BBK: Three Music Videos Analysis

Arctic Monkeys –"Cornerstone"
Directed by Richard Ayoade

·       - As an alternative genre based music video, Arctic Monkeys ‘Cornerstone’ can be reflected by Dyers theory relatively.

·       - The video depicts a blank background with the lead singer (Alex Turner) walking around slowly singing into a retro recording device whilst staring into the camera.

·       - Turner is presented in a bright red jumper opposing the white background dramatically making him stand out as a ‘star’. However his body language and mannerisms do not relate to the ‘star qualities’ identified by Dyer. Instead the singer reacts and moves awkwardly as if unnerved by the camera.

·       - Turner’s awkward presence may be seen to add to the paradox, although he is dressed ordinarily and does not seem different, his behaviour makes him extra-ordinary as he is not confident like other ‘stars’ in his act. The use of one continuous shot of him looking into the camera allows the audience to feel present with him as if he were addressing them, however this is juxtaposed by his mysterious and vacant nature in the video and the setting in which he resides. Thus makes him seminally absent at the same time.

·       - This video constructs an alternative representation of the band, the lack of substance within it makes it hard to link to consumerism and manipulative nature of music videos that Dyer claims.

·       - Instead the video relies upon what Barnes described as the unique expressive instrument of the band being Turners voice and forces the listener to focus on the lyrics in order to envisage the story.

·       - Any narrative fuzz within the video is conveyed through Turners awkward hand gestures miming interactions described in the lyrics.

·        - Goodwin’s brake down of meaning between visuals and lyrics may place this somewhere between amplified and disjunctive.

 

Vampire Weekend – "Cousins"

·      - When analysing the video in terms of Dyers ‘star image’ theory motifs in the videos mise-en-scene and editing can be seen to construct such a star image. The bands costume consists of smart casual clothing. However their erratic dancing and non-verbal language oppose this image.

·      - The video takes place in a New York alleyway where they proceed to let off confetti and paint the walls, conforming to the rebellious ‘star qualities’ identified by Dyer.

·       - Many of the shots are meat shots and allow the audience to feel present with whoever is in the foreground as the camera moves along a track with them.

·       - An abstract nature to the video is embodied within the editing and the use of jump cuts to make is appear unstructured allows the band to appear extra-ordinary juxtaposing their ordinary costume.