Music Video CW - Analysis = Hunting For Witches (31/0814)

Analysis of Music Video

Bloc Party - Hunting For Witches

This is a analysis of Bloc Party music video hunting for witches. Hunting for witches is a conventional performance video. The video blends a mixture of camera angles and movement whilst the band stay seeminglsly still. The variety of shots and at such quick succession flow nicely with the pace of the track with its heavily influenced guitar riff played at the lower cords. The lighting projects this rather low key effect creating this dark and grey atmosphere which is in appropriate for the the title of the track in refernce to the supernatural phenomina of witches and spirits.

The extreme close up shots of the band members eyes and faces complement the dark mood and atmosphere and create this effect of fear and claustraphobia for the viewer. This infused with what sounds like a montage of voices mix with the bang of the drum and sharp cords of the guitar creating a feeling a feeling of menace for the viewer. What can also be established is the costume. Each band member is wearing a different colour t shirt. This is perhaps to create contrast and lighten the mood of the atmosphere created by the lighting and music.

In Bloc Party's hunting for witches a proceeds to shows a extreme close up of one of the band members upper face conveying a look of intension and purpose. The fast paced editing distorts the viewers sense of understanding that the diverse variety of shots from close up to long shots of the instruments and band members creates a relationship and places a importance between the instruments and the band members.

The reoccuring long shot centres all 4 members in the frame. This can be interpreted by the viewers that the band are united and that the witches are metaphors for the dark forces that wish to tear them apart. Though this might be a underlining message, understanding the lyrics of the track shows that Bloc Party are making a statement of 'critical intent'. "Hunting for witches" is a play on the term witch hunt and its through the multicoloured t shirts that represents there light hearted yet resiliance to tabloid papers 'witch hunt' against ethnic diversity. 

The different shots of the members faces present the viewer different ethnicities marketing them as young, diverse and independent. It seems also that the band are critical of the society that they are living in and the prominence of groups and political ideologies that oppose and do not embrace a new and different Britian. This view is personifed through the consistent cuts between the black front man Kele and the asian drummer. Additionally the echoes of the guitar chords and the camera's emphasise on the medium shot the the guitrarists strumming the instruments ferociously heightens the bands anger at the existing social problems and issue towards different people. The quick cuts synchronise well and reinforce this climax of sound.