Music Video Analysis-Eyes Shut

Years and Years-Eyes Shut analysis

The editing in this video consists of one shot; it is of the lead singer walking through what looks like a post-apocalyptic place. This sequence shot allows for realistic or dramatically significant background activity, which is going on in this video.

The video starts with natural lighting, exposing only one half of the characters face. This could suggest that he has something to hide. Also the background is dark which demonstrates that the place he is in could be dangerous.

He then leaves a door and the lighting is now unnatural, with a blue tinge, which suggests melancholy and sadness. He then goes outside where the lighting is natural but still has a blue tinge and there is fire in the background which conveys a sense of danger and destruction.

The character is wearing a casual outfit, although it is a little rough around the edges which could suggest that he has been affected by the post-apocalyptic world. The props in the video such as the old computers show that the building is abandoned and run down and people have just dumped their belongings

This mid-shot is effective as you can see the run down building. There is graffiti on the wall showing that the building is abandoned, also down the corridor you can see rubble and ore abandoned computers implying that no one has been there for a long time. This mid shot is of two women praying to a man. The high key backlighting of the man portrays him to be a godlike being and the women praying to him emphasises this. The shot suggests the characters are seeking hope in a time of need. This long shot shows a variety of characters to portray the desperation of them. There is a man praying on rubble, a person hitting objects, a man with a dog and women marching. This range of character sis used to convey a manic world and possibly the end of the world. Overall, the song is quite slow which matches the slow shots although, the visual are manic and portray destruction which opposes the slow beat. The video opposes Goodwin’s theory as the music does not match the visuals.

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