TITLE: Elastic Heart
ARTIST: Sia
RUN TIME: 270 Seconds
FORMAT: Theatre /
SYNOPSIS
The music video that was created for the song "Elastic Heart" by Sia is based around a running narrative behind two characters who are pictured to be fighting and displaying different forms of emotion to each other. The music video is typical of Sia and can be seen from a very artistic perspective as oppose to a narrative video which could be seen much more story based.
We get the basic understanding that throughout this video the person is clearly dealing with trauma or some kind of addiction, in which one side of them is trying to break loose but the other is stuck in the same looping spiral.
We get the basic understanding that throughout this video the person is clearly dealing with trauma or some kind of addiction, in which one side of them is trying to break loose but the other is stuck in the same looping spiral.
The video has many different running themes and narratives throughout which I split up into four different categories to analyse.
LOCATION
The music video is based in an abandoned warehouse in which there is a large cage like setup and two characters are trapped within this cage in the narrative although, as we see at the end of the video, the girl character can get through the cage but the male character is trapped, from this we can understand that he is trapped in a never ending spiral of his ways or in a relationship or in any kind of never ending circle.
We can see minimal light coming through the top of the warehouse through small windows this tells us as the audience that little light is being put into the situation and not much sanity is being prevailed maybe.
RUNNING THEMES
Right from the beginning we can understand that there is some kind of distress emanating from both of the characters, this is greatly increased by the swirling eyes (0:15).
The whole video has just one main running theme and that is a face of between two characters, moreover the characters represent a persons battle against something, as they are battling and showing lots of emotion. The child character, at times, is showing a more grown up approach to the subject where as the adult who is the route of the addiction is behaving erratically and non controllably to leaving the addiction behind.
Right from the beginning we can understand that there is some kind of distress emanating from both of the characters, this is greatly increased by the swirling eyes (0:15).
The whole video has just one main running theme and that is a face of between two characters, moreover the characters represent a persons battle against something, as they are battling and showing lots of emotion. The child character, at times, is showing a more grown up approach to the subject where as the adult who is the route of the addiction is behaving erratically and non controllably to leaving the addiction behind.
NARRATIVE
There is no set narrative throughout the music video as there is a display of multiple emotions and characteristics throughout. The viewer cannot get an absolute understanding of who plays what and their relevancy to the narrative structure as everything is very abstract within the video. I believe this was done deliberately as that is Sia's style of music and that is a running theme within all of her music videos.
You can break down the music video to discover little narratives within it however and there are multiple examples throughout for example the older man plays a supportive role for the child entertaining her towards the end, but at the same time
You can break down the music video to discover little narratives within it however and there are multiple examples throughout for example the older man plays a supportive role for the child entertaining her towards the end, but at the same time
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The music video is shot in a very contemporary style as that gives the viewer a clearer understanding of the overall narrative and house style.
The producers decided to film the music video in this way because they had sufficient budget and crew to do so, they also said it presents a more clear view of the video and the meaning.
Although simply filmed the message is clear through how the video is shot that the characters are distressed and are looking for some sort of contrast and salvation.
The music video is shot in a very contemporary style as that gives the viewer a clearer understanding of the overall narrative and house style.
The producers decided to film the music video in this way because they had sufficient budget and crew to do so, they also said it presents a more clear view of the video and the meaning.
Although simply filmed the message is clear through how the video is shot that the characters are distressed and are looking for some sort of contrast and salvation.
No comments:
Post a Comment