This music video, for the song Ready, Able by Grizzly Bear, immediately caught my attention because of the artistic talent required to make a clay-mation with such fast changing frames for the entire four and a half minutes. Admittedly the storyline is difficult to follow, and I'm as close to figuring it out as I'll ever be, but that's mostly what intrigues me about it.
While trying to avoid over-analyzing it for the purpose of this blogpost, it's still interesting to think about whether the director, Allison Schulnik, had an actual storyline drawn out for this video when the idea was born. The first time I watched it, I was waiting for the moment of clarity to come at the end. A lot of movies now a days intentionally confuse the viewers at the beginning, and then let the events unfold before them that provide the necessary explanation, like Inception for example.
Although I have no way of knowing, I doubt this is the case for Schulnik's video. Not only because watching it all the way through provides little (if any) additional explanation as to what exactly is going on, but because the point may be that you're not going to understand everything you see.
What do you think this video is about? Also, feel free to link to your favorite music videos below, I'm always looking for more.
Here are some more of my favorites: Call It What You Want- Foster the People
Harvest Moon- Pepper Rabbit
Wraith Pinned to the Mist- Of Montreal
Colours- Grouplove
This isnt my FAVORITE music video but I think that it is really cool because it is such an elaborate stop motion video and it took two years and its just so cool (btw it is made with jelly beans):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOu0DuxFAT0.
In response to "How to: interpret creativity" I think that creativity can be measured by originality and how surprised a viewer is by a work of art. To be creative is to do soemthing that hasn't been done before, or to do something in a new way. I think that that is something that Americans really try to obtain and they try to make a name for themselves. Also I really like the series of How To's that you have going on
I agree with everything you said about this video, and I have one thought about why it may seem so confusing. Recently I noticed that in some sub par movies they include inexplicable events to try to add an "artsy" touch. If done right it works well, but if not it is a disappointment. I personally like the video you shared more after accepting it may not make sense.
ReplyDeleteBut as far as random music videos go I think OK Go has the best. Other than the well known treadmill one they have countless others that lack any story line or clarity at all.
Jasmine- I like how you describe creativity as the way the viewer is surprised by a piece, but I'm curious as to what makes you think that Americans are trying to become well known more than people living in other countries are.
ReplyDeleteDan- If you were to hear a song and really like it, and then watch the video and see that it's not clear and doesn't have much of a plot, would it change your opinion of the song?