Analysis Leave Before The Lights Come On // Arctic Monkeys

The music video to the Arctic Monkeys song Leave Before The Lights Come On is a dis-juncture video, as although it has a sense of narrative towards the storyline, the story in no way associates with the lyrics to the song. The lyrics and song is story of a man who has had a one night stand with a woman and is encouraging her to leave.
 "And how can you wake up, With someone you don't love?"  This quote of lyrics denoting how the song is based on the idea of a one night stand, as the man has awoken the next morning, which someone he hardly knows, let alone loves.
"Quick, let's leave, before the lights come on" This lyric showing how the man is encouraging her to leave and to leave quickly also, as he does not want to be associated with the idea of a one night stand nor the woman he has slept with.
"I'll walk you up, what time's the bus come?" This denotes that the story to this song is no way in which is a love story but just about sex, as the man has made no romantic gestures or effort with her, just in need of getting rid of her. This is an alternative song which suits the genre of indie, as this is not a typical song you'd listen to or find, as the majority of songs especially within conforming to the pop genre are about love and the positives towards the idea. The idea of the bus being used and him walking her to the bus stop, emphasises how de-romanticised the story is and not idolised by others.

In contrast the story of the music video is very alternative which emphasises the bands persona, as they also want to be recognised with idea of being alternative and not conforming to stereotypical conventions. The fact that the band also do not play a part within the music video connotes how they do not care about their image and are just interested in selling their music, not themselves. They want people to listen to them not view them, just enjoy the music without any of the star image. The story line to the music video is very different and strange. The narrative consists of a woman surrounded by a grey, gloomy background, which connotes her feelings, as she is on a edge of tall building and positions the audience into thinking she is about to commit suicide. The next shot shows the man who is about to walk past her by cross cutting the shots between them two. This makes the audience edge in wanting her to be saved by him, until eventually he does as her shoe drops in front of him, revealing herself and her intentions to him. He then makes an effort to comfort her by getting coffee, until she gets the wrong idea and tries to come onto him, but then reveals his married. Throughout the video she follows him and tries to get him to be with her, which he has no interest in. After him violently telling her, she goes back to the beginning position, on the edge, then the camera cuts back to a different man, the final shot her kicking her shoe off the ledge. This makes the audience question the intention to her actions; does she really want to commit suicide, does she just want to be loved or is she doing it for the attention, even perhaps she thinks the two are the same; love and attention.

Analysis of Honey // Swim deep

Honey is a song performed by an indie pop band Swim Deep. The music video is mostly performance based as each camera shot shows the band either singing, playing instruments or creatively painting. There are close up shots of the camera on each band member to establish each of the members role and close ups of the band together, to show how close the band are. The camera pans smoothly, as well as cutting between shots at a fast paced but yet still in time and into the beat of the music.

The lyrics are based on the idea of one's own initiative and achieving dreams, the song is over all motivating and the lyrics and video is extremely creative. The video emphasises how alternative the band are by revealing the creative side, for example the use of the painted background which shows sea creatures, this has a element of disjuncture as it has no relation to the song nor its lyrics. However, it shows how creative the band can be and how different as it is not typically used in music videos. Throughout the video it shows the band messing around and having fun, which interests the audience and gives off a positive vibe towards the band but also a positive feel for the audience.

The video conforms to the conventions of an indie genre media product, as the band are dressed in a sense which makes people associate with hippies, each band member is wearing a band t-shirt or baggy t-shirts and also wearing skinny jeans. Each member has an alternative hair style, such as long or messy hair which emphasises how alternative the band and their look is. The attractive female who is used in a sexual sense, for example using her finger to eat honey and messing around with the band, also conforms to the conventions of an indie music video as attractive, sexual females are often used in these types of videos. This video also uses the theory of Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze, as the attractive female is used to attract the audience, specifically males. None of the members are wearing shoes, which connotes they are free, which is the message the song is trying to convey. This contrasts with pop music videos, in which they try to emphasise power and money through their fashion, location and props (mise en scene.) However, the band show how you can be happy without money and achieve your dreams.

The video relates to the lyrics as they are showing they are creative and free by painting and making a mess and also by kicking over the instruments used, which emphasises the message from the song that they can do what they want to do. There is a contrast in the beginning as the girl used is in a clean tidy house, using a bored facial expression and suggesting her life is plain, but in the end however she joins the paint to paint and be creative, letting her finally dream and be free. There is a continuous theme where the lyrics use 'tick' someone in the video makes a clicking gesture with their fingers, which makes the lyrics and video/ visuals successfully synchronised.

The lighting in the video used makes the girl seem almost angelic as it is seen to be almost a halo around her which connotes a sense of innocence, the lighting relates to the song as the tone of colour looks like honey. The rest of the lighting used however is standard and basic back lighting in a studio which does not connote anything.

Analysis of Robbers // 1975

Robbers by The 1975 is a narrative music video, which is basically an alternative love story between Matty Healy (the main singer) and an attractive girl, which conforms to Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze, as a male watching this video would be interested to watch her especially in a sexual sense, as within the video the woman performs sexual acts with Matty Healy. This conforms to a stereotypical indie music video as it is not a typical love story, for example they find love from deviant actions such as getting a gun, robbing a store and doing drugs and getting high together. Although some may idolise this love story, over all it is not admirable like the love stories which are used in pop music videos, therefore 1975 have emphasised this love story to show the contrast of how alternative the band are from genres such as pop. The narrative of the music video robbers conforms to Aristotle's idea that a every story should have a beginning, middle and end; In this video the beginning is them being in love, the middle is them doing deviant actions robbing a store and getting shot, then the end is them recovering being fine and returning to the beginning where they are in love once again after a challenge on the relationship and being positive with the money they have stolen.

The music video conforms to an indie music video through the use of drugs, guns, sex and the mise on scene of the characters ; for example both Matty Healy and Chelsea Schuchman both have matted, messy hair. Matt Healy is dressed in a floral patterned shirt, openly revealing his tattoos, skinny ripped black jeans, which is a stereotypical look for this genre. The woman also is dressed in a leopard shirt, red jeans and both characters wearing balaclavas, which relate to the lyrics " Her balaclava is starting to chafe. "
"Now if you never shoot, you'll never know " which is also a line of lyrics which relates to the video as at this point, Matt Healy reveals the gun to the woman.
"Said one more line"  At this point you see in the video, the woman doing a line of drugs, which also relates to the lyrics. I like this idea that stems from the use of lyrics to create a story and I shall be using this video and idea as inspiration.
"Now everybody's dead" This is also a further lyric which conveys the story line of the music video, as within this point of the music video Matt Healy has been shot and the story uses a cross cutting edit between Matt Healy being aided by the woman and then a contrast of the woman now underneath him in a sexual sense, this shows flashbacks of their love story to the audience and emphasis of how alternative this video can be seen as.
"Babe, you look so cool" This lyric is used to mime to the woman and in contrast the woman also mimes this to Matt Healy to make him feel more positive, I believe this is a successful idea and within creating my music video, this where my idea will stem from. 

The lighting in the beginning of the video has used red lighting and a pink sky setting which connotes the love between the two characters. There is natural, but yet bright lighting used associated with the scenes of the store, which connote the hope and positivity of the robbery ending successfully. When the lyric "begging you to stay" occurs the lighting is dark which is perhaps because of the absence of the woman and Matty is now alone. There is an unsteady aim to the camera in parts of the music video, scenes such as outside the store which connotes the unsteadiness to the situation as Matty as been shot and shows how everything is a panic. The camera angles and movements are well synchronised into the song and the story line. 

 

Representation and star image

Representation is the way a person is emphasised and shown to the audience, this is presented throughout their dress, mise en scene and personality. Representation of individuals determines opinions of the audience. Representation often conforms stereotypical ideas held relating to star image.

Star image is the way in which someone is perceived to their particular genre. Dress is extremely emphasised into star image as people conform to their look, e.g. audiences which take interest in an  indie genre view artists such as Alex Turner and Matt Healy and see how idolised they are in the media and how they are associated with being cool, therefore conform to the stereotypical ideas to be like the artist themselves. The typical star image of an indie genre is skinny jeans, alternative unpopular shirts, white t shirts and brands such as Nike, converse and palace.

Genre

Media products such as magazines, music videos and films are categorised into genres. The word genre stems from the French word meaning type or class. A genre can be emphasised through the distinct features of the media product.  These features are associated with the style and content, for example the characters features, style or setting. Genres are formed from conventions of a specific style.

As I am making a music video, I have viewed different music videos and looked at the different types of conventions they followed. The genre of an indie music video follows the convention of indie as the setting is usually within a live setting, for example swim deep- honey, However, although most indie music videos are performance based, indie bands attempt to be alternative and do not follow conventions by performing a narrative music video, for example 1975- Robbers and Why do you only call me when I'm high -Arctic Monkeys.

Introduction

My name is Katie Bishop, I am currently studying A2 Media. This blog is created for the purpose of my a level studies, in which I shall be creating a music video. This is where I shall be posting my planning and coursework for my a levels. Through experience I have previously created a music magazine, which consists of a front cover, contents page and a double page spread, I found this to personally be successful. The genre of music magazine was indie rock/alternative, this will also relate to my genre of a music video. Before starting I will have to consistently research music videos and analysis' of which music videos I have viewed. Organisation will be a big part of my music video also as I will have to plan locations, actors, make up and clothes. Media terminology and multimedia will also be involved in the planning and filming of my media product (music video). Popular companies which I could use to support my music video and publish it within the name of the company could possibly be; vevo, nme, fox and so on.