Blur- Coffee and TV
One. Genre Characteristics
The genre characteristics of this music video do match the Brit pop genre, as it has an independent feeling yet has peformance scenes. The bands image matches the genre as they are all either wearing hoodies, plain shirts, slim leg jeans (skinny jeans) with touseld and messy hair. This all connotes the feeling that they could not be bothered and that they are independent they do not have to worry about their record label. Their setting also connotes the sense that they are independent that their record label do not give them much slack. They perform near the end of the song in a basement connoting a sense of losity as if they are able to make their music whenever theirs no rushed deadlines.
The milk carton on a whole denotes a cheesy and childlike quality to it, which is relatable to the pop genre. It is simplifying the matter by using an animated character that walks in a jolly way, almost as if he were about to burst in to a dance at any point. This is a key code and convention for a pop music video, also it feels over acted which conotes again a sense that the audience is having to have the acting simplified for them. This definately relates back to the genre, this is why pop videos are so recogniasble because anyone can understand them.
The use of props when in reference to the band surrounds music, such as they are only really shown when holding an instrument. This shows us that this is their main focus and that this is all they really care about and need. Thus showing their independence and their need to make music for themselves which is a typical independent genre reference.
Their are unsual links in the characteristics of the genre such as the song being about a break up, yet instead of doing the traditional pop esque scene of a couple, it is represented through a missing persons ad on a milk carton. Which is also an idealy American aspect, although their are now missing people's ad's on milk cartons it is still highly referrable to America which takes away from the Brit pop genre. It is not in any way a traditionally English thing to do.
Two. Lyrics and visuals
Categorically when the lyrics hit a particular dark point within the song the visuals begin to match up to the lyrics. This is shown quite vividly throughout the alley scene where the lyrics get darker and the alley is pitch black and only light dimly by the strange creatures within. In the song they reference the fact that they are going to the countryside with the lyric "do you go to the country ". In which the images on screen show the milk carton within the countryside.
The song and chorus in entitled" coffee and tv" in which throughout the video visuals match this as the milk carton is visually present and it is an ingredient for coffee. The lyrics "brain dead virtually" match the images of the milk carton nearly being strimed by an old lady and her garden strimmer and nearly being run over by a motor bike. The lyrics "take me away from this big bad world" are used as the milk carton jumps on to the back of the motor bike and is being driven off to safety.
Three. Music and visuals
Their is a turning point within the songs lyrics at the end when he returns home and the now dead milk cartons spirit rises up to the female milk carton and they meet on their way up to heaven. The beat matches up when the milk carton is walking along the street, it is as if he is matching the beat of the music with his strides of walking. When the milk carton dances on the street curb when he see's the female milk carton it is to the beat of the music. After the dark alley scene the music picks up happily in to the chorus again, at which the milk carton is elated to find the missing man through the basement window.
Four. Demands of the record label
They are very independent and modist they do not need to be the main focus of their music video. Their are not many close-up shots of the band this could be used by the record label to suggest they ave been around for a while now, that everyone knoes their names and faces. This ploy by the record company makes the band seem very vast and popular. It even acts as a ploy to get more fans as not enabling new viewers to see the band for long infers that they will want to find out more about them, they come across rather mysterious.
Mainly mid-shots, long-shots, 3/4-shots and wide-shots are used throughout the music video. Again this could be used by the record label to make them seem busy and unattached from the rest of the world. That they don't even realise the viewers are there to show just how engrossed and passionate they are about their music. It is even focusing on the whole band the record company would have choosen this so it would make it easier for them to sell the band as a collective. Seven. Notions of looking/voyeurism
Their are lots of voyeurisms to the missing man's face, as it is primarly seen on the side of a milk carton, throughout the majority of the music video. In his families house their are a lot of family pictures and he is present in many, there are even photographs just of him in there house, at which they gaze at him missing him. As his father does in the opening images to the music video. Their is also a scene in which their is looking through a curtain to look at a girl. His parents look through a kitchen hatch (window) through to their daughter who is on the telephone.
Six. Intertextual References
The green monster in the alleyway scene is a generic reference of the film industry to show a sci-fi monster to have a glow and to be green. It also shows the generics to many films about teenage runaways, and how the father is the lead role within the family setting.
When the milk carton finally finds the missing man, the milk carton watches him through the basment window.
The missing man see's his face on the side of the milk carton and looking at this side of the milk carton leads him to an image of home and his family. His parents look through the back window of their house for their son.
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