Monday, 24 September 2012

AVENGED SEVENFOLD 'NIGHTMARE' MUSIC VIDEO ANALYSIS

The music video begins with a fade in and we see a close up of a tattoo on a man’s arm, this is typical of the genre as tattoos are often associated with the rock genre. It is also significant because it is the band’s logo or symbol and so this allows the band to create their own iconography which makes up the band’s signature. The use of the blur along with the fade in and out suggests that the man is being strapped down while fading in and out of consciousness and that he is in a hospital and may be having an operation. This could be seen as quite violent and dark which is parallel to the genre of the music. Hospitals and operations are popular themes within the rock genre as they are quite dark subjects and so people expect to see these locations and ideas in music videos for this genre. It also suggests that the music video is going to be narrative based.

The use of white has the connotations of clinical and angelic behaviour as well as purity and so this suggests that the man dressed in white is trying to help the man and implies his significance within the hospital. An extreme close-up of the doctor’s eyes has been used to add mystery because he is wearing a mask and so this disguises him as well as concealing his identity, this appears sinister and so it relates to the genre. This shot also gives the sense of visual impairment and links with the idea of being in and out of consciousness because his senses are being affected.
  The use of iconography such as guitars, black hair and clothing as well as make up such as eyeliner is indicative of the genre as they suggest and give quite a dark atmosphere. It also shows that the music video is also performance based. The white clothing contrasts the use of black clothing and so this is suggestive of the juxtaposition between good and bad. The use of backlighting creates a halo effect which makes the band members appear quite angelic and so this creates juxtaposition between an angel and the darkness. A lens flare has been used so that it adds depth to the shot so that it creates a 3D effect and doesn’t make the shot appear flat. Lens flares are often found within this genre of music as it creates a star image because it makes them appear quite prominent as well as ‘glamorous’. Hard lighting in the performance juxtaposes the soft lighting in narrative sections of the music video as hospitals are brightly lit. The lighting in the performance also includes low key lighting and so this highlights the face and creates quite a ‘glamorous’ look. Having a bird’s eye view makes the vocalist appear vulnerable and helpless as he is strapped to the bed and unable to move.

 
 

As the song is fast paced a fast pace of edit has been used as well as rhythmic cutting so that the shot cuts in time with the music. Another suggestion to the genre is through the use of a straight jacket, as it gives the sense of being detained and suffocation which people mainly link with the genre of rock music. Special effects have been used to distort facial features such as the eyes and the mouth, the distortion of the facial features implies the use of drugs from where he is coming round from being unconscious, it could also be used to link to the idea of being in an asylum. Religion is also iconic within the music video as iconography such as a bible and a cross implies the idea of religion. However, the priest has black nail varnish and so this means that the priest may be corrupt.
 Effects such as desaturation are indicative to the rock genre as it gives a grudge effect and gives quite a dark feel to it, which is parallel to the song and genre. The use of a green filter indicates the sense of being ill and links to the idea of being in a hospital. A tracking shot has been used to give the sense of voyeurism as he feels as though he is being watched by the other people in the hospital. This idea is continued through the use of eyeline match as we can see that he is looking at them watching him go by.

 




 
Corridors are also used a lot in rock music videos as they appear never ending as well as having no way of escape. This appears quite sinister as the location is an asylum and so this gives the sense of isolation and danger and creates an enigma code because it makes the audience question why the patients are in the asylum and why they need to be so isolated.
Using children in the music video makes it more disturbing as children are often seen as innocent and vulnerable, so having them covered in blood makes them appear quite sinister. Also having the close up shots of them laughing makes you think that they aren’t as innocent as you think. Blood also has the connotations of death and so this is why blood is typical of the rock genre. This is also the case for the shot of the man dancing with the skeleton and the bloodied hand prints on the wall as they both bring about the idea of death and dark subjects, which is indicative of the genre. I think that this music video is effective as it contains many of the codes and conventions of music videos and also the genre. It also amplifies the relationship between the visuals, music and lyrics which makes the music video more entertaining.

 

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