The introduction to the video shows a blank screen with the text ‘On May 2nd + 3rd…this is what they did with the money’, this is used as a humorous devise whereby fans will understand the sarcasm and expect a video with an emphasis on wasting money. This type of humour is a part of the bands meta-narrative, as they are well known for not taking anything very seriously and living life as enjoyably as possible. This screen is followed by a shot of the band handing out money to anyone spontaneously in the streets, this shows their misuse of money and focus on loving life as are shown having a good time. The tour bus is also shown in the shots and is used to allow the audience to recognise their band status, performance shots and concert shots, shot with a ‘fish eye lens’, are also shown for the same reason. The bands meta-narrative is built upon within the video through the shots which show the band laughing and having a good time together whilst spending vast amounts of money on unnecessary things such as stupid hair-cuts, a suit for a tramp and cars for each of the band members.
Theorist ‘Laura Mulvey’ could quote this particular Blink 182 video as being misogynistic because of the objectifying shots of the women in the strip club and washing the car in very little clothing. By moving the camera from the foot to the head of a particular woman the audience is positioned in partaking in the male-gaze. No other techniques are used to objectify the women but feminists can decode the appearance of them in such revealing clothes as being misogynistic. In smashing up the TV within a shot, the conventions of mayhem in rock are reinforced but the good morals of the band are kept by paying the owner with the money supposed to be used to make this video. Two thirds into the video, the video changes to reinforcing conventions expected of a rock band and ‘demonstrate genre characteristics’ as ‘Andrew Goodwin’ quotes in his book ‘Dancing in the Distraction Factory’ (1992). By including shots of the band signing skateboards and bodies it reinforces their band and celebrity status, and the following shot of Tom Delonge smashing his guitar reinforces the adrenalin and mayhem associated with rock. The skating shots shown nearer to the end of the video meet the conventions of the pop punk genre and add an entertainment value to the video. The ending shot of the video is used as a comical advertising devise in which they advertise their album titled ‘Takes off your pants and jacket’.
The lyrics to the song are not illustrated the video of the songs, although there is an emphasis in the video of having a good times the lyrics talk about the want for summer and the huge American festival, ‘The Warped Tour’ where bands like Blink 182 headline. They also talk about summer love and falling in love and gigs, naivety is also portrayed through the lyrics as they portray a character that would do anything without thought when in love. The lyrics ‘Seventeen without a purpose of direction, we don’t owe anyone a f*cking explanation’ reinforces that naivety as they denote a lack of respect for anyone else’s thoughts that have a large effect on your life (family and friends). I personally think this video is very useful for creating the bands meta-narrative as portrays their view on how to live life in an enjoyable way through visuals, it also creates individual star-personas within the band.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vxhl-xV0UOs
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2 comments:
Well done - excellent use of key terminology and a clear attempt to apply critical theory.
A useful analysis - level 4-
Great work, i think that this video is very relevant to the video we have chosen. good detailed analysis of the video.
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