Mise-en-scene
used in Pop Punk music videos
Pop punk is a hybrid
music genre that combines elements of punk rock with foundations of pop music.
This genre typically includes fast punk rock tempos, power chord changes and
loud, distorted electric guitars with pop-influenced melodies and lyrical
themes.
Band’s music videos
in the genre of Pop Punk similar to Blink - 182:
- Biffy Clyro – Biblical
- You Me At Six – No One Does It Better
You Me At Six:
Location:
- Very quiet
- Isolated - This type of setting is street based with a very quiet atmosphere making it have the effect that the band is isolated.
- Empty Road and hillside
- Stranded road trip
- Graffiti walls
- Outskirts of City shown at end - The reason for these choices of locations in the music videos that are in the genre of Pop Punk is because it relates to the narrative making it realistic and has a big effect on the storyline because if the setting didn’t relate it wouldn’t be as effective as won’t relate to the song.
Lighting:
- Low Key – realistic and empathising the emotion
- Revealing hidden emotions - this type of lighting empathises on the characters true emotion in the narrative, quite often revealing hidden emotions as well.
Props:
- Old school car, rooftop open
- Petrol Pumps
- Random objects from a dump such as a sofa,
- Horse
- Alcohol
- Skateboard
- Empty Caravan
- Guitars
Costume:
- Bland colours
- Casual clothing
- Denim jackets
- Sunglasses
- Tattoos - By looking at the costume that they wear again uses the media term of iconography because it represents the band and links to the genre and it also relates to the bands personality that we are shown further in the concept of the music video.
- Ripped jeans
Colours:
- Bland
- Subtle
- Dull
Facial Expressions and
Body Language:
- Emotion when singing
- Big arm movements
- Stressed facial expression
- Concentration
Biffy Clyro:
Location:
- Street based
- Very Quiet town - Empty roads are pictured in each shot with monstrous hills in the background making the subject look even more lonely and weak.
- Dead End
- Hotel room
- Swimming Pool
Lighting:
- Low Key – realistic and empathising the emotion
- Low key lighting is effective because it makes the situation and image look lifelike to the audience; as if they would come across this themselves rather than be set up and unrealistic.
- Revealing hidden emotions from the characters
- The reason for this is that the lighting highlights the important subjects in the frame and also reflects the main characters mental state throughout the narrative.
Props:
- Old telephone
- Water fountain - I have noticed that the props I have seen in the frame are very obscure yet relevant to the narrative of the story which is quite effective because it is memorable.
- Old school cars
- Baseball bats - These type of objects are predominantly used to tell the narrative and entertain the audience to keep them interested in the music video.
- Barbed wire - Due to the inclusion of the more unusual objects like a skateboard, alcohol, an old telephone and baseball bats the audience may struggle to put a name as to what genre the song belongs to from looking at the music video.
- Guitars
Costume:
- Bland colours - it has become clear that the band members wear casual clothing that are primarily bland, dull colours.
- Casual clothing
- Vest and open shirt
- Tattoos
- Sunglasses
- Hats
- Ripped jeans
- Slicked back Hair
Colours:
- Bland - The main colours that are used within this genre in music videos are subtle, bland and dull apart from the odd vibrant colour which is in the surrounding like the graffiti.
- Subtle
- Dull - Black has been used a fair amount as it connotes power and strength but it can also be interpreted as a colour that relates to fear and evil. This is effective because depending on the context of the song, the colour can mean one of the two meanings. For example in the music video Biblical by Biffy Clyro, the gang who followed the protagonist into a dead end with baseball bats in their hands all wore clothes which contained the colour black which showed their power and authority. These colours that are incorporated into these music videos create a dramatic effect.
Facial Expressions and
Body Language:
- Emotion when singing
- Closed body language showing his inside feelings – clear that they are depressed at parts of the songs due to their closed body language portraying their inside feelings.
- Stressed facial expression
- Concentration due to no eye contact with camera
Cinematography
within Pop Punk
Pop punk is a hybrid
music genre that combines elements of punk rock with foundations of pop music.
This genre typically includes fast punk rock tempos, power chord changes and
loud, distorted electric guitars with pop-influenced melodies and lyrical
themes.
Bands in the genre
of Pop Punk:
- Biffy Clyro
- Blink – 182
- Fall Out Boy
- Green Day
- You Me At Six
Biblical by Biffy
Clyro:
- Close Up – In sections of this music video close ups are used on various different occasions. This shot is predominantly of the artists or band members face to show and bring attention to their emotions through their facial expressions in the close up which is used as the opening shot so the audience connect with the protagonist instantly.
- Mid Shot – This shot shows the band from their waist upwards, focusing mainly on the subject whilst still providing the audience with an impression of the location.
- Point-of-view Shot – A point-of-view shot is when the audience sees the scene as though they were looking through the eyes of the subject showing a sense of realism as it enables them to put themselves into the characters position making them interact in the music video and develop thoughts as to what they might do for example.
- Tracking – This camera movement is effective due to the fact that it enables the audience to track where the subject is moving which provides them with a sense of power as they are able to see where they are heading. A tracking shot was used when the protagonist was heading towards a dead end with a gang with baseball bats tracking him from behind. This is where the audience gain power because they are able to see where and what is surrounding him and in this situation we can see he is in danger and under threat.
- Low Angle – The low camera angle which is carried out by positioning the lens under the subject giving the impression of the subject being more powerful with authority. This is used when he is walking out of his apartment of his feet.
- Hand-held – The usage of hand-held cameras gives a sense of realism, making it less formal, and also more relatable to the audience due to the fact that they aren't shown straight and simply by the camera. This is used in this music video when the tempo of the music is high in the fighting scene meaning it is in time with the beat which is effective whereas sometimes it is out of time but is also effective in a different sort of way.
Conventions used in
Pop Punk Music Videos
- Costume are mainly bland colours with aspects being quite bright making a contrast
- Live clips of the band performing
- Montage of the narrative footage then clips of band performing
- Performing whilst the narrative is being shown
- Close ups of the singer on the slow parts to enhance their emotions which is slightly more effective than a fast paced song but can in either
- Editing is mostly fast cuts
- Bands tend to be lively and enjoying themselves when its upbeat
- Lip syncing and sound bridges are used whilst telling a story in a narrative
Editing
"American
Idiot" – Green Day
Continuity
Editing - Constructs the performance narrative and keeps the product flowing in
motion.
Match Cut-
Match cuts have been used to match with the narrative technique executed in
this video. This helps the audience understand the product due to the
continuity displayed.
Montage
Editing - Used to portray multiple events occurring within the video and this
makes the product to be at a fast pace throughout keeping the audience
intrigued.
Flash
Cutting – These are short cuts which are presented in a short, sharp motion;
this connects with the fast pace music.
"Wolves of Winter" – Biffy Clyro
CGI – Their production company must have a high budget which has resulted in them having the ability to incorporate CGI into their videos. Within this particular video, they have used it to add in the Wolves and it is as if it is some sort of video game that has come to life. Super-imposing - Each individual and character that has been included into this visual product has been super-imposed over the CGI formed background. Characters are seen within the product fading in and out making their brand identity and so the audience are aware that it is their product that they are watching.
