JT - Video Deconstruction 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma9I9VBKPiw

Genre and Narrative

The video ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ by Arctic Monkeys, an alternative rock band, is one which is based on a narrative rather than the performance of the band. The narrative consists of a gang of clowns and a gang of gangsters fighting at an abandoned warehouse, with the two leaders, past friends, attempting to kill each other. The genre of this music track is made evident through several conventions of indie music videos. The lighting used and also the location, an abandoned warehouse, give the music video a very gritty British feel and makes it clear it is a low-fi music video. The music video ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ is an example of disjuncture between the lyrics and visuals. The video does not illustrate what the lyrics are saying as there is no talk about a fight between a group of clowns and gangsters. They have done this to make the music video unique and stand out when people are browsing through the music channels because of the bizarre concept for the video. This music video could easily be considered as a piece of ‘art’. This is as it is very stylistic with the use of lighting and camera work, and could have even been an extract from a film apposed to a music video advertising a band and their work. This video is postmodernism as it has blurred the boundaries between a music video and a short film, as subconsciously we as viewers are being shown an advertisement trying to promote a band or song, but we consider these music videos to be pieces of art in a way we would with a film. We do not realise that this music video is an advertisement as it is not inherently commercial as it offers a very unique idea, one which is very different from the rest of the market. This creates a new type of media which has not been seen before.

Media Language

At the start of the music video a POV shot is used which positions us on the side of the clowns. Throughout the video a handicam is used following the action closely, this makes the viewer feel like they are actually involved with the action which creates a bond between the band and the viewer. The viewer is often placed in with the action such as when the gangster is smashing the windscreen of a car with a chain the camera is placed within the car which makes it feel as if he is attacking us. This feel is also created through the use of MCU shots at eye level as the viewer is able to see everything which is going on. The lighting and colours used are common in indie music videos, these are yellows and greens which give a feeling of warmth but makes the video look very gritty and clearly British. Slow motion shots are used throughout this music video such as when one of the gangsters attempts to hit a clown with a chair but misses and it smashes on a pillar. By using these shots it creates a contrast between the fighting scenes and the scenes with don’t involve fighting. The speed of the editing stays consistent throughout the video, not often speeding up or slowing down. Even when the music becomes livelier the editing does not match this. There is no link between the lyrics and the editing but instead the editing is linked with the music, often changing shots as the music changes. At one point in the music video the camera looks up one of the gangsters swinging a chain, this begs a question, are we meant to idolise these people through the violence they are carrying out? It is clear that the leader of the clowns and the leader of the gangsters have a history together, even after 25 seconds over shoulder shots are used from both perspectives as the two are squaring up. Later on in the music video a POV shot is used from the viewpoint of the gangster leader as the leader of the clowns is punching him. During this shot text is used to anchor the image which reads ‘How could it have come to this?’, this clearly shows that previously these two were good friends and how possibly could it end up in them fighting. This creates an enigma for the viewer as they wonder what happened between the two of them. A question which is not answered in the video but is left to the viewer’s imagination. Straight after this sequence the video cuts to a clip of the two boys as youngsters on a swing, with the clown still dressed as a clown the viewer can make the link between the past and the present. This shot is faded in after it shows the face of the clown so it gives the sense that he is reminiscing back to the old days. After the clip of the two youngsters on the swing there is a sequence of still photographs of the band members when they were younger enjoying themselves. This shows the contrast between childhood and the adolescence and young adult years as they are now carrying out acts of violence in large gangs. This music video ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ is extremely low-fi with the absence of any special affects or anything more than a simple colour change. This is a video that could be made on a very low budget. The mise-en-scene used helps to add a lot to the music video. The music video is carried out at an abandoned warehouse next to a river which helps to add to the gritty feel of the music video. By using this location the colours seen in the majority of the music video are greys and greens, this making the video very gritty and British. With the use of mise-en-scene it is evident that this is taking place in a large city, this is as when the clown is throwing a man in the river in slow motion large buildings and tower blocks are seen on the horizon. At the very end of the music video the clown leader is shown blowing up the car with the gangster leader still inside of it, then the video cuts to a flashback of the two men as children dancing around in the sunlight. This creates a large contrast between a childhood and adulthood. The actor Stephen Graham is used in the music video ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ who is a very popular actor and appears in films such as ‘This is England’ which is a very gritty British film which also involves violence. When viewers then see this actor they think of the roles he’s played and in what sort of films and they automatically link them to this music video.

Representation

From this music video ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ the band Arctic Monkeys are represented as being very creative and original. This is as the concept of the music video is very different, one which has not been done before, so therefore on a larger scale this could mean that they are like no other band musically. The band do not appear in this music video, this shows that they do not need to advertise themselves in a music video to gain recognition. This to a viewer who has never seen or heard of the band could show that they must be quite a big band and even credible if they do not feel the need to advertise themselves to get fans but let the music do the talking. This could add to the meta-narrative of the band Arctic monkeys as being a credible band, as they have also used a large actor in the music video, and shows the band as clearly being British. This can help sell their product as the band are represented as being credible, very creative but still, with the use of a gritty video, shown as being normal guys. The different social groups shown are young adults who are represented through violence and shown in a negative light in contrast to when they are shown as youngsters who are pictured enjoying themselves. This clearly is used to represent a wider topic in society of the change between childhood and adulthood. Within this music video there is an ideology on male ego and pride through violence and standing your ground. This is as there is no females present in this music video but a bunch of men, some being a lot older, carrying out organised violence. This shows the two groups fighting for pride and is not shown fighting for an object or money. There is also an ideology regarding childhood and adulthood. This shows the change, from when a child is young and innocent out playing to a young adult taking part in violence and holding hatred against other people. This could be reinforcing a view in society of how children change for the worse as they go through their adolescent years. Using Dyer's critical framework on 'Stars' it is evident that the band have used this video to be shown as both ordinary and extraordinary. The band are shown as being ordinary as the video has a very gritty and British feel as apposed to using CGI and other post-filmic effects. But they are shown as being different and extraordinary, people who we would admire, with the use of a very famous actor playing a large part in the music video and the general concept of the music video being very unique.

Institution and Audience

The music video ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ would be aimed at more focused viewers as apposed to ambient viewers. This is as there is a slight narrative throughout the music video but viewer, if an ambient viewer, would not understand the past between the two leaders and why they were fighting. This video would be mainly used to appeal to their fans rather than to gain many new fans. This is as the band have not appeared and advertised themselves in this music video as their current fans would already know what they are like and what they look like and also shows them as being unique and original. The band Arctic Monkeys belong to EMI who are the fourth largest business group regarding record labels and also Warner distributors. Therefore they would play a large part in these promotional texts as these are big companies and the band are also representing these companies so they would want to be shown in a positive way.