The Wytches – ‘Wire Frame Mattress’ textual analysis

The Wytches – ‘Wire Frame Mattress’ textual analysis

I will be analysing the music video to The Wytches – Wire Frame Mattress using technical elements to support this.

Cinematography is used to create meaning to the audience within this video. It creates links with both the lyrics and genre of music within the video and reinforcing the video and songs meaning. This is done through the use of a medium long shot to start the video. The use of this shows the band on a low platform stage in a fairly dull, dark set. This however is not really an establishing shot due to it being heavily blurred in order to create a much distorted and almost delirious feel to the shot. This paints the picture for the rest of the video due to it having blurred elements throughout and retains the dark and smokiness throughout also. Close-ups are also regularly used within this video. For example, there is a close up to Christian Bell (singer) during the bridge to the break down. This singles him and his singing out due to vocals being the only thing heard in this part of the song. This therefore creates a visual representation of the song within the video, creating meaning for the audience. This shot then goes to an extreme close-up onto his mouth to furtherly highlight his singing and build it up greatly before the instruments come powerfully back into the track. Close-ups are also used to highlight instruments within the music video and therefore isolate them in the shot forcing the audiences focus upon it. This however does not completely isolate other instruments as the edits are very short and fast which shifts the audience’s attention around the band and different instruments. This creates a high level of disorientation within the video which could suggest an almost drunken gig experience. This is also reinforced through the smoke and blurred effect.   There are also a lot of medium shots showing the whole band performing together. This therefore shows the band together rather than individuals, and also connotes equal importance and status within the band. This suggests that they are all equally influential in terms of their musical input. This is also suggested through how they are captured on camera. Every member has a similar amount of screen time and they are all regularly shot from lower angles. The use of low angles conveys dominance and authority, this could therefore relate to them being the focus of the video and looked up to by the audience due to them being the creators of the music of which the video is for.

Mise-en-scene is also used to create meaning for the audience within this music video. The bands dark clothing and long hair are all iconic conventions of this heavy alternative rock genre. Long hair has almost become a stereotype of this due to its unconventional and non-popular style within modern society. This therefore reflects the less popular style of music itself and the fact that neither their aesthetic nor music is generally conforming to societal norms. The instrument choice is also conventional of the genre. However, Christian’s choice of guitar within this video is slightly unconventional of him, the band and even the genre. Although the way it is thrashed about and dangled low arguably makes up for this due to these being very prominent features within this alternative genre. Also, the guitar being a Fender is also very iconic of this alternative/punk like genre and are chosen over all else by many bands within this musical field. The use of green light reflects the style of music and the ideologies it retains. The use of this dark green and black creates a very gloomy tone to the scene and almost creates a sense of doom to the video. This reflects the darkness of the music and the almost doom rock like sound that the band are loved for. This therefore appeals to the audience due to fans of the band liking this style of dark, and dinginess which would lead to them also liking the music video due to it being a fitting reflection of the band music. Although this use of green could also relates to its connotations of life and growth which could reflect the fact that the band were becoming quite big in the music world around the time of the music video. Within the video Daniel Rumsey (the bassist) is shown to be wearing a Misfits t shirt. Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, this therefore appeals to the audience due to The Wytches fitting loosely within this sub-genre too. This also shows the band to be fans of this music which can personalise them showing them as real people – which can also be considered appealing by the audience of the music video.  

Editing is also used to create meaning within this music video. The use of very fast, short edits does this and creates a distorted and delirious effect which reflects the distortion within the music itself.  This also creates disorientation within the music video which almost suggests a drunken gig experience. This is also reinforced through the cinematography of a handheld camera and that they are shot from a slightly lower angle from the area that a crowd would usually be. However, this fast pace increases during the instrumental parts that highlights the build-up within the actual music and reinforces this link with music and video. This speed increase reflects the increase of intensity within the music itself; therefore this is a fitting editing choice in relation to the song. Text at the start is also used to create meaning for the audience due to it being the bands name and the song title. This therefore tells the audience the name of the song and band providing them more knowledge about the band and song. This is also in a very unconventional wavy font which reflects the unconventional nature of the band and their music. This therefore reinforces the videos reflection upon the music itself being distorted and non-mainstream.