Past Student Example - Analysis
This is a music video completed by students at my school, last year. The song is an indie song performed by You Me At Six - Called Crash.
The camerawork used in this video really tells a story within itself. The angles used display the facial and body expressions to a professional standard; which really helps boost the power behind the emotion that the song gives off. A few point of view shots are used, again to help portray the emotions of the two main characters. The use of shot-reverse-shot is also used to perfection. It is used in away that expresses the differing emotions between characters - especially when done with the girl who he is cheating with. The quantity used is perfect as well, because it isn't underused, but most definitely isn't over used, which can really ruin a good bit of camerawork.
The editing is done really cleverly. The use of split screen at the very beginning is something I love, and I think it is used very well. It gives the opportunity to show how both characters are feeling, and how they are expressing it at the same time, without cutting. They have made it so that all of the male's encounters with his 'cheat' are in black and white, maybe to portray the fact that these were dark times, and his mind was not in the right place. The times with his girlfriend, however, are in colour, or tinted over with brighter colours, most likely to symbolize the exact opposite, to the meaning behind the black and white imaging.
All the locations used are linked somewhat to the characters shown; and tend to have a meaning behind them, none of the locations are 'random'.
The narrative is very powerful and is supposed to be one hundred percent believable. With that in mind, the directors of this music video have kept the other mise-en-scene aspects very natural - using natural lighting, and keeping the actors/actresses looking natural.
Goodwins theories are mostly applicable to this music video. The characteristics of this particular genre are that the music video almost always has a narrative behind it, and isn't a concept and very rarely performance based, mainly because the music isn't really exciting, and the thought of a gig/concert is. The relationship between lyrics and visuals are also present; and in fact, are very strong. The opening lyric says "Wait, where you say you've been? Who you've been with? Where you say you're going? Who you're going with?" which basically, to a tee, is related to the narrative, which is on the theme of cheating. Throughout the video, this is the same, with similar lyrics being said, with the same meaning. However, the relationship between the music and the visuals isn't really there. There are times were the guitar is more predominantly strummed when a scene changes; whether this has been done intentionally or not, I don't know - but it is there, just not very often. Lots of close ups are used during this video. Goodwin states that this is due to demands of the record labels, whereas I would argue it is done to express and exaggerate the characters facial expression, and therefore their feelings, but that's because in a students situation, there is no record label! Voyeurism isn't really used in this, however, some may argue that some 'bedroom scenes' count, all be it mild, but still show some aspects of voyeurism. I didn't notice any intertextual references at all, although sometimes you wont notice them, because you are unfamiliar with the original reference! But as far as I am aware, no intertextaul references were used.
Overall, I think that this is a brilliant example of a music video for this particular genre. I feel the students have done a really good job of putting across the meaning and emotions to the audience. I also feel that the way it has been set out really is good, and has a professional quality to it. If I were to choose my softer song (I wont give up - Jason Mraz) I would use this video as a guide, because I think it is truly awesome!
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