Music video analysis


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCDIYvFmgW8


Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice

1.)    How do the representations in the music video chosen by the producers promote the artist?
The artist ‘Fatboy Slim’ is not promoted in the music video as he is not featured in it and there are no direct references made to him. However, the artist was meant to be featured in the music video but his wife was giving birth on the weekend it was shot so Christopher Walken took his place.

2.)    How does the music video reflect individuals or social, cultural and historical issues and events?
The lyrics “Push the tempo-po, Praise the tempo” are repeated throughout the video, this reflects the artists social, cultural and historical contexts as the artist Fatboy Slim is an English DJ.

3.)    How is the music video influenced by the concept of intertextuality?
The video has been influenced by a novel by John Birmingham which concentrates on how everything has changed and is unpredictable.
The actor Christopher Walken and the location can be seen as intertextuality. The lobby of the Mariott Hotel in Los Angeles can also be used as intertextuality as multiple things have been filmed there including the film ‘True Lies’.
The lyrics “Don’t be shocked by the tone of my voice it’s the new weapon, the weapon of choice” references the book ‘Dune’ in which the book characters are able to manipulate their voices to become a weapon to control their enemies.

4.)    What viewpoints/ representations and messages and values does the media language of the music video highlight about society and how realistic do you think these representations are?
The music video can be used to express what it is like to struggle with depression as at first the actor is sad in a chair looking sad and drained, but then he has an outburst of energy as seen by the intense choreographed dance routine. However, the dances are jerky which can show he is trying to hold in some of his anger and not allow catharsis to happen as arduously. And then at the end, the actors face goes back to what it was like at the beginning.

5.)    Does the music video challenge or subvert the codes and conventions of a music video? Does this lead to multiple meanings?
The music video does subvert the conventions and codes or a music video because it includes diegetic sound as you can hear the taps of his shoes on the floor of the hotel. The shots used in this music video also last a long time and the tracking shot is used multiple times, this is used to engage the audience.  

6.)    Have stereotypes been used in a positive or negative manner (or both) how and why?
As Christopher Walken is the actor used in this music video, old people can be stereotyped here, but in a positive way because he is dancing and showing how energetic they can be.
Another stereotype could be that rich, white men don’t spend their time effectively and they waste their time and money on dancing, this is a negative stereotype about them.

7.)    When placed in a global context do you think that the music videos offer representations that are under or over represented in society. Why do you think this?
Rich, white males are over represented in society because other groups of people aren’t seen as often in the media, these include females and ethnic groups.

8.)    How have the social and cultural contexts affected the representations on offer in the music video?
The artist Fatboy Slim is an Englishman, he is also representing rich, white men however, he is not seen in the video.

9.)    How are the [different] audience/s positioned to respond and interpret the representations/messages and values/ideologies that the music video offers the audience?
The video looks very cinematic as the framing, lighting and how the camera moves with Christopher Walken’s movements. Long shots have been used to capture all of his movements. The audience could feel as though they are running alongside the actor when the tracking shots are used because direct eye contact is made which draws the audience in and captures our attention so that we are fully engaged with Walken’s performance. The music video can be used for all audiences as it is funny due to the flying but also older audiences can associate better between the actor and the location as Christopher Walken is a very famous actor and has been in the film industry for many years.


10.)  How has the music videos’ version of reality been constructed through the techniques of re-representation?
A cinematic style, generating style and experimental lighting have been used in this music video to enhance the ability of Walken’s dancing abilities. There is no clear link between the lyrics of the song and the performance in the music video by Christopher Walken, this tells us as the audience that it is an alternative music video.

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