‘Afrika Shox’

By Leftfield and Afrika Bambaataa

This shot of the Twin Towers is the first shot of the music video immediately creating the idea of an “urban jungle” as a low angle shot is used to suggest the dominance and entrapment. The geometric and sharp outline of the buildings reflect the beat and genre of the song which is electronic and sharp as oppose to fluent and smooth.

Another shot from the music video that demonstrates the genre is the use of a police car with the sound of the sirens and the lights flashing. This is similar to strobe lighting at “raves” in which this genre of music would be typically played. This relates to one of point of Goodwin’s Theory where the music video must demonstrate genre characteristics in which this video does effectively with the use of recognisable city features to reflect the electronic aspect of the track.

After being introduced to the New York urban area using establishing shots of recognisable features of the city, we are then introduced to the main character of the video. He is depicted in a underground, rough area implying his lifestyle. He is presented as isolated and alienated from society, immediately creating a divide between different groups within the area. This then presents him as a minority making him weaker and less powerful.

This song was featured in the film “Vanilla Sky” in which the recurring theme is “open your eyes”. This is similar to the message in this video which displays themes of ignorance. For example, a shot featured in the music video is of a man looking over his newspaper as if he is shocked to see the African man. He is looking through him implying that he is the minority and is insignificant thus referring to African slavery where the white man views the African man as unimportant.

This shot is also ironic in that he is looking at a newspaper which features global affairs yet he is ignorant to those around him, particularly the African man who is seen begging for his help. This is meant to be representative of everyone in the city as they are seen disregarding him despite looking frail and weak thus representing the divide between the powerful and the weak or when referring to slavery, the white men and the slaves.

The low angle of the man looking directly at the African man supports the idea of the disregard people show. It is also a point of view shot where he is looking directly at the camera, putting us in the perspective of the African man, thus making us feel small and unworthy. This shot was after the white male ignorantly walked into him, breaking his arm as a result. This is similar to the TV miniseries “Roots” which is about a young African male who is captured and made a slave, along with others, by white men. When he tries to escape, his capturers cut half his foot off to limit his ability. This is very similar to the scene in this music video where he loses his hand therefore limiting his ability. It also references the loss of use of their hands when the slaves were shackled therefore unable to move or be free. This then follows another point of Goodwin’s Theory where there must be intertextual references. The use of discrimination and disregard when he loses his hand is similar to that of the main character in “Roots”.

Another point made for Goodwin’s Theory in order to create a music video is that there should be a relationship between the lyrics and visuals in which is shown in this shot. For example, the lyrics read “Lets get electrified” as he is touching the fence. Whilst the fence is not electric, it has connotations of entrapment where it deterred people, such as slaves, from trying to escape. It also evokes imagery from the Holocaust where fences and barbed wire were used in the concentration camps. This shot then highlights the harsh reality and history of slavery and entrapment where minorities were seen as weak and insignificant thus presenting discriminative views.

Dialogue is also featured near the end of the music video where Afrika Bambaataa, the creator of the song, makes a cameo appearance. When the African male has lost all four limbs and is lying on the floor unable to move, Bambaataa says “Do you need a hand?”. This is ironic as he is clearly unable to move or help himself therefore “needing a hand”. Also, he has no limbs and therefore this question can be taken literally as he is without any hands which could refer to how slavery took away their freedom to move and they want their freedom back therefore needing their hands.