Song Title: Stuck
Artist: Canopy Climber
Genre: Alternative Rock - This genre is generally categorised by 'a distorted guitar sound, subversive and/or transgressive lyrics and generally a nonchalant, defiant attitude.' This is seen clearly by the music video as the overall tone matches the genre; the theme of the music video is quite dark by their use of dark wash, dimly lit sets and camera shots.
Type of Video: I think the music video is narrative based with conceptual ideas; as the video follows many different story lines that have similar themes running throughout. Towards the end, some of the story lines interlink; but the overall idea is that all these different individuals are stuck in their own maze, which reflects the lyrics and message of the song 'stuck repeating the same mistakes'.
Representations: Whilst the cast seem entirely white, there is one actor who seems to be of a slightly different ethnic background - the cast almost entirely male apart from the one woman seen at times. The image of the woman portrayed fits the stereotypical 'damsel in distress' notion that a woman is weak and feeble and needs saving; they don't attempt to break this convention, however they don't conform to the typical male gaze that is commonly seen in Western music videos. The music video also holds the typical patriarchal view that men hold the most power; as the main two actors are seen to commit criminal acts and seemingly get away with it.
Group Image: The overall group image is that the main two protagonists are seemingly dangerous as they're able to commit acts of violence and get away with it. However, the actor singing seems remorseful about his actions and hopes for a way to change things but realises he cannot. Another side to their group image is that there are innocents involved who are targeted and end up hurt, almost as collateral damage such as the boy working out and the girl being shaken.
Intertextual References: There doesn't seem to be any clear intertextual references; however the scene filmed in the gym/boxing studio could reference several films such as Rocky or Fight Club.
Camera Shots:
One camera shot/editing technique that I liked was the shot of the sky, seen at 0:25 and 2:54 which had been sped up over time to show the sun setting. Not only does it show the time or that time has passed, but it also added to the cinematography of the music video; especially with the colours. This is something I'd like to put in our music video.
I also like the opening wide shot seen at 0:03, where the two protagonists are in the background. I like the way this shot looks and despite having empty space in the foreground, the audience's attention is instantly drawn to the artist.Intended Target Audience: I think the intended target audience is teenagers as the lyrics to the song speak to those who are stuck in perhaps a bad place in their life and feel like they're stuck. It also references problems that teenagers often get themselves caught up in.
Number of shots: 15+
Song Title: Powerless
Artist: Rudimental
Genre: Drum and Bass and Soul - Both of these genres are very different, the first is described as 'a genre of electronic music also known as Jungle which emerged in England in the early 1990s'; whilst the latter is described as a 'popular music genre that originated in the United States in the 1950s and early 1960s and combines elements of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues and jazz'. These two music genres are complete opposites, which means portraying the typical conventions of them in a music video is difficult. This group decided to break away from the typical conventions entirely.
Type of Video: Narrative. This music video follows a linear narrative structure; it shows a couple at home who are clearly having marital problems and after a heated arguments, things get physical and the man ends up critically wounding the woman. Reflecting the lyrics of the song, the man feels 'powerless' and the music video rewinds back to the beginning using a grey scale to make this clear to the audience - however it cuts back to reality and shows the male protagonist crying, clearly regretting his actions.
Representations: The music video consists of three actors, two females and one male. This isn't a diverse representation as it solely features working/middle class white people; there's no other representation seen or used. However, there is more women in the music video compared to men, which breaks away from convention; and portrays women as having more power. This idea/notion is later destroyed as the main female protagonist is later killed by her partner, leaving the remaining ratio of women to men as 1:1.
Group Image: The singer, seen as the female with brown hair, seems to be the main artist whilst the other two people are just actors. Her image could be described as provocative as the music video she stars in graphically shows the murder of a woman, but her chosen costume could also be deemed as provocative.
Intertextual References: There aren't any clear intertextual references.
Camera Shots:
Intended Target Audience: I think the intended target audience are students in their late teens and early twenties; as all the actors fit into that age bracket and whilst the music video could be deemed to highlight a serious topic - domestic abuse; it fails to show how it could be prevented. The unexpected ending seems like it would shock those in their late teens into taking more caution in their action and behaviour.
Number of shots: 10+
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