Cage the Elephant ‘In One Ear’ music video                                Jack Clark
 
 First version out of two
 
            This video is a performance based video with no signs of narrative or concept. The video starts off with a POV shot of somebody walking down a street to a bar.  This uses the notion of looking and makes the audience feel as though they are walking to the bar and are part of the video. This POV shot however is dropped as soon as we feel we have entered the bar. There are also other examples of the notion of looking as the singer is seen to be staring into the camera singing which allows us to feel as though he is singing to us on a personal level. There are no real links with the music and the visuals besides the lip syncing with the music. Also the crowd are seen to be dancing in time with the music. There are no links however between the meaning of the lyrics and the visuals. The only link I could possibly see is that the performance is a small protest against the people being described in the song. There is an example of disjuncture in this video as the video does not enhance the story or portray the story in any way. This video could in my opinion be considered art although it does not really present any challenging ideas through visuals. It does however through the lyrics. The lyrics challenge the opinions of certain people who are criticising the band. However it is classed as post modern because it blurs the boundaries between advertising the track and the art form of the track.
 
            There are very many visual techniques used such as MCU’s CU’s etc to establish the setting and to establish the members of the band and this helps the audience see that they are all real musicians. The rule of thirds is used a lot in this sequence to show the singer or other members of the crowd and band. The editing in this video is very fast pace although some shots are in slow motion. There are fast tracking and panning shots used and some shots are done using a hadicam. These techniques are all used to increase the energy in the video and make it feel like a live performance and to make us feel as though we are there. The mise en scene has distinct connotations of rebellion and anarchy. For example the location is a bar which implies drinking alcohol which is linked to forms of anarchy. This is backed up by the crowed jumping around vigorously and almost out of control suggesting that they are all intoxicated by alcohol. The band also have long hair and are sweaty which reinforces my statement about rebellion and anarchy as people who have long hair are seen to be more scruffy and more rebellious. There are also flashed of skulls which suggest anarchy and death. At the beginning of the video you can hear sirens which again have strong connotations of rebellion. Also being in a bar connotes a cliché rock and roll image and is stereotypical iconography of a rock band. This rock and roll image is seen to be a very rebellious lifestyle influences by alcohol and drugs. A warm filter is used to increase the high levels of energy by showing heat. Also it shows a comforting side which could suggest that all the audience and the band are united in the protest. No star image motifs are really shown in this as they do not have any particular visual preferences. The individuality of this band comes from the sound of their music.
 
            The band is represented in a more realistic light than most artists. The band doing a small performance in a bar suggests that they are just normal people who love music and have not been changed by fame. Also by doing the performance in a small bar it shows that they are not in it for the money. This helps them sell their product because they are shown to be very down to earth and it shows that they have a real love and passion for what they do. There are two different social groups represented in the video. One is the rebellious youth. And the other is the older more criticising people shown to be just sitting at the bar. They do not look impressed and they look quite complacent. This could represent the type of people that the song is about. They represent more middle age middle class people while the band and crowd represent more rebellious working class youth. This video could be representing and underlying tension between two different social classes. Gender is not an issue in this video as they are both represented equally. This is showing the levels of equality that music should bring.
The dominant values in our society are being challenged in this video. This is done by showing that both sexes are equal. This challenges the traditional views of women being inferior to men and that they should just stay and look after the family. Race is not an issue in this video although the people in the video are predominantly Caucasian. Age is represented in this however as the younger people are seen to be jumping around and pushing each other around suggesting that they are uncontrollable. However the older men are seen just to be sitting at the bar looking almost disgusted at the younger generation. Also there are no older women at the bar which could show that the older men still conform to traditional view on gender as their wives could be back at home. The band may be doing this to show that these views are no longer valid in a modern society and that the younger generation are beginning to taking over society.
            I think that the video would suit ambient viewing more as it is just performance with no in depth narrative. However I think that it is capable of focussed viewing as it has very good technical aspects within it. I believe that the band would have more control over the video and the record label would help the ban to create what they wanted. I think that this has been done like this because the record label want to add authenticity to the music and promote the idea that the band are capable of doing everything themselves and that they are true musicians. Also the band are not that well known so the record label may spend less time with them compared to some of their bigger artists. However now the band has broken into the music industry more they have released a new video for the song. This could be the record label wanting to take more control over the band to create a more successful brand image for the band.