This video is a clear example of an auteur's amplification of a track. This video adds another layer of meaning to the lyrics already in place. The use of CGI and models of the foetus in this post-modern disjunctured music video, added a whole new set of meanings for me as a viewer. When i had previously heard this song, the idea of a foetus did not enter my mind. Having two relative visual viewer inferences; amplification ( the surreal humour could be inferred via the 'speaking' foetus within what appears to be a computer generated womb) and disjuncture; as I previously mentioned, there is no indication via the songs lyrics of a baby, a foetus or anything within this video.
The beginning of this video depicts a journey along an umbilical cord leading to a motionless foetus. This is shown via closeups and blurred to focussed shots of various parts of the body, e.g the feet and seemingly peaceful face. After a minute of the song, and the set in of the lyrics, the foetus' lips mimes the last word of the first verse. 'Breath' is seen via a closeup on the foetus' face.
This video can be interpreted in many ways, via preferred reading etc. However I understand the video to be a mother singing to her unborn child. The song, possibly being familiar to the foetus, attracts it's attention and evokes a reaction. (Opening of the eyes, the humorous and seemingly impossibly singing along of the words). The close-ups onto the foetus' face and lips can be considered the meat! of this video. However not being a pop song, the voice may not be seen as the essential part of the song by the artists. Yet in this case, the focal point is still the unborn baby's lips whilst appearing to sing along.
The video could also be noted as having it's own meta-narrative, with the foetus progressively gaining more movement, opening it's eyes as the song progresses. Also the foetus seems to have hair towards the end, whilst it does not or it cannot be seen at the start of the song.
The pace of the video is added to via a visual contrast. It too is slow paced, and the pitch of the singer's voice is anchored by the video's dull lighting combined with bursts of fragmented light onto the foetus' body.
There are a number of point of view shots which could be noted as filler shots. As there is not a great deal to be seen within a womb. The cuts are also represented via the music. These are suggested by Steve Archer' technical aspects of a music video, as was the meat i mentioned previously. Cuts to ECU's (extreme close ups) of the lips in sync with the music anchor this theory.
When it comes to lighting and colour within this video. It is very basic. The lighting is very dull, obviously adding to the verisimilitude of the video as it isn't going to be sunny inside a womb. However, light passes through or radiates into the womb, at which points the singer uses a higher pitch and tone in her voice.
Mise-en-scene in teardrop is at a low. However it is clear to see that verisimilitude was taken quite seriously in this video, as there are various human tissue and other such things floating around in what has to be amniotic fluid. However, for such a developed baby (be able to open it's eyes, move its limbs and discern light, i have researched it to be around the ninth months) so for a foetus to have that much room inside the womb is completely unreal and takes away from a verisimilitude perspective.
The womb is most probably constructed via CGI, so the foetus' P.O.V shots and shots of the Foetus look exceptional and it makes for a superb disjunctured music video.
Well done Adam - this is a difficult video to analyse! Although one of my favourite tracks. To secure a level 4, you will need to redraft and address the following elements:
ReplyDeleteHow does this video reinforce the band image?
What could you say is the ideological discourse in this video? Think about the genre of music and music videos as "art" - a bit more abstract than the ideological discourse in an R&B video, but there nonetheless.
Well done - currently 3+/4-