Arcade Fire – Afterlife

Rakha Tewany

The music video ‘Arcade Fire’ is a mixture of narrative and performance

Camera

• Throughout the music video there is a range of shots such as close up shots, medium shots, two shots and long shots.

Camera...

• There are close up shots, when the girl kisses the boy. This shows that she feels bad, this is shown through her facial expressions.

• The two shot, he is behind her, this shows that he is less important than her. She is dressed in white, his represents that an angel is guiding her.

• Her dancing/ movements go with the beat of the music, this shows that the editing is very little.

Editing and Sound• In the music video editing is used, tracking shot

and match on action.

• Tracking shot: this occurs when the camera is following down the hall.

• Match on action: when she runs on stage, the runs the opposite way.

•Diegetic sound is used, the sound of the crowd within the background.

Mise En Scene

• Lighting – very dark and dull throughout the whole music video. This helps the narrative as it reflects on her personality. E.g. After a break up, shows that it is a hard situation to go through. However, near to the end of the music video its lighter, there is more lighter and he blind is wearing white.

• Make up – there is hardly any make up used within the music video, it looks like it straight from after work as it is very little.

• Acting – the acting is really general, it just looks like its meant to be that way e.g. The kiss.

• Setting – it is set in a forest, trying to find a way however she is happy. The forest setting is romantic/magically, this is because the light is on her and the snow is white.

Representation

• The representation of this music video is to show that me are not as important as the world goes on, this is shown through the way we don't see the mans face. This shows the audience that he is not the focus within this music video. Leading on from men are not important, the lead singer of the band is placed in the back of the frame.

• The main girl, the way she expresses herself through her dance, makes the audience feel uncomfortable. As it shows that she is going through a painful breakup, this makes us as the audience feel as she is mad and going insane.

• The way she is dressed is smart, shows she isn't an object as she is dressed nice in a dress and blazer.

• The way she seeks around the door, this suggests that she is afraid of being herself and for others to see her true self.