Foals- Blue BloodTextual Analysis

Generic Codes and Conventions

The music video establishes itself as belonging to the alternative music genre, as they commonly include concepts which represents metaphorical meanings derived from the lyrics of the song. It focuses mostly on the individual character and their emotions, and what effect this has on the concepts of the video.

Form of music video The music video is in the style of a performance or a representation of a concept. The concept may materialise into several contrasting interpretations. One of these is that the concept is the different perspectives that a young child has in comparison to their parents, as the student performs specifically to his mother, who seems to be embarrassed by her son, instead of being proud or encouraging him like one would expect. It thus could suggest that the message is for parents to support and celebrate their child in whatever they do, regardless of the fact whether he or she may be negatively judged. It may also be a more sociological and wider message which talks out about how society shiels and prevents one from seeing something that the majority dislike-”accepted, affected, protected.”

Cinematography

There is a combination of close-up shots and establishing shots (long shots) of the studios to show both the character’s movements and their effects on the audience.

Relationship between sound and images

The character is singing the song together with the music in time. The music and video work together in sync.

Mise-en-scene

All the students are wearing uniform- stereotypical white shirts and tie, showing that they are students. This suggests that they are in school.The boy is wearing a coat at the start, but he takes it off as he gains more confidence which adheres to the concept of the video.

Editing

At the beginning of the video there is use of slow pan editing when the boy is just beginning to sing, and then the pace is medium.

Audience

The audience are probably young adults or teenagers because it takes place where students, parents and teachers. Moreover the concept of the video is too complex for people of a younger age and the lyrics are of a more alternative nature, talking of alienation and isolation-”where i belong”.

Institutions

They are signed to the record label Transgressive Records.

Representations

The teenager is represented as confident and content of himself by the end of the video, which contrasts to the stubborn characters of the other teenagers, who seem to condemn diversity and this boy’s confidence. The boy’s parent is represented negatively because she seems embarrassed of her son.