CharacterThe only character in the video is Maddie Ziegler from “Dance moms”. The young girl is wearing a skin colour body suit, with a blond wig. The blonde wig represents Sia the artist as now as her iconic look, although the young girl is meant to resemble her in her younger years. I feel that they have chosen a young character so that it adds to the dark message that she is addressing. With no makeup and pale skin it gives an abstract unhealthy image. Although on the other hand the bright white wig connotes the child’s innocence.

NarrativeFrom the lyrics we get the narrative that Sia was an alcoholic. “1,2,3 1,2,3 drink. Throw em’ back ‘til I loose count”. This represents her unstable past. She has chosen the petite child to represent her story through dance. With the unusual abstract movement it adds to the distressing story that supports her lyrics. She then speaks about “feel my tears as they dry”, while the young girl pulls on her eye lids. Additionally this implies the pain she was feeling but also makes the audience feel uncomfortable. I feel that she has done this because alcoholism is a strong subject that she was seriously addressed with her past. To add to that by using the young girl is connotes that she is a different person now, and that dark time has passed.

IconographyWith the theme being strong narrative about the artist strong past, the young girl represents her story. The colours and aery scenery are iconic link with the whole theme of depression with alcohol. To add to that costume contrasts with the girl’s innocence creating controversy by her making a sexual image, wearing a skin coloured lyotard. The modern expressive dancing contrasts against the 1960’s scenery. Technical and audio codes

The video contains cut a ways throughout the video, which gave the video character and represented time. It also adds to the distorted dance movements. There is no non-diegetic sound in the video which focuses on only the characters dancing. To add to that the diegetic sound relates with the tone of the music.

SettingThroughout the video there are several panning shots of the dark dull room. These exaggerate to the audience the setting. The bland greens and browns are appropriate to the old fashioned furniture which sets the mood of the song. With only minimal day lighting through dark old curtains it adds a musky lighting. With the scenery decrepit an impoverished it goes against the convention with music videos, by addressing something personal.