What representations of society are constructed in this music video? How does the use of camera, editing and mise-en-scene help to construct these?
Immediately, the casual dialect “chav” is now associated with a younger-lower class person perceived as brash and loutish behaviour. In Plan B’s music video, he states that people claim it defines as ‘Council House And Violent’. Automatically, those grouped individuals are seen to have little education and a lack of potential for their future careers – ultimately, they are instantly avoided in the public eye. However, at certain scenes in the cinematic video it displays the talent of young boys who can street dance and are equally if not more talented than any other boy his age who may be from an upper-class family.
Psychoanalyst Lacan statistically states that audience can relate to texts where they can identify the representations with aspects of themselves in. The location helps to enhance the targeted audience. Those of whom may relate and are directly affected by some of the issues that occur within the video if they too live in London or a similar environment feel a sense of reassurance by someone who may feel the same emotional and physical pain they are suffering with. Having recently watched Plan B’s Tedx Talk on YouTube it has expanded my knowledge on the background information of the creation of the music video and its influence of lyrics. The degrading genre of drugs, rape, murder and underage sex – unfortunately is what ‘typical’ children from a similar background to him are attracted to. He claims he sees himself as a father figure as many of them were parentless, which could have resulted in their bad temperance and values towards society. Although, once the deeper message is understood, the song exposes the harsh reality of someone who is mainly in need of support, to be loved and help. The combination of the media components; use of camera, editing and mise-en-scene reinforces the bitter lifestyle through the dim weather conditions reflecting the children’s consistent worthless attitude.
Costume is a significant factor in the ‘Ill Manors’ music video as the artists relied heavily on stereotypical costume design of the youth through the presentation of hoodies, tracksuits, caps and masks. As a result, portraying a negative perception of the youth not only in London, but across the United Kingdom. Clearly, the costume of wearing their hood up can be to hide their faces either in disappointment as they are embarrassed and guilty to be involved in a ‘gang’ yet have no alternative solution. Alternatively, it could be a representative and is purposely used as a motif within the music video.
In addition to motifs, the animated ‘Safari’ truck occurs regularly throughout the video. From an editor's point of view, this could be viewed as a journey not only through the video of affliction and pain. But, reflecting the lack of life journey many young people receive due to many social and environmental factors that cannot aid their needs. The safari is taking the audience to what the artist believes many people are oblivious too and is then cut to another part where we are confronted with another act of violence of intimidation in front of our faces, almost inescapable.
Prior to the music starting in the video, the opening 5 seconds include the non-diegetic murky sound of diesel. The sound effect allows the viewer to use their imagination as they are forced to face a downgraded area of London – instantly giving the audience a sense of how the music video will play out. Effectively, it portrays a gloomy and dismal atmosphere; emphasised by the establishment shot to further the negative understanding of those who live in council estates.
In terms of location, the music video is set in London, which is the heart of all political decisions and leaders which appears to be the perfect and ideal place. The focus never changes from this enhanced urban setting, featuring: towers blocks, council estates and car parks. Purposely, it has been filmed on a day where the weather affects the mood of the audience, the bleak and grey landscape emphasise the desolate and exposed nature of the video. Overall, depicting the criticism of modern life and demonstrating how they have no respect for the authority.
What representations of gender, ethnicity and social class are constructed in this music video? How does the use of camera, editing and mise-en-scene help to construct these?
The representation of gender and race throughout the music video is constantly referred to as the age demographics range between teenagers and young adults. In terms of gender, there are mostly male and very little females involved in the video and if they are, they are standing in the background and are never at the centre of attention. Despite this, it continues to challenge the convention of gender roles in hip-hop as typically women are seen as trophies of objects to surround the male artist. Instead, one individual female is filming a male who conflicts with another male. They are perceived as bystanders in the music video as they have limited impact on the action and ideology behind it. Thus, portraying women as too weak to be included in the activity of the rivalry or are simply excluded. However, this is not entirely inaccurate as statistics state that 89% of arrested rioters in the 2011 riots were male, clearly displayed in the video.
Many of the derogatory language within the video is censored as well as some faces, purely because the song would not make the mainstream video if this was not to happen.
At the opening of the cinematic video, the basic camera shot of an establishment is purposely used to accentuate the deprived areas of London, displaying pollution and smoke that not only highlight the dirty contribution to the environment from wealthy businesses and their buildings. But society receiving unhuman treatment as if their estate is contaminated and murky that must be quarantined, therefore is betrayed on all levels. Directly after, there is a long shot like the previous angle, with Plan B positioned on the right overlooking the city of London where it is partially bright, reflecting the admiration and idolised version of people’s perception.
In particular, the lyrics,
“On second thoughts don’t you don’t wanna get mugged
Oh Shit too late, that was kinda dumb
Whose idea was that, stupid”
were mocked by many as they appeared as ludicrous by the media. Plan B is saying that if you did try to hug an individual wearing a hoodie, the reality is that you would get mugged. The song sarcastically attacks the media’s perception of working-class children and how they are disdained by much of the upper class. Prior to being Prime Minister, David Cameron released his “Hug A Hoodie” campaign, as an attempt to appeal to liberal-learning voters.
The close-up shot of the artist as well as another person who is wearing a mask is intimidating especially as Plan B appears tired and pale yet threatening. It is daunting and alarming for the audience, ultimately effecting the impression of inner-city youth. Alternatively, it could be a warning to the public as without helping those, not necessarily financially – we may be contributing to their health. Thus, portraying ill-looking faces could gain the audiences empathy if it reaches out to a more liberal audience.
A low angle shot presented below, is explicitly used where an actor spits his gum out onto the ground, however the position of this being filmed designedly portrays this as if the viewer/editor is looked in disgust and is being treated essentially as trash.
Collectively, these associations are a sarcastic take on the British middle class, stereotyping ‘chavs’ as thuggish and violent – referring to them as mainly males. Dangerously, it can lead to audiences generalising people or places – of which I believe is the main cause of the overly used common term. During Plan B’s Ted talk, he accentuates that the label of the slang word is openly used in the 21st century, with approximately 114 UK newspapers using this name in December only, 2004. The current generation of children will be brought up to assume adverse comments only about people who wear these clothes or speak a certain way.
Plan B’s approach towards social class within its video, the lyrics “Council kids scum of the Earth” is a recognition of the upper class and how they refer to those below them in the social hierarchy and how they have little respect to others in regard to their wealth. Additionally, Politicians can be viewed as ignorant by their opposition and non-competitive parties as they don’t appear to understand the problems of living in a council estate and negatively just see the people as the irritation.
What representations of the artist are constructed in this music video? How does the use of camera, editing, mise-en-scene help to construct these?
‘Plan B’, truly named as Benjamin Paul Balance-Drew has published a music video that is at the heart of his childhood experiences, who was brought up in East London, Forest Gate. He attended a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) as he was excluded from public school at a young age. The artist promoted the PRU as great and the start of his career as those teachers are who encouraged and motivated him to change his life. Plan B certainly did not agree with the mentality of these young children who always fought and involved themselves in illegal substances and rivalry, however he did understand it. That is the power to reach out, to people in the same position as he was, proving that there are still opportunities. Majority of these children had broken, dysfunctional families and were raised to believe they could never make anything of themselves because their parents didn’t. Clearly, this example is represented throughout the entire music video; simply by displaying the success of his song even though he is surrounded and adapted to the environment him and his crew are filming in.
A personal quote from Plan B in 2006 states, “I always felt like a social outcast” indicating that those within the same categorised background of Plan B may experience discrimination against their lifestyle/upbringing too. His words emulate in scenes of the music video where their voice is understood to be rejected and unwanted for opinion, meaning their last result to be demolishing vehicles and stealing valuable items from social alienation.
The conventions are fundamental within Plan B’s music video especially as the use of relevant props used in present day such as the Pitbull, baseball bats and cigarettes add to the threatening atmosphere. The representations of the artist are constructed in this music video by mirroring the activities that Plan B may have involved himself in during his childhood. Also, the range of ages identified in this video means that despite whether they are in education or have finished, the acts of violence continues as the declination of the lower class are unlikely to be employed. As a result, Plan B is advocating change and beliefs of a stereotypical environment.
The idea of selection is clearly conveyed in this music video as the beautiful and rich aspects of London have obviously been ignored and are non-existent to the viewer which illustrates the grimy and realistic ideal. That is simply because the main attraction and focus of the governments as well as other powerful representatives easily forget the serious conditions of the neglected places on the outskirts of the city. For that reason, the music video was filmed in Peckham, possibly because this where was where one of the riots took place. It is in the shadow of the where the Olympic Stadium was being built – ultimately, for publicity and no adequate or moral reasoning.
From the artist, the lyrics perceive that he believes some of the causes of the riots were closing the community centres associates this with further threats and jokes upon what seems to be us (the viewer). The aggressive baseline in the song is designed to mirror the turmoil and unrest felt by those involved in the riots as arguably it began due to the annoyance of those who felt they were being ignored by the government and was not receiving help.
A red flare is used by members of gangs, while their face is unseen and the deep colour connotates danger which is seen to be coming our way as the immediate shot after this is of Plan B technically accentuating for the members to come closer to him – suggesting he is not afraid as he is ‘part’ of their culture. This bright and scarce lighting of exposure works effectively in contrast to the dark background throughout the cinematography. The flaming colour may foreshadow the blood of the London riots and the violence that these ‘chavs’ have caused. The construction of the media text is purposely put together with animations and edited versions, including events from the riots of 2011, criticisms of politicians and newspapers too, supported lyric with “I predict a riot”.
Having said that, from an interview of Plan B, it equally corresponds as he speaks for the youth and explains how the adolescents felt as though they did not belong and listened to rappers to let them guide their steps. One lyric of a song could transform their lives and encourage them to improve their misbehaved ways. As a result, his Ted talk could be to reach out to a different target audience, who are most likely to be criticising those below them. Therefore, determined to change their perception at the end of his speech and encourage the audience to follow on his actions – vastly changing society.
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