Music Video Analysis

Disclosure - White Noise ft. AlunaGeorge (Official Video)

Sequence of events:

• Man gets ready wearing security jacket, appears to be walking to work, puts on headphones
• meets with woman, appears to collect key, uses to enter building
• uses torch to look around
• begins dancing in range of rooms
• shots of location outside
• dances infront of large building
• carries golf clubs to different location
• torch pans building, face appears
• shots switch between dancing inside and outside of building, woman joins
• face appears

This sequence of events helps me to determine this video as a concept style with elements of a performance video as the man seems to be promoting the song by dancing along and enjoying himself whilst guarding this abandoned building.

This mid-shot at eye level reveals the happy, excited expression on the mans face almost as though he has realised that he is alone after walking the grounds of the building. The camera then zooms out or changes a lens in the focal length to create the illusion that the camera is moving away, this allows the audience to see the subject dancing at a better view, It is important for us to see this so that we understand the way that the man is feeling whilst listening to this song through his dancing. I think we can assume that he is listening to the song White Noise as we are able to see that he begins dancing when the chorus arrives and he is wearing headphones.

The man is holding a torch which is an important prop in this video as it creates the scene at which this sort of music is likely to be played as it acts as a strobe light as the man flicks it around whilst dancing. The fact that he is able to create this enjoyable environment whilst in an unattractive old building shows the impact that the song has- that you are able to enjoy it at anytime anywhere, which in a way promotes itself to the audience.

The editing technique, cross-cutting, is used following this shot which alternates between the man dancing in this area and another room which appears to be bigger and lighter. This creates diversity for our vision as in the first scene the main source of light comes from the torch prop, this often flashes on to the lens of the camera again adding to the strobe light effect. The alternating scene has a large income of light from the windows which are behind the man, yet there is little light in-front which forms a white background adding the performance aspect.

I think it is arguable that the sound of the music is diegetic as we see the subject plug something in to a socket yet we do not see what, later on we see a speaker being moved, the use of headphones also implies that the sound is diegetic. Yet the fact that we hear music at the start of the video this implies that it is non-diegetic.

This mid-shot at a low angle presents the man dancing in an open area in front of a large building. This low angle makes the subject more dominant as we look up to him, not only do we physically look up to him this could represent how the audience should look up to him in terms of the way he is presented- the fact that he clearly doesn't care what people around him think as he is in a open space which is likely to have people around.

This setting contrasts to the previous scene inside of a dark building where he appears to be alone, the lighting in those scenes are very dark and secluded- making it seem more usual for him to be dancing as  he is unable to be seen. Yet this lighting contrasts with the lighting in this scene which seems to be very bright again emphasising the idea that the man doesn't care if he is seen.

There is then a series of jump cuts which again show the man dancing, the effect of this is that it adds a sense of time as there is a range of shots, with so much going on it appears as though he has been there longer than it seems. This extended period of time creates a sense of realism as the audience think he has been dancing for a while rather than a few seconds in front of the camera.

The man is shown doing 'the worm', as his body lowers to the ground an electronic sound reflects his movement as the pitch decrease.

This mid-shot at eye level shows the back of the mans head with minimal lighting in front creating an outline around his upper body, this shot is effective because very little is revealed other than the digital affects. The video cuts to this shot and the digital affect of the face flashes on the silhouette. This is affective as it reminds the audience of who this artist is as this face is recognisable to disclosure fans as it appears of their album cover 'Settle' and is often shown in the background of the sets they play at festivals. The flashes of this face are in sync with the beat of the music making the aesthetically pleasing for the audiences senses. The music begins to fade out after this face is shown, so it sort of signifies that it is the end of the video. I think the use of the digital affects is effective as is creates continuity between the digipak and the music video.