Karmacoma by Massive Attack
The video is based in a hotel, which tells us there is many different types of people: they all have there own lives that are all messed up or creepy. The colours of the corridor of the hotel are the same colours as the man who carries the gun clothes: purple, red, white and brown. This suggests how the man can't escape as he is trapped within the hotel trying to get away. It also acts as a camouflage, as it is suggested that he is running away from the creepy twins.
The twins and the man-with-gun's doppelgänger, suggests Goodwin's theory with how the lyrics are shown through the visuals; in the lyrics it says "you're a couple, 'specially when your body's double". This use of mise en scene and sound reflects the strangeness of the hotel Glazer has created for this video, as the twins give off a creepy horror-film effect of being silent and symmetrical and also it was unexpected for the man's double to appear from the shadows like that. This shows that the music video is like a nightmare; the man is trapped with no escape from the girls.
There is extreme close ups of the man carrying the gun, showing the sweat on his face and panic in his eyes, showing his stress. The audience is also able to hear him stressed out through his dialogue as he reads out numbers as though he needs to remember them. He seems to be the only member panicking, suggesting that he is the one having the nightmare. The character also reflects the lyrics "I drink on a daily basis... It never cools my temper", as there is motivation edit from that line being said to the audience seeing the man pointing his gun at everything, being jumpy.
Parallel Cutting is used in the video to show several scenes and situations happening in the hotel. It shows the audience that the hotel is unsafe and unusual as everyone is acting weird and murderous: man dancing covered in dirt and also man who's trying to kill mini self. Again, this could link to the lyrics "you're crazy, but you're lazy, must be lazy", as it could be a dream suggesting "lazy" to be an option - hotels are for resting.
A tracking point of view is used in the video to give a sense of walking though the corridor. This would make the audience feel unsafe, as we have just witnessed a man walking around with a gun and strange people in the rooms.
There are close ups used on the singers who seem relaxed with the events going on, as they just wait about in the rooms wearing janitor suits. This could show how maybe they are use to the craziness and it is suggested through their clothing that they work there.
The lyrics "emotional ties they stay severed" link to the character with messy hair who says "I killed. Nothing personal. I want to be free. And I am free." suggesting how his selfish, messed up thoughts have effected others. It is also shown though the fast paced jump cuts with camera flashes that he is a murder, as the camera flashes link to a crime scene investigation (maybe foreshadowing deaths). It could also reflect how lost he is, as camera flashes can confuse people when they are surrounded by it.
Overall, this music video strongly shows Glazer's artistic, dream-like views on things, leading to confusion and inspiration for the audience as they try to figure out the meaning.
I'm rather inspired by his work, as he usually shows a small story by having his videos extremely symbolic and dream-like. I think this would help me in my own production, as I love symbolic meaning and mind tricks, however my music video probably wouldn't be extremely confusing and crazy; I would like to make some sense out of it.
The twins and the man-with-gun's doppelgänger, suggests Goodwin's theory with how the lyrics are shown through the visuals; in the lyrics it says "you're a couple, 'specially when your body's double". This use of mise en scene and sound reflects the strangeness of the hotel Glazer has created for this video, as the twins give off a creepy horror-film effect of being silent and symmetrical and also it was unexpected for the man's double to appear from the shadows like that. This shows that the music video is like a nightmare; the man is trapped with no escape from the girls.
There is extreme close ups of the man carrying the gun, showing the sweat on his face and panic in his eyes, showing his stress. The audience is also able to hear him stressed out through his dialogue as he reads out numbers as though he needs to remember them. He seems to be the only member panicking, suggesting that he is the one having the nightmare. The character also reflects the lyrics "I drink on a daily basis... It never cools my temper", as there is motivation edit from that line being said to the audience seeing the man pointing his gun at everything, being jumpy.
Parallel Cutting is used in the video to show several scenes and situations happening in the hotel. It shows the audience that the hotel is unsafe and unusual as everyone is acting weird and murderous: man dancing covered in dirt and also man who's trying to kill mini self. Again, this could link to the lyrics "you're crazy, but you're lazy, must be lazy", as it could be a dream suggesting "lazy" to be an option - hotels are for resting.
A tracking point of view is used in the video to give a sense of walking though the corridor. This would make the audience feel unsafe, as we have just witnessed a man walking around with a gun and strange people in the rooms.
There are close ups used on the singers who seem relaxed with the events going on, as they just wait about in the rooms wearing janitor suits. This could show how maybe they are use to the craziness and it is suggested through their clothing that they work there.
The lyrics "emotional ties they stay severed" link to the character with messy hair who says "I killed. Nothing personal. I want to be free. And I am free." suggesting how his selfish, messed up thoughts have effected others. It is also shown though the fast paced jump cuts with camera flashes that he is a murder, as the camera flashes link to a crime scene investigation (maybe foreshadowing deaths). It could also reflect how lost he is, as camera flashes can confuse people when they are surrounded by it.
Overall, this music video strongly shows Glazer's artistic, dream-like views on things, leading to confusion and inspiration for the audience as they try to figure out the meaning.
I'm rather inspired by his work, as he usually shows a small story by having his videos extremely symbolic and dream-like. I think this would help me in my own production, as I love symbolic meaning and mind tricks, however my music video probably wouldn't be extremely confusing and crazy; I would like to make some sense out of it.
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