TJ - Product Analysis 2

Product Analysis – ‘The Pretender’
‘Foo Fighters’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKhnmUdmz74


I have chosen to analyse ‘The Pretender’ by ‘Foo Fighters’ as it is a purely performance based video. This will help our group understand what is needed for our performance parts in our music video by Three Days Grace.
As this video is also from the rock genre, it will help more towards the production of our video, as they follow the same types of forms and conventions as each other. This genre is shown clearly throughout the video through the performance and the instruments are typically a rock bands. Their performance reinforces the rebellious form as it is very much jumping around and shouting down the face of the camera.

This video could be considered art with a message. This is due to the simplicity and impact of the video. The video would be postmodern as it is clean and original and by the band performing in front of a red wall signifies a stage performance although they are not on a raised stage.

As the whole film is performance based, they have relied on many camera angles and effects to keep it interesting. For example, the first shot is an ELS high angled shot which introduces the lead singer as if he were walking onto a stage with the instruments already set up and the lights being turned on in this warehouse/ hanger. Also the slow motion is used for the slower bits of a song which creates the feeling of tension and importance. At the beginning there is a CU shot of the lead singer wrapping his fist up like a boxer would before a fight. This could be representing the rebellion of the band. The costume within this video, reinforcing the stereotype of the rock genre, is also black and one other colour in this case, white for the lead singer. This creates the illusion that the lead singer, which is often the case, the main focus in a band. This colour scheme continues throughout the video in the hanger, with the riot police and band. However there is one bit of colour with the wall behind the band to make them stand out.

At the beginning of the song, the guitar introduction has similarities of ‘Stairway To Heaven’ by ‘Led Zepplin’. This could intrigue people that are fans of Led Zepplin to listen to this track and create a larger audience.

Foo Fighters are a strong stereotype of a rock band as rebellion and this is represented through the bands performance and shouting at the camera. The performance also blocks riot police which is supposed to be a powerful force of the law. This then connotes that their rock music is anti authoritative with a stand off and them winning which can indicate the idea of protesters. The lyrics state the rebellion against conformity with ‘What if I say I’m not like the others?’

The police are represented to being ready to fight and reinforcing male stereotype. There are no females within this video and so it is targeted towards the male audience and would be probably consumed as focused viewing due to the message behind this male stereotype.