Applying theory to this music video, features that are
included are performance shots of the band, with iconography of a typical rock
or indie genre video, like the drums they are playing. This demonstrates their
own instrumental and musical skills, also in aid to develop star persona as
indie musicians. The wide performance shots are essential in showing that,
though these performance shots are not in a concert or arena setting, but in a
dark lit warehouse room. Most of the video is in Black and White, giving a
quite timeless and maybe more serious tone to it, which may and probably does
relate to the theme of the song and lyrics, though there is a colour change in
the chorus to a bright orange, signifying enlightenment and coming out of the
dark. There are also close-ups of the band members establishing their persona
and frequent close-ups of the main vocalist, while he lip-syncs and mimes to
the track. We as the audience are aware that he is the main vocalist, as he has
a lot more screen time and is shown lip-syncing in various different settings/lighting
effects. For example, while miming with his band mates with the drums and a
scene of him in fractured light (like Venetian blinds), which is very cinematic
and conceptual and definitely a theme which runs throughout, ‘Dark’ concepts.
Close ups of the instruments themselves and the miming creates authenticity to
the video, anchoring the fact that these guys are actual musicians, it also
creates a sense of atmosphere and involvement for the audience, as performance
videos tend to do despite the fact it’s not a concert setting, it’s still quite
powerful along with the fast editing cuts and special effects.
There is a montage of photos through the video, which is
more conceptual. Images include petrol hose, gas mask, gun, bomb and these are
shown in black and white, so very dark against a white background making it
stand out a lot. As there is no direct reference to these images through lyrics
in the song or on screen, it is left to the audience really, to contemplate and
interpret the message or meaning behind it and as to why it was included in the
video. As there is no stated interpretation of these images from the band
themselves, it makes it more powerful, the images alone, no words.
Quite uniquely, this music has some of the lyrics on screen
in different fonts. There is a strong relationship between the lyrics and the
visuals and the music and visuals, which is very effective. The editing cuts
with the music and the lyrics are complimented by the visual effects. There is
also archive footage showing burning buildings, oil rigs and the police. The
relevance of these images relate to the theme of consumerism and capitalism. So
the images and footage play the part of the narrative in this video, which is
fragmented in the sense that there are quick clips shown. It is non-linear and
also enigmatic with no clear narrative structure i.e. beginning, middle and
end. The combination/cutting between the narrative and performance is
repetitive and fundamentally enhances the audience experience through viewing.
Jasmine.
