How is media language including intersexuality used in 'Burn the witch' to construct representations of groups, messages and values? 800 words or more
Who and what is represented throughout this music videoIntroduction- 2 simple sentences of what you'll be covering in the essay and a bit of info on the band and music video
- include media language
- Camera
- editing
- sound
- mise-en-scene
- Intersexuality
-WickerMan
-Refugee crises/ immigration
-Historical references/medieval
-Radiohead production
-
Conclusion- 2 simple sentences, overall summary and link back to question
In this essay I'll be covering how media language including intertextual references were significantly used in Radiohead's 'Burn the witch' which came out in the year 2016 during the time of the eu referendum.
A key scene which I had noticed in the beginning of the music video was when the characters were all crowded around the town mayor as he clearly instructed them on how to behave when the visitor comes. This was obvious through his body language such as the way he nods to them and the way everyone passively conforms and nods back to him. Perhaps this is symbolic of a dictatorship or capitalistic society where the deprived working class are brainwashed by the hierarchy and have no option but to obey them. The mise en scene also had a clear part in this as the clothing of the characters were effective in representing the theme of a functional society as each individual had a particular uniform such as the; Florist, builder, painter and postman which may overall signify how each role is valuable in this capitalistic world of portraying this ideal picture when it is just a facade of exploitation.
Nevertheless throughout this conceptual video we see numerous British historic events that left some individuals feeling isolated in the past such as when the town painter had painted a red cross on someone's door which is a reference to the medievals era during the rise of the plague; those infected were isolated from others and warned to be kept away to stop the disease from spreading. I had noticed that the painter had acted this strange way after the town discussion as before the talk he behaved normally when painting a letter box. This could perhaps again represent the indoctrination amongst the civilians. Another historic reference was when we saw a see-saw was used in the video demonstrating a girl getting dunked in the water which could symbolise how some women who were considered to be potential witches were dealt with during the medieval era. This is visually clear through the props used as that's exactly how it looked. This makes me think of how society back then had even thought of ways to segregate themselves from each other.
Another historical reference was when the florist had introduced the rope hung upon on a wooden frame, which could symbolise lynching amongst minorities and the deprived previously. Their body language in this was also significant as everyone seemed quite patronizing towards him, perhaps indirectly indicating that this environment isn't a safe place for outsiders like him.
Which moves onto my next point about this conceptual idea linking to the immigration crisis as this song was released at the time of the EU referendum which had consisted of many voting to leave in order to stop immigration for more opportunities. So I think the unpleasant and disturbing scenes used in this video was to represent how the "voters for leave" would feel towards outsiders that don't fit into their norm of a white British nation.
Also towards the end of the music video we see a reference to the Wickerman an old horror movie which displays unpleasant scenes of a town gathering up and burning a man alive in a large figure of wood which is also burnt. Perhaps this reference was used to signify how people that are brainwashed by religion would do anything to obey that law even killing, something that many white supremacist groups such as the KKK have done in the past and still have those strong beliefs of segregation. Nevertheless the village people can also symbolise the conservative force and how they both don't want the UK to change and remain the same traditional British values.
Overall I think that intertextuality was used in this video to display a deeper meaning through different references such as historic medieval events to remind British people that the attitudes towards immigrants during the referendum were very much like the evil attitudes from the past. Lastly perhaps the production of animation was used to create a more disturbing feeling as graphics were very similar to the old kids show 'Trumpton' so perhaps the creators wanted to reach out that an old demographic by using that sense of nostalgia.
Another historical reference was when the florist had introduced the rope hung upon on a wooden frame, which could symbolise lynching amongst minorities and the deprived previously. Their body language in this was also significant as everyone seemed quite patronizing towards him, perhaps indirectly indicating that this environment isn't a safe place for outsiders like him.
Which moves onto my next point about this conceptual idea linking to the immigration crisis as this song was released at the time of the EU referendum which had consisted of many voting to leave in order to stop immigration for more opportunities. So I think the unpleasant and disturbing scenes used in this video was to represent how the "voters for leave" would feel towards outsiders that don't fit into their norm of a white British nation.
Also towards the end of the music video we see a reference to the Wickerman an old horror movie which displays unpleasant scenes of a town gathering up and burning a man alive in a large figure of wood which is also burnt. Perhaps this reference was used to signify how people that are brainwashed by religion would do anything to obey that law even killing, something that many white supremacist groups such as the KKK have done in the past and still have those strong beliefs of segregation. Nevertheless the village people can also symbolise the conservative force and how they both don't want the UK to change and remain the same traditional British values.
Overall I think that intertextuality was used in this video to display a deeper meaning through different references such as historic medieval events to remind British people that the attitudes towards immigrants during the referendum were very much like the evil attitudes from the past. Lastly perhaps the production of animation was used to create a more disturbing feeling as graphics were very similar to the old kids show 'Trumpton' so perhaps the creators wanted to reach out that an old demographic by using that sense of nostalgia.
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