Analysis of music videos - Pool - State of mind

Use of camera

There is a variety of long shots and close ups in the opening of the music video to create enigma as to who the character in the shots is. Once the character is revealed, she is mianly presented through low angle shots which clearly connote her authority and power. Not only is she powerful but the audience is also expected to follow and support this character through the use of pan shots that track her, making her the centre of the narrative. Close ups are also inevitable for this main character, only emphasising her importance even more so. Perhaps the most interesting use of camera in the video is towards the end when the female is presented in a low angle, then the male potential love interest is presented in a high angle shot, connoting their power levels. However an equillibrium in terms of equality is given when in the next shot they are shown in the car together at equal level through the shot.

Pace and rhythm of edit

As mentioned before, a mini montage is put together at the start of the video to build up to the characters reveal, however in this moment there is also another significant feature; the music begins once the character has been revealed, connoting that the music is focused on her and she is at the centre of this journey and video. Jump cuts are effectively used in the kidnapping sequence, to display a routine of sorts for the female, offering an insight into how her life usually plays out. This makes the change in her character later on even more significant. Cross cutting between the villain and the hero puts Strauss' binary opposites theory to use, and also establishes a connection between multiple characters, especially the male and the female who are together at the end. Cuts match the music in this video which is common but also strengthens the significance of the music to the narrative. The pace of the music increases when the narrative starts to become intense and dangerous, strengthening the connection further. Slow motion is used effectively towards the end of the video to signify that the central character is taking time to reflect upon herself, leading up to the monumental change in her character that leads to the re-equillibrium.

Genre ingredients

In the Indie genre, dark and unusual characters are often involved. This relates to the idea that Indie is there to be different and unique, but also quite deep and brooding which offers a sense of realism for a lot of the audience. This is no different in this video, with the central character not only donning a dark costume but also incredibly dark characteristics. The character is not the only dark aspect of the video, with the narrative overall being dark with only a hint of hope right at the end. This differentiates the genre from most others, which can be argued to be its main aim. Another aspect that presents the video daring to be different is the countertype in which a woman is kidnapping a man, whereas in most forms of media stereotypically the man would kidnap the woman. Even though the resolution isn't exactly complete happiness, a resolution is quite rare in this genre.