Fleet Foxes - Music Video

 

 

Fleet Foxes – Grown Ocean

Image

Mise en Scene

Lighting – The lighting is musky and dark and very low key. This creates a hazy atmosphere and tone for the video, which makes it relaxing and hypnotic for the audience. Also it links in well with the genre because indie music is very laid back. Also the shadows and the sunset types of lighting are effective because it gives a sense of time and adds to the tone of the video so it is not just one-dimensional.

Settings – One of the settings is a cabin where the band appears to be recording their music. The use of a cabin connotes mystery and adds a country feel to it because cabins are generally in the woods in the middle of nowhere. It makes the music personal as it is in a warm and cosy environment. Another setting used is the train, which has connotations of a journey, which perhaps suggests that the band are going on a journey or trying to convey that with this video. In this sense it pulls the audience in to come along on that journey with them.

Gesture/Body Language/Facial Expression – There is a shot where there are two men on a sofa; one is laying back with his head against the wall with his eyes closed. The other is relaxed with his arm slung over the sofa. Seeing the band relaxed in the studio suggests they are laid back in their approach to their music. We also get shots of people laughing, dancing and smiling which are happy things and makes the band more likable seeing this laidback side to them.

Camera Shots

Begins with a long shot of the studio - This includes the audience in the process of making the music and they get more of a feel for the band when they are not acting but simply performing their music. This is a much more personal view of the band. Therefore this shot familiarises the audience with the band, studio etc...

Long shot of the mountains – The Mountains may be significant because they may have connotations of high hopes and aspirations. Perhaps it represents that of the bands hopes for success or they are there to promote a positive message to the audience. Which again forms a more personal relationship between the audience and the band.

Close up of one person whispering to another – This anchors the idea of a personal theme that runs through the video. This shot is clearly something personal being shared between two people as she whispers into his ear yet the audience are involved in this.

Camera Movement

Pan of the settings – The pan merges from one setting into another. The pan is of various wide-open spaces. This could have connotations of freedom and exploration, which is perhaps where the band wants to go with their music. It also links in well with the genre of indie because it’s a less conventional approach to music. Furthermore we get to see the trees and bushes, the nature and greenery. This indicates that perhaps the band has a passion for the beauty of nature and green has connotations of hope and nature.

Editing

Straight Cuts – The video is made up of many fast paced straight cuts. Perhaps this is significant because they are trying to fit in many aspects of their journey into the video. Also the shaky handheld effect in many shots adds to this homemade feel of the video with the snippets of their journeys and experiences. There is a straight cut from a man looking up and then that cuts to the sky. This could be significant as it may indicate that the band is hopeful and positive about the future and the future journeys to come.

Genre

The genre of the music is clearly indie as reflected by the elements in the music video. The band is freethinking, and enjoying life and the journey. Its quirky relaxed attitude reflects the genre well and appeal to people who enjoy this genre.

Target Audience

 The target audience doesn’t have to be specific. It can appeal to any age group because it does not have a focus on things that attract particular generations. The bands focus seems more to be on being positive and having fun with they’re laid back attitude to their journey and life. The effect of the audience seeing the band enjoying them draws you into the journey so that the audience will also enjoy their music.

Mode of address

Unlike the other videos instead of many shots where the band or artist look down the camera this band has used more personal ways to address the audience. The little moments where the band are messing around doing crazy little dances and clearly enjoying themselves without putting a front on for the camera allows the audience to be introduced to the real band and see the way they are without placing this veneer over who they really are. They are not ashamed to show themselves and this reflects the genre of indie as well.

Narrative

TODROV

Equilibrium – The video begins with one man casually strumming his guitar for no apparent reason.

Disruption – Somebody begins to record.

Realisation – The band begin to prepare and set up

Quest – They then begin the journey of the making of their song

New equilibrium – They come to the end of the song and everybody winds down and one man is left singing alone.

PROPP

There is not a particular emphasis on one individual for the hero role, but instead everyone seems to take on roles of donors/helpers. They all work together as a team in order to reach the end of the journey. The lack of emphasis on one leader could suggest that the band consider each other equally important and therefore have equal roles throughout the video.

Representation

Gender – The video is very male dominated. The odd shot that we get of the woman is always outside of the recording studio, which suggests the woman is slightly inferior to the men and less, important. Furthermore this reinforces the idea of a patriarchal society because the men are in the recording studio and taking complete control and responsibility over the music whereas the woman is dancing around and giggling.

Enigma

Again when the woman whispers in the mans ear this is one of the main examples of how the video is personal yet leaves things out. Like we do not hear what the woman whispers and this creates questions therefore creating an enigma for the audience. Also the journey creates an enigma because the audience will want to see where it all takes the band and what the purpose of it all is therefore they are more likely to continue watching the video due to the enigma.

What image does it present about the band/artist?

The idea that we get about the band as the audience is that they are not afraid to be themselves and let the audience into a more personal part of their lives. We get to see them act naturally as if the cameras were not even there. Therefore indicating the band purely have a love and passion for there music and not necessarily the fame and fortune. This is anchored by the simplicity of their music video and the rustic feel that it has.

How are these ingredients common within the specific genre/subgenre?

The sense of freedom and the wide-open spaces connote a sense of opportunity and exploration that is common within indie, as it tends to explore and play around with sound in a rustic and unique way. Furthermore the band is personal and themselves which is common and this is anchored by all the nature that we see providing a natural feel to the video.