Music Genre Analysis- Indie Rock- The Killers

The Killers- Mr Brightside

This is an indie/ rock genre performed by The Killers. Using the PEER format, I have been able to analyse the music video 'Mr Brightside'. 

There are many different camera shots throughout the music video. Two of the most important shots portrayed may be the establishing shot and the close up. The establishing shot is used to convey to the audience exactly where the setting is- in this case, the storyline is performed in a theatrical brothel- intended to resemble the famous 'Moulin Rouge'. This shot is important in setting the entire scene for the video, as it "sets the scene" for the audience. It also related to the rock/ indie genre, as it is different and dramatic to the audience. 

The second important camera age is of the protagonist/ lead singer looking towards his "lover" performing with another man. The shady eyes and darkness around him, added with his facial expression shows to us that he is extremely jealous. Close ups of this nature are repetitive in this video, as it really portrays his jealousy to the audience. The nature of these shots also relate to the lyrics;

"And I just can't look,

It's killing me

And taking control.

Jealousy,

Turning saints into the sea"

The mise-en-scene throughout the video is also very respectable. The costumes add a diversity to the video, which therefore intrigues the audience into watching the entire clip. The costume also suggests to the audience that it is a narrative styles video as it has a story line throughout. The theatrical costumes make it clear to the audience that the music is a bit "off the rails" to what one may normally find. They also convey the fact that it is intended to replicate the french 'Moulin Rouge'. To summarise, the iconography is used to portray to the audience that the video takes place inside a burlesque show.
Apples are frequently shown in this video. The antagonist of the story- the pimp- throws the apples to the available escorts to tell them to do their job with a customer who is waiting. The mentioning of apples could arguably have two intertextual meanings, one meaning links to the fairy tale 'snow white', however it is given a darker nature, so begs the question whether the characters will get their "happily ever after". The second relates to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, where the temptation of 'the apple' causes destruction and changes the outcome of future events. The deep red of the apples also help to suggest to the audience the women's duties, as red is typically a connotation of lust and passion, and as they are thrown the apples they are inclined to 'please' customers. 

One effect used in editing is a translucent double-cross of images. For example, when the protagonist and antagonist are playing an intense game of checkers, a faded image of the "damsel in distress" is shown over the board. This most likely suggests that the characters are battling over 'owenership' of this woman, whether she stays in the escorting business or whether the singer can run away with her. The singer loses, and angrily knocks over the checkers board, this could sugges his defeat. The effect of this double-crossing image may indicate that they are metaphorically fencing for her ownership.

The pace of cutting fits in well with the video. The cuts help to convey the storyline to the audience and also enable the audience to understand how the characters feel, without any spoken dialogue in the video. An example of this would be when the antagonist throws an apple to the escort, there is a quick cut to the singers face to show he is watching her, his face is made of anguish and jealousy, and as the cut is not there for very long, the audience immediately know he is uncomfortable with the situaion. This creates a relationship between the protagonist and the audience as we are able to sympathise for the lead singer.

There are effects of voyeurism within the video, as the women are seen as sexual objects by the men, and they use provocative dancing and revealing undergarments to encourage this idea the men have portrayed. Something that challenges the stereotype of its indie rock nature is the fact that it is not a 'home made' video.