Textual Analysis 1 - Biffy Clyro 'Glitter and Trauma'

Writer: Simon Neil
Genre: Alternative Rock
Director: Shammasian Brothers
Structure: Narrative

 The video shows the band as patients of a mental hospital. In the first scene with the TV, It shows the band playing music, which shows that the video is reflexive as it is self-aware. In the shot of the people sitting down, Simon Neil and James Johnston are the only two people wearing black, separating them from the rest of the group who are all dressed in white to look pure. The difference of clothing colour shows that they are going to be rebellious in the narrative of the video. This is backed up when the two stand up and challenge the woman. This could be representative of the band challenging authority in wider society. The patients start the video sat watching the television and they all look very bored to the point where it looks as if they are under sedation which was my initial thought as the video is set in a mental hospital, however when the band stand up and start performing in the office the patients all get up and dance and look happy. When the patients look happy and are enjoying themselves, security run around the corner to wrestle the patients away from the scene. This shows the bands belief that authority figures all want everyone to behave a certain way and if they don’t then they will be punished.

         The mental hospital is a common setting for rock videos of the early 2000’s era and was used in Green Day’s “Basket Case” video.

         Throughout the video the bands focus switches from the audience to away from the audience but it’s mainly away from the audience, which is un-conventional of the alternative rock genre however, the songs sub genre is experimental rock so it is ok for the band to break conventions. The setting for the video could also be a rehab clinic to show the ‘rock star’ lifestyle and where it leads. It would also be supported by Simon’s drug filled history.

         Mainly, the band isn’t really performing but is pretending to play using a broom as a microphone, pens for drum sticks and another broom for a guitar. This could be reflecting the audience as most people pretend to be part of a band when listening to music by playing along with household items. It could also be to support the narrative as they are playing mental patients and it could be suggesting that they are imagining that they are part of the band.

         When the band is actually playing they are in a dark room with coloured lights on the walls which is partially conventional of the alt. rock genre because the dark room is conventional and is used in most modern rock videos however, the coloured lights are not conventional and for all of the videos I have seen, it hasn’t been used in a single one.

         The institution is the band and their record label, which at the time was Monnow Valley Studios based in Wales. Most of the bands songs are written by Simon Neil and are usually about his mum and/or drugs. The lyrics of Glitter and Trauma are about being under pressure and being pushed to be perfect, which is why the video is set in a mental hospital.

The ideology and message of the video; I think is that people should do what makes them happy although others will discourage it.

         The audience of the video will be fans of Biffy Clyro who are generally C1 and upward in the NRS demographic scale. Their audience are also usually teenagers to late twenties but also appeal to an older group as well for example over 40’s