thrilling.
As Turner moves into the bathroom, there is a clear contrast between high and low key lighting which conforms to Sven E Carlsson's theory that the narrative is being driven by binary opposition and in this case light vs dark. The fact a mirror is used also conforms to Goodwin's theory that the artist and band have the most screen time to create a relationship between the artist and audience. The light and dark can create semiotic meaning of the positives and negatives surrounding the drugs debate. It can connote the people who agree with it and disagree. This again can create a representational issue as the audience that disagree with it are suggested to be the darker side, suggesting they're casting a shadow over Turners fun. This can pressurise the audience that disagree to conform to the bands views.
As a montage of Turner and other characters in the video doing shots plays, again promoting alcoholism, the first female is introduced. In the two shot of her and a male, the female conforms to the male gaze theory as it is an intimate moment between her and the male but she is represented in a sexual way. The fact females are being sexualised in this video is also apparent through the lack of females in an everyday situation and instead only in sexual or intimate moments.
As Turner leaves the pub, he is seen to square up to a male in the street who is clearly a bigger build and structure than him. This again promotes violence that Turner provoked yet makes it seem admirable as the other male is portrayed to be ‘backing down’ again gaining him respect in terms of ’lad culture’. This also appeals to males who have psycho-graphics of enjoying action and violence. Furthermore, this can appeal to the secondary audience of females as he is represented as being dominant through the high angle shot that makes it seem that Turner is looking down on the other character. This can be seen as attractive and can conform to the stereotypes that 'bad boys' are attractive.
Again as Turner walks down the street he begins to hallucinate. In his hallucinations a series of images or shown that continue to sexualise women, which conforms to the male gaze theory. This can create the representational issue that it is okay to view women this way especially as an iconic artist is seen to be doing this.
Overall, this video shows me that The Arctic Monkey's video conforms to the ‘sex drugs and drink’ stereotype there are around indie/rock genres as shown through underlying themes throughout the whole video. It also shows that males are represented as being 'lads' and tough, conforming to the manly stereotypes. Furthermore, it suggests that males typically show themes of violence, intimacy, drugs and alcohol, if it conforms to their brand identity.
How will this help me?
This video will help me as I understand how different controversial issues are represented and portrayed in this genre of music. I also understand that the indie/rock genre has to be made to seem ‘exciting’ and ‘dangerous’ to appeal to the aspirer and reformer fan base the artists have. However, I also learnt that this comes with responsibilities to the artists as the lifestyle they portray seems casual and common which can conform to the hypodermic syringe theory and mislead young audiences.
The song begins with verse one ‘come on skinny love, just last year’. The phrase ‘skinny love’ can represent a person with an unhealthy love to food or can represent a relationship that lacks in love. She then wants to ‘pour a little salt’ which is used as a healing agent on some wounds. This suggests that the relationship, the wound, can be healed in Birdy’s eyes. However, when she says ‘we were never here’, it is a link to the old saying ‘salting the earth’ which said pouring salt on the ground eradicated cities etc. This could be referring to the fact that if the wound isn’t healed she wants to eradicate everything, life isn’t worth living. As the verse continues, emotive language is used to create a vivid image in the listener’s head. ‘staring at the sing of blood and crushed veneer’ creates an uncomfortable image in the listener’s heads. ‘Veneer’ is used in walls so the fact there is some in the sink accompanied with blood can be associated with someone punching a wall out of frustration or anger; to highlight the frustration she is feeling towards the relationship. She continues to say ‘cut out all the roped and let me fall’ as her way of saying don’t keep me hanging, just do it. The ‘fall’ representing the grief and feeling of being lost she will feel after he does. However, this could also be a form of cowardice, she’s asking to be freed from the pain instead of fighting for it.
As the chorus begins, the lyrics say ‘and I told you to be patient and I told you to be fine’, these lyrics continue through the whole of the chorus beginning each line with ‘and I told you’. The fact there is the use of anaphora emphasises how much she wants this but suggests they weren’t followed through. She is also asking something that is almost impossible, she says 'and I told you to be fine'. The fact she is saying something that can’t be fulfilled with one simple action makes her requests seem like a desperate plea. As the chorus continues, she completes a story that is almost a consequence of these requests not being answered. she says 'and in the morning I’ll be with you, but it will be a different kind'. The fact she says it will be a different kind suggest that the feelings will no longer be the same. Also the fact she uses 'morning' can be a metaphor for a dark period of time. It could also be ambiguous as a listener could interpret that as 'mourning' instead. She has come to the realisation the relationship is unfixable. As she continues she uses 'tickets' and 'fines' as a symbol of her time that he has wasted. However, because a fine has to be repaid, it’s as if she still has a slight ounce of hope that there will still be some sort of connection between them which she is relying on.
In verse two, he asks him 'what happened here?', whilst referring to him as 'skinny love' which is ironic as she has almost answered her own question. She is asking why the relationship is over almost as if she doesn’t want to accept it which is a continuation of what she said previously. She also began the song with 'skinny love' which suggests she has the answers to why the relationship wouldn’t last as soon as it started.
As the chorus starts again, she asks the same questions as previously. However, in this chorus the anaphora continues as she also sings, 'and now your love is wasted, and then who the hell was I? and I’m breaking at the britches, at the end of all your lines.' Here she is beginning to regret her time with her partner.' and now your love is wasted' suggests that she is regretting asking and expecting so much of him as it’s all been for nothing. She finishes the chorus by saying, ' and I’m breaking at the britches and at the end of all your lines'. Here she is creating the imagery of the relationship being held together by 'lines', as if she is saying she is keeping him from falling; if he doesn’t do anything to fix it, hell fall despite her efforts to save him.
Overall this song explores personal experience of an emotional breakup. Although this is what it seems like on the surface, this could also be interpreted as a cry for help for someone suffering from the mental illness anorexia.
how will this help me?
Researching these song lyrics has helped me because it has confirmed, again, my previous findings from other music video lyrics. It also makes it clear to me that when I create my music video I will have to choose a song with a deep meaning and be careful on how I represent the lyrics within the visuals so I don’t make any representational issues.
