Case Study: Media language in 'Judith' by A Perfect Circle- BEN RODWELL

The music video for 'Judith' buy A Perfect Circle uses media language such as editing, mise en scene, composition and camera movement to portray the band as dark, angst filled, powerful and brooding and furthermore to help sell and advertise them and their music.


figure 1

The mise en scene of the video and the performance itself immediately allow the audience to understand the tone of the video and band. The band, dressed in dark, ordinary clothing (for example in figure 1) are performing in a dark, gritty warehouse or large room. By setting the whole video in this underground, alternative scene and by dressing the performers in relatively ordinary yet dark clothing, the band are presented as both powerful but also dark and aggressive. In addition to this the movement and performance of the band members reinforce this representation. Instead of a choreographed dance routine, the performance is spontaneous and uses heavy playing of instruments to again portray the band as angst filled and brooding.


figure 2

The editing and style of editing used in this music video creates a energetic and dark tone. Like in his other projects such as the title sequences in 'Fight Club' and 'Se7en' the director of this music video- David Fincher- used analogue editing techniques to create an instability and grittiness in the video. By physically scratching or distorting specific frames such as in figure 2, the video seems to shake, scratch, distort and judder furthermore portraying the music and the band as angry, uncontrollable and powerful. As well as this Fincher physically removed frames to crate a jumping sensation in specific shots, adding to the uncontrollable tone of the music

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video. While this editing technique is unique and unorthodox, conventional music video editing is also used. Quick cuts are used to maintain the audiences attention and to convey an energy to the performance. As well as this the action in the video is linked to the music via quick, synchronised cuts to the beat of the song. A huge range of different shot types are used including close ups, extreme close ups, wide shots, low angle shots, tilted shots and high angled shots to maintain audiences focus and to portray a sense of progression through the performance. The use of extreme close ups in music videos is conventional and helps to focus the audience and ultimately sell the band as a whole; by using close-ups of the lead singer for instance in figure 3,

 this focuses the audience on him and sells him to them.

figure 4

Carefully constructed shots are used throughout the music video to allow the audience to understand the dynamic of the group; the shots convey members dominance and power. For instance in figure 4 a combination of composition and shallow focus draw all focus on to the lead singer. By placing the singer dead central in the shot with his hand and microphone in focus, he is portrayed as being powerful as if his presence is forcing the audience to look at him. Figure 5 shows how composition has been used to explain the dynamic of the other band members. In this shot quadrants have been used to split the focus of the audience between two band members by placing

figure 5

 them on opposite sides of the shot.

While this also implies a sense of power as if each member is in control of one half of the shot, it also tells the audience that these members are equally powerful. As a whole, composition in this music video is especially important as whenever a member is shot, they are done so in a way that makes them seem powerful. This adds to the representation of the band as a whole as both brooding and angry yet powerful and in control.

In almost every shot in the music video, the camera is moving. Using dollies and handheld cameras to provide either steady or shaky movement, the camerawork in the video helps to imply an uncontrollable energy the band has as if nothing can stay still whilst they play.

figure 6

the example from figure 6, the camera slowly moves round to where the lead singer is sitting. By using smooth motion via a dolly in combination with the distorted, scratchy, analogue editing technique a balance is created between the wild, energy the music and band have as a whole and the power the lead singer has. While it  helps to create a representation of the band, using camera movement also helps hold the audiences attention,making the music video more successful as a whole.