My Favourite Video’s

Using Goodwin's Terminology

The White Stripes – Blue OrchidYou got a reactionYou got a reaction, didn't you?You took a white orchidYou took a white orchid turned it blueSomething better than nothingSomething better than nothing, it's giving upWe all need to do somethingTry to keep the truth from showing upHow dare youHow old are you now, anyway? X2You're given a flowerBut I guess there's just no pleasing youYour lip tastes sourBut you think that it's just me teasing youYou got a reactionYou got a reaction, didn't you?You took a white orchidYou took a white orchid turned it blueGet behind meGet behind me now, anyway X2You got a reactionYou got a reaction, didn't you?You took a white orchidYou took a white orchid turned it blue

There are not really any key lines which associate with the visuals in this video, however the line “ you took a white orchid” reflects on the fact that the model is wearing a white dress and the horse also happens to be white. Therefore the band has not associated the video to the lyrics wholesale.

MusicVisually this video emphasizes a lot of the sounds by foregrounding them into the video, such as smashing the plates and rocking the rocking chair to the beat of the bass drum. The vibrations creating certain objects to move, such as the apple, make it seem as if the music is being played inside the house. Constantly the video refers to the beat in the backdrop whether it be smashing plates or pulling on the piano strings.

Genre & cameraworkThe genre for this band is alternative rock and this is shown very distinctively through-out the video. This video is based around the Victorian period which I feel works well as it reflects the dark side of the band. It is also closely related to the work of Tim Burton who is very well known for depicting creepy and gothic like mise en scene. The editing style is very unique much like the performance as I feel it refers to stop motion as the movement is very jittery. I also think that the video at some points resemble a mental institute, just because of the way the camera is angled and the performance from the band and extras.

The director of this video, Floria Sigismondi, is best known for her trademark dilating , jittery camerawork which is most noticeable in Marilyn Manson’s – The Beautiful People. The edgy camerawork reflects the entire image of the video, the fact that the model is walking on Pointe makes it look even more difficult for her by using a handheld camera. The emphasis of the music also contributes to the camerawork especially when Meg White, the drummer for the band, smashes the plates or bangs on the floor the handheld camera jolts up and down referring to the vibrations of the speakers causing the camera to pulsate.

Editing & IntertextualityThis video on YouTube has received nearly 5 million views rendering it very popular, as it is almost like a trailer for a film/ or explaining a story, again it is closely related to the work of Tim Burton and with the use of colorization by lowering the tones it creates a dark/ eerie atmosphere relating to many of Tim Burtons films. This video establishes mood by using fast-cuts and flashing images. Also the ending features a cliff hanger which adds extra pleasure to the audience as the entire video keeps you on the edge of your seat

The fact that this video is related to Tim Burton refers to the Intertextuality of this video to slant more towards the theatrical side, however the director Floria Sigismondi is a well known fashion photographer and artist. The use of incorporating/ reconstructing similar scenes of Tim Burtons work helps the audience to familiarize with the video.

Narrative & PerformanceThe narrative and performance is often referred to as being gothic, the video also can be read like a story through the use of the dramatic ending. The use of the band being part of the video, creates an authentic aspect as it helps the audience engage more into the video, the performance from the band also contributes to how genuine the video is as they don’t seem bothered by over reacting

Duran Duran – Wild BoyzThe wild boys are calling On their way back from the fireIn august moon's surrender to A dust cloud on the riseWild boys fallen far from gloryReckless and so hungered On the razors edge you trailBecause there's murder by the roadside In a sore afraid new world

They tried to break us, Looks like they'll try again

Wild boys never lose itWild boys never chose this wayWild boys never close your eyesWild boys always shine

You got sirens for a welcome There's bloodstain for your painAnd your telephone been ringing while You're dancing in the rainWild boys wonder where is gloryWhere is all you angels Now the figureheads have fellAnd lovers war with arrows over Secrets they could tell

They tried to tame you Looks like they'll try again

Chorus

Visually the lyrics associate to the video very well as they often refer back to the coherent meaning of the song. The lyrics “on their way back from the fire” represents most of the fire shown in the video as well as the use of boys disrespecting and behaving badly, referring to being “wild boys”

Music & GenreThe music is emphasized through the use of sharp cuts and the movements from the actors catch the beat of the song, such as when an actor moves/crakes his fingers, the movement is emphasized by the effect in the backdrop which sounds somewhat like cracking your knuckles and when the wheel circles round there is a creaking noise in the backdrop to emphasize that too

Duran Duran are an English rock band, and the use of rock is used effectively as the electric guitar is often put in the scene. Also the way the video is shot reflects the rock genre as it is very dark throughout the video apart from the use of fire to brighten it up.

Camerawork & EditingRussell Mulcahy is the director of Duran Duran’s video who is most famous for his video for The Buggles “video killed the radio star” and has also worked with Spandau Ballet, Bonnie Tyler and The Rolling Stones, he also shot the film Resident evil : extinction. This video is most well known for its extreme use of stunt men and its dramatic layouts, I believe it to be the sector of most of the music videos shot today as in today's society we have a lot more use of special effects to what we did back when this video was filmed making it very impressive.The use of quick cuts to shots upcoming scenes, adds dramatic effect to the video, then with the use of the transitions it slows down the mood. The way the video is shot makes it seem like a film through the emphasized acting and the use of their own effects make it seem that much more authentic. At the time this video was the most expensive ever made, with its futuristic theme consistent to the book it was created around.

Intertextuality & representationsThe title of the video was deprived from the book “wild boyz” which is about “packs of adolescent humanoids who ravage the civilized nations of the Earth. When wholesale slaughter erupts, the battle continues underground where the survivors evolve into The Wild Boys”. Which I feel can be interpreted into the form of rioting or a political abrupt, at the time this video was made, 1984, Thatcher was in charge of our country and there was a lot of political confrontation between people at that time.

Alexisonfire – Young CardinalsStrange things happen in night time hoursYesterday's buds, tomorrow's flowersThose who speak numbers, refuse the great forgiverAnd powerful men raise your hands and deliverAll the superstitions to which we all clingWhile high minds in Geneva ponder e8 vs. stringThe sun hides itself, concealing its grinAnd waits for the dawn to reveal itself againOh, young cardinalsNesting in the treesOh, hear our songsAnd reign your innocence on meStrange things happen in the nighttime hoursWhite tails graze and wolves devourGhosts of old loves are blowing through the pinesNicotine babies are being born without spinesThe god of the sea is swinging his tridentWe stoke our fires with the bones of tyrantsThe sun, it retreats through the dust and the dinAnd waits for the dawn to reveal itself againOh, young cardinalsNesting in the treesOh, hear our songAnd reign your innocence on meOh, young cardinalsTake flightReturn to nest in the black of nightThere were things you were not meant to know

Oh, young cardinalsX4

The lyrics don’t closely relate to the song but the line “The god of the sea is swinging his trident” refers back to the thrashing of the waterfall, the song is also quite angry so this could be interpreted into the strength of the sea.

Music & GenreThe music is emphasized visually through the use of combining the music to fit in with certain movements of the band or the crowd, for example when it comes to the breakdown of the song they crowd and band clap to the beat of the drum. The genre of the band is hardcore and is shown indefinitely throughout the video, portraying them as a strong group, the use of “earthy” tones relate to the grim and murky side of the genre

The genre is shown through the use of the mosh pit, the jumping and the sense of style, in comparison to bands with genre such as hip hop or rap as they reach more into the zones of voyeurism, and representation

Editing & Intertextuality This video is made up of lots of fast – cut shots, to emphasize the dramatic effect, the breakdown of the song switches up the mood by changing to a slower pace and gentler shot transitions , the video again like the 2 analyzed resembles a film trailer because of the use of dramatic effect, however there is not much of a story as the video is more of a band performance than a storyline, the difference between all 3 is the fact that this video involves a crowd, making the relationship between band and fan a lot stronger, it also makes you feel as if you are watching the band live.

There isn’t really any Intertextuality within the video, because I think they tried to keep the video as original as possible. However the location of Niagara Falls can be related to other films such as Bruce Almighty which involves a scene of Jim Carrey at Niagara Falls, apart from this I feel that the band try to keep everything unique.

Star Image The way the band is interpretated in the video is authentic and shows how they perform in real life, the camera is constantly circling the band making them the centre of attention , the band also connects with the crowd by constantly focusing on them and reaching out to them for more attention, it can also be seen as a typical thing to see from a hardcore band as it’s very mainstream. The way the band are dressed as well can be seen as mainstream as every hardcore band dresses that way as apposed to other genres like rap and hip hop.