To understand the codes and conventions of my chosen genre in more depth I thought it would be fitting to analysis an existing piece of media text. I have chosen a well-known band from within the genre, ‘The 1975’, to do so. I also picked this certain song due to the video having qualities in which I would love to incorporate into my video. To begin with, the music video to the song ‘Robbers’ is narrative based with no performance, in terms of Goodwin’s theory this would be referred to as amplification. The video explores a variety of action codes (Barthes) to create mystery for example, we are focused upon the roller-coaster relationship within a couple and are given small flash forward shot until we are then revealed at the end of the video that they ‘rob’ a shop which we most definitively did not expect.
Throughout the music video we are introduced with a variety
of settings, at the beginning of the video a long shot, of the couple who
feature in the video, gives the audience a view of the setting. This setting is
engulfed in low key lighting but features a single source of natural lighting
and some artificial lighting from lamps around the room. This type of lighting
creates silhouettes of the two characters in the video creating a very
mysterious feel about their relationship, this low-key lighting also allows the
red fairy lights in the background to be more visible. Both the silhouettes and
the red lights could symbolise that their love for each other is very dark and
dangerous, which could also be foreshadowing events that are to happen at the
end of the video. Overall, this part of the music video represents the genre as
being romantic and gloomy.
The lighting changes from low key to high key using a cut,
this lighting however is natural due to the change of setting and presents back
lighting from the sun. The setting is an empty swimming pool in which the
individuals within the video are using as a place to take drugs and smoke which
we can see using long shots and head and shoulder shots, this fulfils the codes
of conventions of the genre as this is an extremely common action to be done
within the genre and its music videos. This can be explained using the uses and
gratifications theory as it explores how the target audience of the alternative
genre find this very entertaining and seek this through music videos produced
by artists to fulfil the needs of their entertainment. The tracking shot and shot
types that are used also allow us to identify their costumes in which show a
very casual approach, some even not buttoning up their shirt paired with
distressed clothing representing the artists and people associated with the
genre as not bothered about their looks and more interested in other things such
as drugs. The rural, abandoned setting also portrays the idea of carelessness.
Much of the video involves no diegetic sound or dialogue
however, lip syncing is used and incorporated within the video. There is one
section of the video that includes diegetic sound as the non-diegetic sound of
the music comes to a pause which creates a great deal of tension. As the sound
fades out the ambient sounds of a gunshot begin to echo, the high key lighting
breaks the stereotype that crimes occur during the night. This however could be
suggested for the genre as it does not conform to the stereotypes of the ‘popular
music’. After we realise the key character has been shot the non-diegetic music
suddenly starts again at a high level of volume creating enigma as the couple
begin to run to the getaway car. This symbolises that love can be dangerous and as for the genre it represents the music and artists as being reckless and
daring.
This particular music video can be applied to Todorov’s
narrative theory. As the equilibrium at the beginning of the video was the
couple enjoying each other and having a good time however, then the disruption
occurs, thus being the main character being shot which is then quickly resolved
to then be reintroduced with the new equilibrium of the couple returning back
to their loving selves and enjoy the riches they achieved through robbing a
shop.
This is helpful with the creation of my own video as this detailed analysis allows me to understand the codes and conventions in a much more detailed way and actual applied to an existing piece of media.
It will be then easier for me to create a conventional music video and suit it to the genre.
It will be then easier for me to create a conventional music video and suit it to the genre.
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