'Wonderwall' Analysis (Indie)

Our chosen track’s genre reflects the sound of British indie music and the most obvious influence would have to be Oasis’ Wonderwall. The music video for the song particularly opened our eyes to the striking surrealist imagery that was employed throughout, all amongst the stark black and white colouring. We interpreted this as suggesting, despite the wondrous content of the song, there is a thin cover preventing it from being fully presented. As the visuals portray this, the music consistently hits downbeat notes as various points, reducing the impact of what has been played before it, into a more sombre atmosphere. Our chosen track likewise seems to hit this sombre tone after seemingly conventionally positive build-up.

Codes and Conventions

Wonderwall has many distinct codes and  conventions, and they remain prominently present throughout the video. For this, we have decided that we must consider nine specific elements:

 

Setting – For the setting, Wonderwall exclusively focuses on the interior of  some sort of large warehouse, the only distinguishing features being the household objects scattered as part of the mise-en-scene. The interior of the warehouse appears extremely bland and emotionless, without any windows or doors seen as present. This, along with the fact fact the video is shot through black and white, creates a clear sense of claustrophobia and emotional numbness, accentuating the themes of the song.

 

Mise-en-scene – As mentioned before, the decision set the scene within a rather emotionless warehouse, and to litter the set with rather simplistic household objects (chairs; dart board) creates an intentional blandness that accentuates the geometry of each object, conveying a meaning that the interior message of the song is simple and bare to the observing audience.

 

Performance – Heavy emphasis is placed on the lead singer, Gallagher’s performance, through extreme close-ups. This technique attempts to develop a sense of intimacy between himself and the audience, and the message he is conveying is emphasised because of that. However, the glasses he is wearing clearly cover his eyes, creating a sense of separation within this  intimate atmosphere. This is further illustrated through his clear lack of movement throughout the video, as he remains seated in his chair.

 

Narrative – Narrative proves minimal within the video, with a much heavier emphasis placed upon the performance. However, certain narrative elements do appear throughout; the recurring appearance of a clown, attempting to engage within conversation with some of the depicted characters, acts as a clear sub-element to the performance structure.

 

Sound – Sound is absolutely minimal within the video, with very little to be seen in terms of diagetic materials. However, the opening element of the clown pacing and placing a record on a machine, helps to accentuate the raw sound of the music, a conventional concept of the indie genre. The Music almost fades in via the crackling of the record’s scratches.

 

Camera – Heavy emphasis is placed on wide shots and allowing the observer to view a wide range of action on screen; through montaging. Usually, we see a technique of parallel editing from the objects and the band members casually interacting with them, to the intense intimacy of Gallagher’s singing and performance, conveying the idea that there is an, almost constant, binary display of emotion; from the casual to the intimate.

 

Editing – Editing is rapid and focused, wishing to expansively explore each element of the visuals with quick pace, an idea emphasised through the splicing between each shot an intense flash, that gives the video a choppy, raw feeling.

 

Andrew Goodwin
The music video relates to all of Goodwin's points:
 

Music Videos demonstrate certain genre characteristics - Wonderwall reflects the genre that it is a part of, in that it clearly reflects the editing style of many indie music videos; through rapid cutting between shots that appear very similar, and usually intersected by very brief flashes and choppy editing. Further elements of this concept we see through the decision to shoot the video exclusively in black and white, a staple of certain elements of the indie genre; connoting a lack of charged, bright emotion, which links nicely with the general lyrical content of indie music.

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals - The depressed nature of the lyrics and the clear sense of loss, is accentuated through the black and white visuals and the use of glasses over Gallagher’s face to develop a clear sense of emotionlessness and separation.

There is a relationship between music and visuals - The slow pacing, yet hard-hitting sound of the music is reflected in the clear hanging of different shots and the events taking place on screen, yet we also understand that the violent drum beats are reflected in the rapid editing style that is employed.
The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close-ups of the artist - Many close ups are given to Gallagher, whom is undoubtedly the most profitable member of the band, in order to develop a “Star Image” for him and give him extra prominence throughout the video. This, in turn, increased the marketability of the video.

The artist may develop motifs or iconography that recur across their work -The surreal elements of the video, such as the clown, is a hallmark of Oasis’ videos, giving each and every video a sense of oddness, yet meaning.

There is frequent reference to the notion of ‘looking’ and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body - Within this piece, as is the case of many indie music videos, there is no voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

Steve Archer

The video relates, in many ways, to Archer’s 5 key points:

 

Thought Beats: Thought beats are clearly present throughout the video, the contrast “flashing” seen during one of the song’s references to “lights are blinding” help to emphasise that connection between the visuals and the concept.

 

Narrative and performance: Whilst narrative is not particularly focused on, the video indeed places emphasis upon the performance of our lead singer, Gallagher, centralising the main concepts and feelings of the video, totally around him.

 

The Star Image: This is likewise key, as it translates Gallagher’s real world fame into the primary focus of the video; it gives him distinct prominence through extreme close ups of his face. Likewise, many of the low shots of him, give him a clear sense of superiority; power as a star extended to power within a self-contained visual context.

 

Illustration, Amplification and Disjuncture: The video follows a very noticeable amplification purpose, as the themes and concepts of the lyrics are extended into brief and related elements of imagery. Where one might conclude that the clown’s place is total disjuncture, another could argue that it reflects the bizarre nature of some of the lyrical content.

 

Technical Aspects: Technical aspects that were particularly key in emphasising the points of the video, include the intense camera-work; giving bot the setting a wide, empty feel through wide shots, and giving Gallagher a sense of personal intimacy through extreme close ups,