Tuesday, 23 September 2014
Friday, 12 September 2014
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Only In My Dreams Analysis
NOTE TO MODERATOR FROM CLASS TEACHER: This video is a voiceover commentary of a music video. If this video does not play, please try viewing in a different browser. I can certify that this video has been viewed by myself. A transcript of the voiceover has been provided below if playback is unavailable due to copyright holders block access.
Transcript: Firstly, narrative. The premise for this video is really quite simple. It stars Ariel Pink himself, who gets kicked out of their home by his girlfriend, and is immediately replaced by another man. Following this, he has dreams about meeting other girls and is seen to be waking up alone each time, which inspires him to go and work it out with the girlfriend at the end of the video.
The video is 100% narrative based, but with a small performance section incorporated towards the end as part of the narrative, presumably portraying one of Ariel Pink's dreams, and given that this song was only released with the video in 2012 I think it's possible that it could be a parody of music videos from the 90s, as it has a goofy, parodic, possibly satirical feel to it, with the camera quality and set and deliberately obvious acting? Which leads me nicely on to my next point about the production values. It is evidently a pretty low-budget music video, though with this irony in mind that I mentioned earlier I'm pretty sure this is deliberate. This low budget, DIY ethos mirrors that of Ariel Pink's music, as he's known for recording at home and playing most instruments himself, so I suppose this music video might appeal to people who are keen on DIY ethics in music at it certainly seems to reflect those ethics.
Most importantly, I'd like to address representation and any instances of stereotyping. Ariel Pink himself is obviously a man, though he displays sort of androgynous characteristics in his long, pink hair, what with pink for whatever reason being stereotypically thought of as a 'girl's colour'. Other stereotypically masculine characteristics are challenged in the narrative itself, as he seems very reliant on female affection, challenging the stereotype of all "real men" being strong, independent, comfortable in their own skin etc.
I think this video also quietly gives off certain signals that could possibly be considered sexist against women. The girls in this video are viewed kind of only as things from which love and affection can be earned, little else. I know it's only a music video but they don't seem to serve much purpose other than something for Ariel Pink to fawn over, and the fact that it starts and ends in a bedroom, y'know, it could possibly be considered slightly degrading.
The video is 100% narrative based, but with a small performance section incorporated towards the end as part of the narrative, presumably portraying one of Ariel Pink's dreams, and given that this song was only released with the video in 2012 I think it's possible that it could be a parody of music videos from the 90s, as it has a goofy, parodic, possibly satirical feel to it, with the camera quality and set and deliberately obvious acting? Which leads me nicely on to my next point about the production values. It is evidently a pretty low-budget music video, though with this irony in mind that I mentioned earlier I'm pretty sure this is deliberate. This low budget, DIY ethos mirrors that of Ariel Pink's music, as he's known for recording at home and playing most instruments himself, so I suppose this music video might appeal to people who are keen on DIY ethics in music at it certainly seems to reflect those ethics.
Most importantly, I'd like to address representation and any instances of stereotyping. Ariel Pink himself is obviously a man, though he displays sort of androgynous characteristics in his long, pink hair, what with pink for whatever reason being stereotypically thought of as a 'girl's colour'. Other stereotypically masculine characteristics are challenged in the narrative itself, as he seems very reliant on female affection, challenging the stereotype of all "real men" being strong, independent, comfortable in their own skin etc.
I think this video also quietly gives off certain signals that could possibly be considered sexist against women. The girls in this video are viewed kind of only as things from which love and affection can be earned, little else. I know it's only a music video but they don't seem to serve much purpose other than something for Ariel Pink to fawn over, and the fact that it starts and ends in a bedroom, y'know, it could possibly be considered slightly degrading.
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