Introduction:
In this thorough analysis I will be Investigating the use of representation, technical elements and codes of representation. The music video i will be analyzing is 'Foo Fighters - Pretender'. The reason I chose this video is because it is of a similar genre of the music video I hope to produce. This means I will be able to examine and identify different conventions within this genre of music video and therefore create a highly conventional music video.
Technical Elements:
Mise-en-scene:
In the beginning of the video the band are seen to walk out towards their instruments. Everyone in the band is wearing all black except the lead singer and guitarist Dave Grohl. The all black clothing gives gothic connotations which are conventional for the alternative rock genre. Dave Grohl stands out because he is wearing a white t shirt, this could've been done for different reasons although I believe this is done to make him look like a leader as in the video he is seen going head to head against a riot squad. His clothing could mean that he is an anarchist and goes against convention which is looked down upon therefore explaining why there are riot squads to control the anarchy. This could have a further meaning other than just clothing and could signify that it is okay to be different. This idea is highlighted by the lyrics "What if I say i'm not like the others?".
Camerawork:
This is the second shot of the video and the singers face is still not shown. The shot is a low angle shot which looks up to Dave Grohl, this highlights him as someone who is powerful, this is because the audience is looking up to him. The shot has been separated into two different sections, the top half of the shot is light which matches Dave Grohl's white T-shirt whereas the bottom half is black which also matches his jeans. This shot symbolizes segregation and how Dave Grohl contrasts with it due to him wearing both white and black.
Editing:
The editing speed is a key part of the video and is heavily noticeable throughout. At the start of the video where the band come out and pick up their instruments the pace of the cutting is slow and controlled, however as the music begins to pick up in tempo the pace of the editing increases. This fast paced editing also gives the impression of aggression and anger building up, which makes sense as later on a riot squad arrives to control the anger and aggression.
Representation:There are two main groups that are highlighted throughout the video, the rock band which represent people who want to express themselves, and the riot squad/police who are trying to stop any form of expression. The band The Foo Fighters aren't represented stereotypically throughout the video. For example the clothes they are wearing wouldn't represent a typical alternative rock/ rock band as some band members are seen to be wearing buttoned shirts which is anti stereotypical due to how formal that looks whereas rock bands should be represented as rough and gritty.
The setting of the video is in an abandoned hangar with a white floor and lots of light. The hangar is split into two sides by a black line, these sides contrast as one side is lit up and the other side is dark. The side with the band on is lit up which is unusual as rock bands are seen to be dark and aggressive therefore they should be in the shadows. Instead the police/riot squad were in the dark. This is an example of juxtaposition because the police are supposed to be on the good side and the rock band, who are seen stereotypically as aggressive anarchists, should be on the bad side therefore contrast is made. I believe that this is done because the video is shot from the rock bands point of view therefore because the riot squad are stopping them from expressing themselves they are on the bad side.
Product Research Summary
Conventions of chosen genre
There are a variety of different conventions in the rock genre that are mainly based on mise-en-scene, for example:
- Black/dark clothing is usually worn, such as leather jackets, black jeans and big black boots with metal studs.
- Tattoos and piercings are also related to the rock genre. This because tattoos and piercing are unusual which is similar to the rock genre as it represents misfits of society.
- Makeup is also worn by some rock artists, specifically black eyeliner. An example of a rock band that wore makeup are KISS. They are well known for their distinctive use of makeup.
- The rock genre also is known for featuring rock bands, their is rarely a rock artist that is without a band.
- There are also stereotypical hand gestures for the rock genre which are widely known as the 'rock' symbol.
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