When The Sun Goes Down Arctic Monkeys

Key: Emotions/mood Narrative Relating to theorists Suggestions Costumes Location Shots Linking with lyrics

Narrative Structure
When The Sun Goes Down has a strong sense of story telling, this can be seen through the beginning (introduction of main character) middle (confrontation with magician) and end (back to the start, a life without happiness)also through the exposed plot. The music video has an obvious use of Barthes Codes; the video is that of a closed text (when the meaning is explicit). Although some interpretations are made on the music video, it is a clear narrative and the interpretations are similar if not the same. The video is obviously performance with out takes, this is because the use of costumes, and constant change of location. For example, when the girl is trashing the magicians room, it is shot in many different angles, concluding that it was performed more than once, to get many different effects.

Beginning

Middle

End

Narrative Structure
Plot Girls voiceover begins introducing her character, the video begins with the introduction of the relationship between the man and women. The audience are established into the location and surroundings of the main character (council house). It goes onto show the violent ways her pimp treats her, and what she has to do when the sun goes down. Half way through the video, the girl meets a magician, seemingly her only friend, who brings happiness and colour into her life. The audience think that this is it, she has finally found a reason to stop what she is doing and escape. This soon changes when her "owner finds her and ruins the relationship between her and the magician. The video ends, with the man talking to the girl, with his arm wrapped around her, never letting her go, with no escape for her.

Narrative Structure
Goodwins theory
Andrew Goodwin's production of the book Dancing in the Distraction Factory in 1992, established five key aspects of music videos that the audience, should look out for: Demonstrates genre characteristics Relationship between lyrics and visuals Relaationship between music and visuals Record label may demand lots of close ups of the artist Reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body Intertextual reference Strong sense of story telling

Goodwins theory in the Arctic Monkeys music video When the Sun Goes Down:
There is a strong sense of storytelling which is shown through the relationship between the lyrics and visuals throughout the music video, for example:
The opening shot is the introduction of the main character , with the opening lyrics of Whos that girl there? suggesting that she is a blank canvas with no identity.

The introduction of the pimp with his first close up, establishes that he could possible be on drugs, linking with the lyrics What a scummy man

Narrative Structure
Binary oppositions
Claude Levis Stauss felt that in some music videos the constant creation of conflict/opposition drives the narrative. His theory relies on the concept of binary oppositions ; visual (light/dark, love/hate) and the use of flashbacks, which are in visual opposition to real time.

Examples of Binary Oppositions in When the Sun Goes Down: Happiness/Fear

Light/Dark Linked shots, grabbing both, aggressive to both

Mise En Scene
Analysis of Shots
The music video is splendidly shot, with gripping camera movements and action. The opening shot is text which reads right beside us are the ones hidden by the night, there is then an inputted voiceover of the main character, who has an aggression to her voice. It is suggested that the text displayed is expressing her character, and the introduces the audience to her story which will be displayed through out the video. Also her voiceover is aggressive, suggesting that what she is saying has been forced, they are not her words of choice.

Key: Emotions/mood Narrative Relating to theorists Suggestions Costumes Location Shots

Mise En Scene
Analysis of Shots

The zoomed in close up shot of the main character and her owner suggests that they have a tight, claustrophobic relationship. In the shot, the man is stealing the girls food as his own will, this suggests that he has control over her, which she can do nothing about. The uncertain and vulnerable look she expresses to the camera, expresses that she is saying to the audience its alright, I am used to it. By him taking what he wants without even deliberating that what he is doing is wrong, it represents her life; always living off the scraps. The classic out of date furniture suggests poverty and struggle. Seen him with girls of the night

Further on in the music video she is having a meal at another caf with one of her assumed clients. The shot is zoomed out, suggesting that she has space to be herself and feel like she can breath without being threatened. The smile on her face suggests that she is happy and comfortable in her surroundings. She is able to eat her own meal without living off scraps like she does with her pimp.

Mise En Scene
Analysis of Shots The close up shot of the pimp in the car is the first time the audience are fully aware of the characteristics of the character. It seems by his facial expression that he is intoxicated (drugs), he seems violent and almost monster like, This links with the lyrics They say he changes when the sun goes down, suggesting that when night time approaches he becomes a drug women obsessed maniac. The shot following, suggests that it is that of a point of view shot, establishing that he is on drugs and the world around him is out of focus, the only thing on his mind is his next fix, and the night ahead, linking with the lyrics what a scrummy man.

Mise En Scene
Analysis of Shots and Lighting When it is only the girl in the shot, she is mainly focused on through close ups expressing her upset. By looking at the camera she is making an emotional connection with the audience, especially to viewers in her condition. The colourless frame to the shot suggests isolation, poverty and loneliness. The light and colour fading from the shot, links in with the name of the song (when the sun goes down); it could indicate her soul slowly declining, or her life coming to an end. Her pale face and expressionless eyes suggest that she is intoxicated with drugs, explaining to the audience why this man has a hold on her, and what she needs money for. The weak smile she offers the image suggests that she is putting up with it because she has to, not because she wants to.
Key: Emotions/mood Narrative Relating to theorists Suggestions Costumes Location Shots

Mise En Scene
Analysis of Shots The close up shot of the man and women in the car, suggests a claustrophobic space. In this section of The long shot establishes the location of the video, he licks the girls face and where her pimp spends his nights (with grabs her threatingly, the girl is letting strippers). He is smiling and dancing whilst him do whatever he wants, suggesting his women works, establishing that his life that she is his puppet. The man is angry is based on women and his control and with the girl for having fun, and enjoying power over them. He seems to have no herself with another man (magician) conscience. rather than him.

In each shot, there seems to be a main focus, which is usually very still or low on movement, with a very busy background, usually at high speeds for example, the opening shot of the girl in slow motion looking at the camera, whilst the slow falls in full speed. The main focus is very close as well, taking up the proportion of the shot. Whether it is a person or an object, it is used to express the feeling and emotions felt by that particular character, or set the mood shown by the object.

Key: Emotions/mood Narrative Relating to theorists Suggestions Costumes Location Shots

Mise-en-scene

Costumes When the main character engages in contact with the magician, the audience see a change in her emotions, she seems confident, happy and delighted. The use of the feather bower suggests that unlike before she does want to stand out, there is a beam of confidence in her that she wants to show. She is smiling in the caf with an assumed client in the long shot portrayed. The feather bower could indicate a friend in her life (the magician), which she is not used to having, someone she can have fun with, with no interior motive. As the pimp enters the caf the expression on the main character and her accomplice face is that of despair. The close up of the pimp of him wearing the feather bower, suggests that he owns her happiness and her. She is not supposed to be happy unless it is indicated by him. In the final shot (close up) she appears again, but without the colour in her life (bower, face), with bitterness in her eyes.

Mise-en-scene
Costumes

Costumes are a big aspect to representations of characters in this music video. The pimp is dressed as a gangster would; in a full black suit with a shaved head. In the shot of him wearing the crown, suggests that he is the king and that he rules the main characters life. She is his prize and no one can take that from his powerful grip.
His possession is dressed in stereotyped chav clothing; tracksuit, trainers, hair scraped back. It seems that she does not want to be noticed, and that she wants to blend in with her surroundings, seeming that she is hiding from the man who owns her. For example, in the long shot when she is walking by the shabby building with amateur graffiti, she is camouflaged, she is not what the audience notices in the image , which is her aim; to be unnoticed and avoided. What is noticeable in the video, is that the main character rarely removes her hood. It could be suggested that she sees the hood as a shelter and barrier, from the torment of her pimp, and keeps her enclosed from all the bad things she has to do for money. The only time she does remove her jacket is when she meets the magician. This shot relates to the lyrics avert your eyes and staring at the ground.

Location
The opening shot, establishes the location of the main character, and where the music video is set. Behind the close up of the girl, are a block of council houses (her home), suggesting that she is not of wealth. Through out the music video, the scenery is rundown, dark and dreary, reflecting the emotions of the girl as well as setting the scene. The use of classic out of date furniture establishes that the location, in which the music video is set, is that of lower class. The idea of a greasy spoon for a romantic meal, reflects the lower class of the characters, as they cannot afford a restaurant meal. The character blends in with the somber scenery, establishing that this is her home, and it is where she belongs.

Location
The worm eye shot establishes the location, the obvious Is that it is the staircase of her block of flats, but the way the shot is taken, suggests that the staircase is never ending, just like her relationship with her pimp, the neverending nightmare that is her life. With no escape. It is a minimalist location with no colour, just black and white, representing no colour or light in her life. The location of the magicians lair expresses a place of hope and desire. By entering the magic box she is wishing that she could teleport into another world without violence or pain. She is longing for escape which will never come, not even a magician can grant that for her. Compared to the shot of the stairs, this location is full of colour and brightness, reflecting the girls emotions.

Binary oppositions (No escape chance of escape)

Audience
The audience who I feel would benefit most from this music video are that of an older age (17+) this is because of the hard hitting aspects and deeper meaning of the video (violence, prostitution, drugs). Individuals who are in the same position as the girl, may be able to relate to the character and realise things about their lives that they hadn't been able to realise before. It has a hard emotional effect on the public, who may not see truly what women (like the main character) go through, it gives them a deeper perspective. When the music video was released it was played on radio stations (NME), in shops (especially record shops) , through people humming it, car stereos and on the television. Through these different aspects of advertisement, the audience grew and grew, resulting in arctic monkeys being one of the most famous indie rock bands in Britain today.

Lauren Socha landed a role in the hit E4 show Misfits. Her character was very similar to that of her character portrayed By wearing a community service in Arctic Monkeys music video. jumpsuit, it suggests to the audience Just like Sochas role in when that she brings trouble to herself the sun goes down she had to portray a sterotypical chav. Video evidence of Socha in Misfits establishing the chav sterotype, and resembling aspects of her character in the music video, are exhibited at the end of this case study

Intertextual reference
In the beginning shot of when the sun goes down, Socha is shot with her location (home) behind her. This has been done also in misfits, again her character in this media text lives in council flats, establishing the chav stereotype. Her costume in misfits is much like that in When the sun goes down. Typical chav: hoop earrings, hair scrapped back . Dark clothing to blend in with the crowd, she cannot afford expensive brands.

Lauren Socha expresses her identity through her style and clothing, establishing that she is part of a subculture. Which relates to the theory of Dick Hedbrige

In when the sun goes down, it is suggested that the character is on drugs, selling her body for her next fix. In Misfits Sochas character is portrayed much the same.

Stephan Graham starred in the hit film This is England a year after his role in When the sun goes down . Directors and casting agents saw potential in his character and chose him for the role in This is England, as their characters are much alike. Fans of Arctic Monkeys and viewers of This is England, are able to associate the pimp with the racist thug that is Combo.

Intertextual reference
Grahams costumes in This is England are much like that in the music video; his shaved head and smart clothing, suggests that he has money (not necessarily well earned) and he likes to take pride in his appearance. By looking good he feels powerful and confident enough to harass others. In This Is England, Combo has just returned from time in prison. Grahams character in When the Sun Goes Down, suggests prison time in the past or in his future.
Key: Emotions/mood Narrative Relating to theorists Suggestions Costumes Location Shots Linking with lyrics

Video evidence of Graham in This is England exhibiting similarities to that of the pimp in the music video, are exhibited at the end of this case study

Combo in This is England is very aggressive and threatening, much like Grahams character in When the Sun Goes Down. He brings terror and fear to those around him, and like to feel superior to others.