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.
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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