EG4: Coldplay- Paradise

ACT: Coldplay
TRACK: Paradise
YEAR:  September 2011

DIRECTOR: Mat Whitecross

GENRE: Electronic Rock

MAIN AUDIENCE: M/F 15-24

Music Video:

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

Relationship formed

There's no direct lip syncing in this video to distinguish a relationship between the lyrics and visuals, however the lead singer is dressed up as the elephant character who delivers links with the visuals and lyrics, for example when he's busking on the street instead of lip syncing he's holding cardboard signs with the lyrics on. This is a good use of props for the mise-en-scene aspect because busking relates to songs and the lyrics on the boards form the relationship between the visuals and lyrics.


GENRE CHARACTERISTICS:
This video actually uses a countertype in a way for the genre because of the cuddly costumes that the band wear, seen as the genre is a rock style it's not what you'd expect to see.

LINEAR, CLOSED NARRATIVE?:

Extreme long shot

They use narrative enigma with the elephant costumes for the band so the audience is left to question who's in the elephant costumes whether it's the band or some actors, then the exposition is provided when the band is shown performing at an arena in the elephant costumes.The narrative is a peculiar one, which is common for some music videos so that the audience needs more than 1 viewing to understand it, as it tells the story of an elephant escaping from a zoo to be reunited with his companions.

LOCATION/S + MISE-EN-SCENE:

Location shot

The locations and mise-en-scene for this music video were vital so that it would result in the quirkiness that they've achieved, for example the cuddly elephant costumes and the african landscapes both worked well together to structure this unique narrative. But also the locations provide the audience with a lot of exposition for the audience to follow and understand, and they don't just use a couple of locations they have a wide variety of locations which contribute to making this music video more appealing to the audience as it's more interesting.

PACE + ANY VARIATION OF PACE:

Close-up, chaos scene

There are points in this music video where there's fast paced editing which contribute to achieving verisimilitude at the start amongst the chaos when the elephant escapes from the zoo. However there are also parts where there's long takes which allow discontinuity to appear slightly, and it also cuts to the beat at parts.

EG3: Ellie Goulding - Burn

ACT: Ellie Goulding

TRACK: Burn
YEAR:  5th July 2013

DIRECTOR: Greg Kurstin, Ryan Tedder

GENRE: Synthpop

MAIN AUDIENCE: F 15-24

Music Video:

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VISUALS + LYRICS:

Long Shot Lights

The lead singer is visually lip syncing the lyrics whiles the song is play at parts, however there are also other part where mise-en-scene is used well to signify the lyrics, for example when the lyrics are "shining up to the sky" there's a long shot used to show lights shining up to the sky in the visual.

GENRE CHARACTERISTICS:

Long Shot on lead singer

The genre is Synthpop which have the common themes of isolation, feelings of being emotionally cold and hollow, and these themes are all shown in this video especially with the work on mise-en-scene, for example the lead singer is framed in the centre of the camera on a runway which signifies her isolation.


 PERFORMANCE STYLE:

Close-up of lip syncing

In this video they've focused more on the singer and with her lip syncing with no instruments being shown, which is because it's the singer that is the solo artist whereas the band will just be a studio bad with not as much importance. However there's still a convincing performance as there's a variety of shots being used which keeps with the beat of the song, and this is helped by the setting as it's such a large setting the camera angle can be varied much more.

 LINEAR, CLOSED NARRATIVE?:
 The narrative is about the lead singer and her friends having a party outside and not having to worry about anything, however it's not very linear which leads it to be confusing at times and this is commonly used in most music videos, this way it leads the audience in to watch the video more than once to understand it.


LOOKING/MODE OF ADDRESS:

Directly looking at the camera

When the lead singer is shown looking directly at the camera it's used well as it directs what she's saying to the target audience, and because she's of the target audience age it relates more with the audience and helps to engage them with the video




AUDIENCE IN VID?:
The lead singer is in the age group of the target audience which directly allows the audience to relate with the singer, also the rest of the characters in the video who are partying are of the same age which makes it easier for the target audience to relate to. However there's no secondary audience being shown.

REPRESENTATIONS:
This music video portrays a stereotypical age representation with the teenagers as they are seen partying which is stereotypical for them, and the mise-en-scene is used well with their costumes as they're seen wearing denim jeans, trainers,

Teenage costume

hoodies, etc, which are also stereotypical.