Music video analysis – prayer in c 5

MUSIC V

IDEO A

NALYSIS

– PRAY

ER IN C

EM

MA

WA

TS

ON

FORMS

Camerawork: A variety of camera shots, camera angles and movements are used in the video ‘Prayer in C’ featuring Lilly Wood and the Prick..

Camera shots: The majority of camera shots which are used in the video are mid shots with the character, and establishing shots through the video so we can establish the setting and the place which the characters are performing in, this helps the viewer to have an idea of what is going on around them and tells them what the song is about, whilst linking together one of Andrew Goodwin’s music video conventions – the link between the lyrics and the visuals. The first shot which is used in the video is an over the shoulder shot of who we assume to be the main performer looking in the mirror. From the way which the camera is positioned, we can see the characters facial expression and we can tell that she is unhappy, leading us to wonder what has happened – which we soon find out. The next shot is the girl from behind, still looking in the mirror and looking disapprovingly at her hair, we are still unsure as to why. This however, is the first time we see the girls face clearly, which is establishing the predominance of the close up within the first 4 seconds of the video starting.

Shot 1 Shot 2

FORMS

Camera shots (Continued): The video continues by using varying camera shots and angels which all show characters travelling in different ways. For example, we see some characters travelling by car, skateboard or by bike. This gives us the impression that they are all going to the same place. The footage is edited together in a fast pace and allows us to stay interested in the video and not get bored of the same shot within the first few seconds, which would deter us from watching the rest of the video. - within the first 20 seconds of the video, the shot has already changed 16 times. Most of these camera shots however, as we can see below, are level shots or very slightly low angle shots. All of these shots move in the same direction as the performer, giving us a sense that we are travelling with them.

FORMS

Camera Shots (Continued): Although there are many shots of characters which are not the main performer as mid/long shots, the majority of shots relating to the performer are close ups or extreme close ups, as we can see below.

When the performer joins a group and all the characters come together there are more long shots and the focus becomes less on the performer and more on the group as a whole.

ANGLES

Most of the camera angles which are used are straight on and there are a few which are slightly from a low or high angle, but not so much that it is noticeable. Even when the camera is straight on, shots used are mostly on the floor or are low, giving the video a quirky feel which makes you pay more attention to what they are doing, i.e. footwork on the skateboard, this makes it more amusing when they fall of or injure themselves etc… This seems to be a strong concept, as even when the camera is positioned to get a shot straight on, something is happening at the top of the shot which draws your attention to the top. This is unconventional and makes the video feel like more of it is shot low than what actually is.

MISE EN SCENELike all other music videos, the mise-en-scene is an important

aspect of the video and can either make or break it.

Locations: The main locations which are used in this video is the girls bedroom at the beginning when we see her transformation and the street which we see the majority of the action taking place. Neither of these locations would usually be particularly interesting, but with a combination of makeup and props have been made to suit the theme of the video.

Lighting: the lighting used is a mixture of both high and low key lighting which enables the audience to feel the progression of time as the night seemingly progresses. The lighting seems to be all natural light, however this could be a simple trick to make the audience think this. There are lots of fireworks and bright lights which are used in the end of the video, which enhances viewer experience and anchors what we believe to be a good time.

CLOTHING AND MAKEUP

The indie genre can either be very extreme or over simplistic. The clothing and makeup used in this video makes it clear that this is going to be an extreme video. None of the characters seem to stand out purely based on makeup or clothing, as they are all dressed incredibly brightly and seemingly in a fun yet fitting way. This shows that although they are different from other people, they are not different from one another, all having at least one thing in common.

The makeup however also shows that although the characters look different, they are all dressed in the same way as the characters not wearing makeup and are all treated the same, there is no division between the wearers of makeup and the non-wearers.

EDITING

The indie genre is not known for massive transitions and glamorous edits. Most of the edits are simple and fitting to the story.

Pacing: the there is a fast pace to the video and the edits seem to be in time with the beat of the music. When the music is slow, there is a lot going on on screen but there is only one take. When the music is fast, there are a lot of shots all cut together to match the fast pace of the video. There are no transitions which are used in the video, there is simply the use of cuts, which gives the video a feeling of being a low budget simple video. This also shows the simplicity of the video, and the characters in the video.

CONVENTIONS

1. It is likely that there are some intertextual references to videos or films. This means that it makes reference to another media text, maybe in terms of style, character of method.

Because the video I have chosen is so unusual and niche, I cannot identify and intertextual references to other videos. This may be because there has not been enough research into other videos or simply because there are not many videos which have such a bizarre concept carried out so well.

2. Video may develop stars identity or iconography.

In this video this could be interpreted in multiple ways, although the identity may not be developed in a way which is noticeable in the sense of Michael Jackson’s white glove, but when someone now hears the artists name they are likely to think of the wild and bizarre idea of painting their faces to look like skulls and dancing in the streets. Although the star is not in the video, this could be considered as breaking conventions, as the performance video does not focus solely on the performer alone, but more on a group of people as a whole.

CONVENTIONS

3. Predominance of the close up.

At the beginning of the video there are many close ups which are used, which is important in helping to identify the main character and allowing us to connect with the performer due to a level of intimacy. As the video progresses, there is a lesser use of the close up, and the video becomes more of a group thing than a singular, intimate video.

4. Voyeurism – referring to watching people engaging in intimate behaviors. Although this is not explicit in the video there are slight hints of Voyeurism, however these could simply be considered to be someone having a laugh and having fun, more on part of the performer than the person who is thought to be watching.

CONVENTIONS

Relationship between the music and the visuals: in this particular case the visuals seek to amplify the music, as previously mentioned when the music is faster, the editing and the cuts between shots are faster and more interesting, when the music is slow, the editing and cuts are also slow and it is possible that it could be deemed almost boring.

Relationship between the lyrics and the visuals: the only link between the lyrics and the visuals is the line “our world is slowly dying” where we see many people effectively ‘dying’ (injuring themselves and becoming one with face paint on). Apart from this, the lyrics don’t match the visuals, yet this line is repeated throughout the song so this could be considered a pretty big link.

CONVENTIONS

The genre creating its own style or theme: as previously mentioned the indie genre can either be over simplistic or massively extravagant. This is the case with this particular video, which is one of a kind. We can tell that the genre has created its own theme as there are no pre-existing videos which have similar themes and use both makeup and other forms of mise-en-scene in this way.