Research Task 2- Summer Work

Somebody that I used to know- Gotye

In this music video there isn't much of a link. between the visuals and the lyrics. There is however lots of close ups of the artists face which fulfils Goodwin's Theory. There is also intertextual references to Picasso through the painting in the background.

Explore how codes and conventions communicate meaning in this music video. (15)

In the video both the artists in the video are naked. This discission to have the artists naked was done to connote the idea that they are showing their raw emotions and they are defenseless to these emotions. It also creates the idea that they are being honest and are not covering anything up. This is also very suggestive of the artists and fulfils both the male and female gaze (Laura Mulvey).

Throughout the video we also see the paint from the background take over and cover the artists body to make him blend in to the wall. This connotes the idea that the paint represents the artists emotions and that the emotions have taken over his life and consumed him.

We also see Kibra's (the female artist) paint slowly disappear near the end of the video which connotes the ides that she has dealt with the emotions and is walking away from the relationship and is moving on.

The music video as a whole is very simplistic which means the audience focuses more on the lyrics and the narrative of the music video.

The use of close ups fulfills Goodwin's theory as the artist is focused on but also the close ups are used to show the emotion of the artists. We never see a full frontal face shot of the Female artist which connotes the idea of mystery and also we don't see her emotions, suggesting she is less effected than the male artist.

Overall, the codes and conventions of the music video help to create and convey meanings to the audience.