A Deconstruction of Two Contrasting Videos

My first selection of music video is “Smack My Bitch Up” by The Prodigy. The main focus throughout is one main point of view shot which consists of jump cuts which shorten the scenes. This sets the overall tone and gives the video an edgy and uneasy feel. This is done to reflect the band’s iconography and image, making The Prodigy appear to be really scary people who would frighten anyone unfamiliar with this genre.

As the video starts we see a pov of someone in the shower (as that person would see the situation). Music can be heard in the background which gives the impression that we are listening in from another room. This is a narrative style which makes the video images and the song come together as a complete story which makes it easy for me as the viewer to relate to and gives the whole production a cool vibe.

Then the person in the shower steps out and the music becomes much less muffled. This is a very clever effect which provides intertextual references so as viewers we can remember experiencing ourselves. Another very cool effect is achieved when the character puts a towel over their head and the music muffles while keeping time with the beat. The character shaves and uses the toilet and sound effects are used to indicate these actions e.g. the shaving foam canister “hisss” and the toilet flushing. The result of this gives the video an entirely new feel – we are watching and experiencing first hand voyeurism. This gives an edgy, uneasy feel and follows Andrew Goodwin’s theory where visuals amplify and contradicts the lyrics and the music.

Following this the character leaves the bathroom and we see a pink bed in a white, rather grotty room. From this we begin to gain an insight into who this person is likely to be. We can guess it is probably a man who lives alone and who is probably something of a junkie or a party animal. This creates a more complex narrative which is based on reality and one which through intertextuality we may be able to identify with. However fragmented body shots emphasise a weird sexualised treatment of the character which may covertly address a homosexual audience.
The character places a CD into the hifi and presses play. This is when the music starts properly and at full volume. Now the rhythm of the music corresponds with the video images, and although are not strictly to beat, the occasional jump cut fits the beat perfectly.

The next section goes by rather quickly and consists of our character drinking vodka and sniffing cocaine. The sniff noise is used as a musical drop device showing a louder and more aggressive section of the song.

This is used to set the remainder of the scene and to show a new segment of the song has begun. The overall effect is that like the Sigmund Freud theory, we as the viewer are being taken on a journey with the song and the character that is unaware of being watched.
The main feature of the video is the rather seedy and unpleasant, or pleasant aspects of voyeurism. In a way it glorifies voyeurism and makes it acceptable to all. Because the main focus is a point of view shot, the video makes you feel much more involved in the story and that as the viewer, your voyeurism is welcomed and accepted.

The song has only 4 words which make up the lyrics which are “Smack my bitch up”. The line is repeated constantly which gives emphasis to the mood of power, male dominance and aggression to the video. This is a consistent method used by The Prodigy whos iconographic style specialises in infamous one liners such as “I’ll take your brain to another dimension”, and “I’m gonna send you to outer space”, all designed for shock impact and to make the viewer unsettled, uncomfortable and subversive.

The second video I have chosen is “Something” by The Beatles (1969). I have chosen this video as it makes a big contrast to the one by The Prodigy. The lyrics here establish mood and sense of subject. The tone, pace and feel of this video is completely different, so that as one is harsh, aggressive and fast paced, the other is soft, careful, and romantic in the traditional sense of the word. This follows Steve Archer’s theory a lot because there is a strong and coherent relationship between narrative and performance which gives real connection.

The video is made up mainly of medium shots and close ups. This helps the audience relate to the band as individuals with different needs and loves. This is a great effect which helps the viewer understand the message which is the Beatles were not about sex symbolism, but really cared about love, togetherness, lonliness and individuality , all very complex human themes and emotions. And this gives the video the aesthetics of a tv commercial which according to John Stewart allows more access to the performers as real people.

The video begins with a still frame of a woman walking alone in the woods on a sunny afternoon. Her dress is interesting as she looks pretty and delicate and at the same time she is isolated and alone. The music compliments the shot as it is soft harmonies which give a serene effect. The camera cuts to a medium shot of George smiling (we presume at the girl). This smile which is so real and genuine tells us that the girl is the one for him. This is followed by two fast close up individual shots of Ringo and Paul. Then we see a medium shot of a different girl. She is blonde and delicate and seems distant and alone.

The camera cuts to a long shot of John and Yoko walking towards the viewer against a backdrop of open green space. They are the only people in sight and there are no buildings. Their togetherness makes them appear distant and in a world of their own. The light is faded and the ground is fairly dark and cold like a foggy winter morning. The couple wear long black coats or capes and appear shrouded in black. Religious overtones come to mind as the pair look like two identical monks and makes it seem as though their religion is their love for each other. This
couple form an idealised male/female union. John and Yoko walk towards and through the camera lens and through the voyeurism of the viewer.

We next see a close up of a beautiful smiling girl. We can see she is making direct eye contact with someone in a special way. Her eyes have something special in them, something inviting subverted voyeurism but in an innocent way. The lyrics match the tone and mood saying “something in her smile, she knows”. We then see fast close up shots of George, John and Yoko, Linda and then finally Linda and Paul together happy smiling and spinning around. Throughout the range of shots we feel we are connecting with the star quality of each person individually and we see how being together makes each couple happy, and we can tell that this is the narrative of how each Beatle found love and togetherness.

The pace in tempo and melody changes and the drum beat increases. The editing changes to fast cut montage where fast paced blurred medium shots match the crazyness of the scene. This matches with the strong chorus lyrics “I don’t know”.

With the next verse we return to close up individual star image shots. Everyone is happy and smiles with quiet confidence. The message here is that these people all have found true happiness. We see the band not as solitary men but as happy couples. The video ends by returning to close up shots of the band as individuals. I think the video captures the complex nature of being in a band and being part of a whole. The video shows how from being so concentrated, the band have individual personalities and different needs in life.
Both videos are about the relationships between men and women and the nature of love. The Beatles video is representative of real life, this is about them and their individuality, there togetherness as a band and true love. The Prodigy on the other hand is subverted fantasy, like a weird horror flick combined with the perversion of voyeurism – you don’t like it but you cant stop yourself from watching.