Music Video Analysis of Alt-J Breezeblocks

Daniel Rayson

Scene 1 (bathroom)

This shot is a mid of one of the main characters in the storyline of this music video, showing her obviously dead submerged in water.

The next shot in this scene is a close up of the other counter part main character in the music video showing him portraying emotion.

Here an extreme close up is used showing the man has a wedding ring on his finger which is a significant point in pushing the narrative forward.

The next shot is another example of a close up showing the woman in the bath is not wearing a wedding ring therefore cannot be the main male characters wife, this throws questions to the audience making them want to carry on watching.

Here a mid shot of the whole bathroom through the perspective of the doorway showing the two main characters having a fight.

Scene 2 (hallway)

Here is the use of another mid shot showing the two main characters in the hallway, she is running away from him again throwing questions to the audience.

Here is the use of a mid/long shot showing the two main characters in the hallway, she is struggling and running away again.

This is an establishing shot of the second scene showing the hallway, the different thing about this music video is that it is played in reverse so the establishing shot is at the end of the scene.

Scene 3 (kitchen)

Here in the third scene in the video we are presented with a mid shot, this shows the main female character looking frightened.

A close up shot is used here showing the two characters fighting whilst holding a breezeblock which relates to the name of the song ‘breezeblocks’.

Here another close up is used to show the main male character grabbing the breezeblock which again pushes the narrative forward.

Here is a mid shot of a wall present in the kitchen in which you can see a bottle that has just been thrown by the main female character.

Use of another mid shot here to show the main female character grabbing the bottle which pushes the narrative forward, but due to this video being in reverse you see this after she has thrown the bottle.

Here is a mid shot showing the main female character struggling on the floor, continuing the on-going battle between the characters.

Here is a mid shot/ close up showing the main male character struggling on the floor, continuing the on-going battle between the characters.

Here is a long shot showing the two characters brawling and falling over the counter into the kitchen.

Scene 4 (lounge)

Here a mid shot is used to open the fourth scene again showing the continuous battle between the two characters.

Here a close up of the main female character hitting the bookcase with force is shown to show the brutality of the characters fight.

Here a close up has been used to introduce a third character who looks scared and upset.

This is a shot showing a knife indicating to the audience the fight is violent, also this pushes the narrative forward.

Here is an extreme close up shot of the third characters hand showing that she too has a wedding ring, this throws questions to the audience ‘is she the male characters wife?’.

This is the use of another close up showing the fight getting worse between the characters.

Here is a mid shot being used showing the third character hiding within the wardrobe watching the fight looking scared, again giving questions to the audience.

This is the use of a mid shot showing the first female character looking down upon the male character and the other female character with despise.

A mid shot shown to allow the audience to see the male character trying to protect/comfort the new female character. Questions to the audience, ‘why is she tied up?’.

Another mid shot showing her with tape over her face and him taking it off. Someone has tied her up and he’s going to save her.

Scene 5 (entrance/door)

A mid shot of the main male character coming in the door looking worried and leaving the door open.

Close up of him throwing his keys down indicating to the audience that it is his flat.

Extreme close up of the main male character turning the light switch on in the flat, again showing the audience that the flat belongs to him.

The music video ends with the man closing the door into a lighted hallway letting the video end nicely into black.

Throughout this music video the main shot types are close ups and mid shots, this is to emphasise to the audience the intensity of the video as it based upon a fight between a man and woman which eventually leads to a murder. I chose to do a technical analysis of this video due to it being related to the music video I plan to be shooting consisting of a male and female character. Also I think it is a clever music video as it is played in reverse to how it was shot e.g. water goes back up the tap instead of coming out. Overall this reversed effect adds a interesting twist on the whole video which is actually a rather violent set of imagery. Alt-J whom do not actually personally appear in the music video have created a powerful and interesting piece showing emotion and also a horrific murder crime which has taken place. I think it is effective of working with the song as many words said in the song are actually mirrored into imagery on the screen, notably the murder weapon used is a breezeblock which is the actual name of the song.This exercise has, especially within this music video highlighted how a male and female character can interact within a music video to create a powerful and emotional piece and also the relevance of props which push on the narrative of the storyline and complete the music video.