Analysis comparing Unfinished Symphony to Burn the Witch
The Burn the Witch video by Radiohead is inspired by the British children’s TV series the 'Trumptonshire Trilogy', a man is given a tour of a picture-perfect town in which the residents do unspeakably creepy and violent things to each other. The video culminates in the man nearly being burned to death inside a massive wooden effigy — a clear homage to 1973 British horror film The Wicker Man. Unfinished Sympathy's video features singer of Massive Attack, Shara Nelson, walking down a street in downtown LA. Unlike Burn the witch this video is a performance video which features Nelson lip-singing on screen.
One clear difference between the two videos is that Burn the Witch is created in a clay like form with characters instead of people. The main characters are the inspector going round the village and the presumed mayor of the village showing him round. Multiple eerie settings are shown and 'inspected' as the shocked figure writes things down on a notebook. The song is primarily about burning the witch and also features ritualistic gatherings and eerie scenes. This can be related to Unfinished Sympathy as this video also connotes violence and shows the gangs on the street. This video is about love as stated in the lyrics, 'I know that I've been mad in love before... And now I've got to know much more... The curiousness of your potential kiss has got my mind and body aching' yet also covers the representation of street life as Nelson walks down the street passing multiple characters. These characters convey the poverty of downtown LA especially through the characters of the man and his son and disabled man on a skateboard whom add to the atmosphere and perhaps emphasise the minorities in the area.
In a recent interview with Billboard, the animator behind the video, Virpi Kettu, discussed the motives behind “Burn the Witch”. Interestingly, she believes the video was intended to be happier than the song. “They wanted the video to contrast with what they’re playing and to wake people up a bit,” Kettu explained. Kettu also said that the band wanted the video to raise awareness about Europe’s refugee crisis and the “blaming of different people… the blaming of Muslims and the negativity” currently engulfing European politics. She opined that the band was trying to recreate the climate of fear that politicians have encouraged in response to Muslim immigrants. This is evident in the video as the entire video illustrates the fear of an unknown environment. Arguably the inspector represents the UK and influential/rich countries and the eerie town and townspeople represent the muslims who have twisted and evil connotations put on them. I believe that the video does represent Radiohead as an alternative band as the video offers more of a theatrical element, especially with the clay figurines compared to mainstream videos like Unfinished sympathy which focuses on the singer and lyrics rather than a storyline relating to the words. Unfinished Sympathy could be about about beginning to get involved with someone who then pulls away- "How can I have a day without a night, You're the book that I have opened, and now I've got to know much more." These both suggest she's had some kind of contact with the person but only a limited amount and it's left her wanting more. "Like a soul without a mind..." beautifully conveys the feeling of emptiness as a result of this desire, she is missing something she needs. Also perhaps a resignation to the fact she won't get what she wants. The line "You really hurt me baby..." expresses her angst and despair about the fact the other person pulled away or does not requite her love.
In the Massive Attack video the director portrays street life of downtown LA through the mise en scene, including lighting, costume, makeup, setting, props and sound.
At the beginning of the video a leather glove is shown gripping two steel balls and clinking them together creating the diegetic sound on screen. The camera then zooms out to show a larger group of men from an ariel view with a 'gang-like' stereotypical appearance, with tank tops, tattoos and a pit bull terrier showing the diegetic sound of growling which overall gives connotations to violence and aggression. The camera then pans round to the street showing a small boy with a toy gun which again connotes violence. These two elements portray the street life of downtown LA to be aggressive and volatile.
As the camera follows the street the non-diegetic music begins with the backing beat. The setting is very urbanised with many shops, cars, graffiti, rubbish on the side of the road and posters on telephone posts etc. These have been used to add to the atmosphere of the street and represent the poverty. Here the tracking shot begins to follow Shara Nelson down the street. Her makeup is more subtle than vibrant with the only noticeable attributions being the smokey eyeshadow. Her costume is basic and consists of a black coat and dress with flat shoes. This contrasts with the background colours as they have colourful tones with a vibrant orange tone of the natural lighting which could convey Nelson not fitting in with the street life. This all together shows the street usage in the Unfinished sympathy video.
The audience may gain a sense of nostalgia from Radiohead's video due to the Tumpton and the wicker man references. This therefore creates pleasure as it creates the sense of recognition to the audience. The structure of the video is also cyclical so would again bring pleasure to the audience as it begins with the bird Fans especially would gain pleasure as it is a release of a new song. Unfinished sympathy gains pleasure from again the fan recognition but also though the interpretation of a longing for love and contrastingly the background of downtown LA.
In conclusion Unfinished sympathy contrasts with Burn the witch due to their different genres and alternative and mainstream conventions.
One clear difference between the two videos is that Burn the Witch is created in a clay like form with characters instead of people. The main characters are the inspector going round the village and the presumed mayor of the village showing him round. Multiple eerie settings are shown and 'inspected' as the shocked figure writes things down on a notebook. The song is primarily about burning the witch and also features ritualistic gatherings and eerie scenes. This can be related to Unfinished Sympathy as this video also connotes violence and shows the gangs on the street. This video is about love as stated in the lyrics, 'I know that I've been mad in love before... And now I've got to know much more... The curiousness of your potential kiss has got my mind and body aching' yet also covers the representation of street life as Nelson walks down the street passing multiple characters. These characters convey the poverty of downtown LA especially through the characters of the man and his son and disabled man on a skateboard whom add to the atmosphere and perhaps emphasise the minorities in the area.
In a recent interview with Billboard, the animator behind the video, Virpi Kettu, discussed the motives behind “Burn the Witch”. Interestingly, she believes the video was intended to be happier than the song. “They wanted the video to contrast with what they’re playing and to wake people up a bit,” Kettu explained. Kettu also said that the band wanted the video to raise awareness about Europe’s refugee crisis and the “blaming of different people… the blaming of Muslims and the negativity” currently engulfing European politics. She opined that the band was trying to recreate the climate of fear that politicians have encouraged in response to Muslim immigrants. This is evident in the video as the entire video illustrates the fear of an unknown environment. Arguably the inspector represents the UK and influential/rich countries and the eerie town and townspeople represent the muslims who have twisted and evil connotations put on them. I believe that the video does represent Radiohead as an alternative band as the video offers more of a theatrical element, especially with the clay figurines compared to mainstream videos like Unfinished sympathy which focuses on the singer and lyrics rather than a storyline relating to the words. Unfinished Sympathy could be about about beginning to get involved with someone who then pulls away- "How can I have a day without a night, You're the book that I have opened, and now I've got to know much more." These both suggest she's had some kind of contact with the person but only a limited amount and it's left her wanting more. "Like a soul without a mind..." beautifully conveys the feeling of emptiness as a result of this desire, she is missing something she needs. Also perhaps a resignation to the fact she won't get what she wants. The line "You really hurt me baby..." expresses her angst and despair about the fact the other person pulled away or does not requite her love.
In the Massive Attack video the director portrays street life of downtown LA through the mise en scene, including lighting, costume, makeup, setting, props and sound.
At the beginning of the video a leather glove is shown gripping two steel balls and clinking them together creating the diegetic sound on screen. The camera then zooms out to show a larger group of men from an ariel view with a 'gang-like' stereotypical appearance, with tank tops, tattoos and a pit bull terrier showing the diegetic sound of growling which overall gives connotations to violence and aggression. The camera then pans round to the street showing a small boy with a toy gun which again connotes violence. These two elements portray the street life of downtown LA to be aggressive and volatile.
As the camera follows the street the non-diegetic music begins with the backing beat. The setting is very urbanised with many shops, cars, graffiti, rubbish on the side of the road and posters on telephone posts etc. These have been used to add to the atmosphere of the street and represent the poverty. Here the tracking shot begins to follow Shara Nelson down the street. Her makeup is more subtle than vibrant with the only noticeable attributions being the smokey eyeshadow. Her costume is basic and consists of a black coat and dress with flat shoes. This contrasts with the background colours as they have colourful tones with a vibrant orange tone of the natural lighting which could convey Nelson not fitting in with the street life. This all together shows the street usage in the Unfinished sympathy video.
The audience may gain a sense of nostalgia from Radiohead's video due to the Tumpton and the wicker man references. This therefore creates pleasure as it creates the sense of recognition to the audience. The structure of the video is also cyclical so would again bring pleasure to the audience as it begins with the bird Fans especially would gain pleasure as it is a release of a new song. Unfinished sympathy gains pleasure from again the fan recognition but also though the interpretation of a longing for love and contrastingly the background of downtown LA.
In conclusion Unfinished sympathy contrasts with Burn the witch due to their different genres and alternative and mainstream conventions.
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