Sie sind auf Seite 1von 2

Music video analysis, Martin Garrix - Animals

Martin Garrix, a Dutch DJ and record producer released the song Animals back
in 2013 when he was just 17. The commercial success reached number one on
the electronic music store Beatport. It belongs to the big room house genre and
contains no lyrics, making it a narrative style music video as despite their being
no singing the wide range of shots tell a story.
One of the four key micro elements used effectively throughout the music video
by the producer is the sound. This is arguably the most important element to a
music video as the mass target audience would be mainly watching the video for
the sound, maybe as a form of escapism. The sound itself tells a story by the
way it changes throughout and doesnt remain the same. For example the video
begins with a non diegetic, continuous beat and rhythm. This helps build
suspense as the audience await a change in the music. Not only does this evoke
excitement but it also helps add emphasis to the low-key lighting in the shots.
The sound of a clock counting down is then introduced signifying something is
about to happen. Almost half way through the music video the beat then drops
and changes into an upbeat, happy house style song. This connotes the
demographic of the mass target audience for this song would be the younger
more active generation as the song would most likely encourage them to dance.
This juxtaposed against the steady paced opening soundtrack could evoke a
sense of disorientation within the audience making them more engaged.
Furthermore it is important to note there are no lyrics what so ever within this
music video and this subverts the narrow minded dominant ideological viewpoint
that songs need singing in them to be engaging.
Editing is an equally important strand of producing a music video as it helps
create different effects and connotes a range of moods. The most present editing
technique used within most music videos including the video for Martin Garrix,
Animals is jump cuts. Jump cuts help to speed up the pace of the video, building
tension. This works well with the upbeat soundtrack played towards the end and
there are more jump cuts in the end when the beat is faster as opposed to the
start when it is slow and steady. The jump cuts connote partying and drugs as
they could be symbolic to the effect stereotypical party drugs have on the brain
and they could excite the target audience encouraging them to dance. Unusually
a slow motion filter is used in some of the shots and the juxtaposition between
this and the jump cuts helps portray the song as unique and random. This is
synergistic to Frederick Jamesons theory that music videos are random without
meaning.
The more broad and easily identifiable key micro element is the mis en scene
which is everything denoted within the shots. It varies from things like colours to
costumes and props. A lot of fire is used within the video which contrasts well
against the low-key, dark lighting. The heat from the fire could signify how the
song was made to trend within the music industry and it could also help portray
the producer, Martin Garrix, as dangerous to competing DJs. The protagonist is
denoted wearing a hooded lion jumper holding a clock. This is where the diegetic

clock ticking sound comes from. This further emphasises the fire as not only does
the hooded jumper hide the protagonists identity and create mystery but it also
signifies something is about to happen as he/she holds the clock into the air. The
fact the persons identity remains unrevealed subverts the countertype that
music videos need sexy women to get views as this song has a mystery, fully
clothed protagonist and still hit number one on some music stores. The lion on
the jumper connotes pride and is synergistic to the name of the song; it also
helps build an out of control partying atmosphere from within the audience.
A large amount of extreme close ups and close up shots are used throughout the
music video to help portray the protagonist as in the audiences face. It also
signifies claustrophobia and is synergistic to a clubbing environment where loads
of people would be squashed together. This could evoke tension from the target
audience who may feel intimidated by the hooded man holding the clock as he is
constantly close up to the camera lens. The protagonists importance is also
amplified by the low angle shots which make him appear big, they connote
authority and power drawing the target audiences attention to him and the clock
he is holding. It is also the clock that counts down the time until the beat drops
and it could be decoded he is in the video as a warning to get ready to dance to
the beat drop. Point of view shots are used and are effective in the sense that
they could make the audience feel as if they are really there, this could allow
them to take a liking to certain characters from within the narrative and this is an
example of the uses and gratifications theory, personal relationships.

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen