The video is for a pop rock song about a break up. It shows the lead singer missing his ex-girlfriend who has moved on. The video represents the genres of pop and rock through the band's appearance and performance in both dark and light settings. It uses cinematography techniques like close ups and aerial shots to tell the narrative of the song and emphasize the singer's loneliness after the break up.

1. Daniella Johnston
Lawson – Standing in the dark
The genre of the bank Lawson is pop rock. ‘Standing in the dark’ lyrics explain how it has been years since the
lead singer has broken up with his girlfriend yet he still misses her. When he tries to go and see her to get in
touch, he realises she has already moved on. He’s never stopped loving her but is too late and therefore is left
alone in the darkness having to live with his mistake as her watches her continue to live happily in a new
relationship. Again, similarly to Adele’s ‘Someone like you’ this song has themes of love, relationships and
breaking up. It is typical for this genre and considering both the themes and genre again, it is more likely to
appeal to a female audience who enjoy mainstream music.
Representation of characters
Representations of the pop rock genre are typical. For example, audiences for these genres tend to be
mainstream ones. This explains why there are characters of both genders in the video. However, due to having
only one female and more male characters, the aspect of rock is highlighted, as it is known as a male dominated
genre. The overall image of the band is masculine and they meet our expectations for a band of this genre.
Although, they don’t look as rugged as some rock bands they still conform to the typical conventions by
wearing dark clothing, including skinny jeans, plain t-shirts, vests and leather jackets. All of these are dark in
colour, relating to the dull themes of the song. We could relate them to a stereotypical rebellious rock band as
they are playing in what looks like an abandoned car pack and in the rain. Black connotes authority and power,
linking to the idea that they aren’t supposed to be there but are carefree and don’t let anyone control them. As
you can see above there are some aspects of the pop genre too. He is wearing trainers, which look like converse.
These reflect the youth of the band and the youth of the audiences that enjoy listening to pop music.
Considering the representation of the lead singer when he is alone and singing to the camera, we see a different
weaker and vulnerable side to him. This is shown through the use of high angle shots looking down on him
contrasting with the low angle ones that are used of the band. He is wearing simple clothing; it looks like not
much thought has gone into it. Similar to Adele’s costume in ‘Someone like you’ this could be because he feels
like there is no point in making an effort anymore if he has no hope of getting back together with his ex
girlfriend. He is wearing dull colours, especially grey, to represent his current state of ‘feeling down and grey’.
He could also be wearing darker and miserable colours to contrast with the costume of the female character.
The dark colours could represent that he was the person that destroyed the relationship, whereas she is the
innocent one. This is a stereotypical view on females in terms of relationships as usually problems are blamed
on the males. Her dress is white and her hair is blonde. This use of light colours makes her seem innocent and
natural looking, and maybe also angelic like which relates to the line of the song ‘she’s someone else’s angel’.

2. Daniella Johnston
Genre type
Performance
This video is predominantly performance based as the band performs to the camera and there are lots of shots
of each member and their instruments. There are also many shots of the vocalist playing to the camera. Close
ups are used showing him singing directly to it during emotional movements in the song. It is very similar to
the Use Somebody video in the sense that it cuts back and forth to the lead singer on his own, telling the story of
his relationship and then to the band performing together. Having band shots show the elements of rock within
the song even though it is more of the pop genre.
Conceptual
The video has similar themes and concepts to other videos, which I have analysed as the lead singer, sings the
story of his break up with his girlfriend and the feelings that come afterwards. This includes loneliness, misery
and regret, creating a overall mood for the video.
Narrative
Although it alters between performance and portraying the concept, there are also clear elements of a narrative
in the song. This begins once the lead singer looks into the mirror. In terms of Todorovs narrative theory we
would argue that the mirror is the disruption from the equilibrium as once he looks into it, he sees his ex
girlfriend, slowly followed by the new person she is in a relationship with. Through the song, he is reminiscing
of the old times when they use to be together and this is shown through lyrics such as ‘thinking about when I
last saw her’ and ‘close my eyes and I still see you right here next to me’. The mirror almost acts a barrier
between them showing they have separated and that she has now moved on.
Iconography

3. Daniella Johnston
Instruments
They are a traditional rock band consisting of a drummer, guitarists and a lead singer but the themes
and sounds of their music make it more pop like.
City
Known for success and also has a lively nightlife to contrast with the lifestyle of the lead singer who is
lonely and suffering from post break up feelings. It is also iconic of the genre making it a more
conventional video.
Mirror
It acts a barrier between the female and the lead singer highlighting their separation. When it smashes
it could symbolise them breaking up, or how he feels e.g. heart broken and in pieces, like the mirror. It
also shows how he can no longer see her, in reality and imagining her in the mirror.
Bad weather
Whilst the band performs we see rain and lightning, almost like a storm. This could be to highlight that
the last points of their relationship involved arguing. Lightning suggests feelings of anger, which the
lead singer could have due to jealousy of her being in a new relationship. Rain connotes feelings of
misery and sadness.
Technical and audio codes
Mise-en-scene
Similarly to the Use Somebody video; the mise en scene consists of a city that looks like it could be New York.
Not only it is known as the city of dreams and associated with success, linking to how the lead singer is
successful but dreaming of another chance, but the video being set here also makes it conventional of the genre.
We usually see urban landscapes like this in both rock and pop genres. The video is set during the night
because we associate the night with darkness. This fits in with the name of the song ‘Standing in the dark’ as it
is dark outside and the band are literally just standing playing their instruments, singing and performing.
Another signification part of the mise en scene is the abandoned looking car park, which the band isolates them
in to perform. This fits in with the vocalist’s feelings of being isolated and feeling abandoned by his ex. The dark
and empty looking car park is juxtaposed with the bright and busy city shots of lights and skyscrapers. A binary
opposition is created therefore Levi Strauss narrative theory can be applied.
Camera
Long shots, like the one above, establish the setting and set the mood for the video. In this shot, the lead singer
is in the centre and is the first person we see in the music video, showing he has a higher importance in the

4. Daniella Johnston
band and that the song will be centred on him and a situation in his life, rather than one of the other members
of the band. There is a clear juxtaposition between the lead singer sitting in his apartment in the dark on his
bed and the bright New York skyline outside. The lively and exciting nightlife is juxtaposed with the lifestyle of
the lead singer allowing the audience to compare theirs to that of a regular person. This shot is very similar to
the first one in the song Use Somebody and it has the same effect on creating feelings of loneliness. The mise en
scene in this image above shows that he is in an empty space and alone, highlighting his current situation and
his current feelings, helping develop the concept of the video.
Close ups, extreme close ups and medium shots are used. Using a range like this makes the video look more
professional as it doesn’t just stay and rely on one type of shot. These types of shows are all relatively close to
the lead singer creating a sense of closeness and intimacy between the audience and the lead singer. They make
the video feel more exclusive compared to if it only had shots of him sitting far away from the camera. We only
tend to see these during the emotional parts of the song where the lead singer is performing to the camera.
They allow us to see clear facial expressions and body language, helping us decide how we think the characters
is feeling. In this particular shot, direct mode of address is not used and in terms of his body language, he is
positioned slightly away from the camera. This is effective as it allows the audience to clearly see his emotions
and empathise with him, and we can see that he wants to be left alone and have some time to himself.
Aerial shots are used in this video. They usually involve the camera being attached to a crane or a helicopter;
therefore they look down on the setting. This image above shows an aerial shot which is used at the beginning
of the video, taking us closer into the city to where the band are. They are effective as they establish the setting
well, make the video look professional and enticing and begin to take you on your journey through the rest of
the video.
Wide shots represent the unity of the band as they allow us to see the entire band in the frame together,
performing as one. These types of shots also widen the variety used and contrast with the ones more close and
personal with the lead singer.

5. Daniella Johnston
Low angle shots like this example are used to empathise the power a particular character has. We see many of
these of the band performing together conveying that rock music is powerful and the band have a lot of power
when they are performing together. Through the video we see the lead singer looking weak when he is alone,
however there is one low angle shot of him walking towards the mirror. It shows that he has plucked up the
courage to go and look in the mirror and see his current situation reflected in it.
Editing
Here is an example of a special effect, which has been used in the editing process of making this video. This is
the first out of the three I have analysed, whichhas used special effects. I have found that it is more frequent in
pop videos in comparison to genres like rock. However, they are effective and the video would lack
fundamental pieces of iconography and symbolic codes without them. In the first image we can see the mirror
shattering, and we can see that it is incredibly unrealistic as if we saw a mirror shatter in reality, the pieces of it
wouldn’t fire out that far. Slow motion has also been used to empathise that he has broken the mirror and give
the audience enough time to take this in. The breaking of the mirror is ambiguous and could have been used for
many reasons. One could be to represent his feelings of anger and like he is falling apart, another could be to
highlight that he is unlucky in relationships or it may just be to highlight that he is suffering a break up. The fact
that he touches the mirror and it smashes does however reinforce his masculinity and power, making the
representation of his character more conventional of rock.
Every music video that I have analysed has included a fade therefore I am likely to use one in my own video.
They allow comparisons. In this case, we can see that the characters who were once in a relationship with each
other, are now on opposite sides, showing they are now seen as individuals rather than a couple. We can see
both of their facial expressions too therefore it is a good way of showing how two different characters are
feeling during the same part of the song.

6. Daniella Johnston
Most of the shots of the lead singer and quite bright making it seem like a conventional pop video. However,
shots like the one above show that the hue, brightness an contrast levels have been altered to make the image
appear darker, like images are dark in rock music videos. This darkness makes the video fit in with the songs
themes of loneliness and misery. It also relates to the title of the song ‘Standing in the dark’ as it would
contradict the meaning of it if the band were performing in daylight and the image was clear and bright.
Sound
Unlike the other two videos I have analysed, this one has sound other than the actual song. At the beginning
there is non-diegetic sounds of police sirens that gradually get louder to create the effect of entering the city.
These help establish the setting of the video before it has even begun.
Neale’s ‘Mental Machinery’
The video adheres to the main genre conventions of rock with elements of darkness, with the songs themes
being miserable, but also to conventions of rock as the themes focuses on are love and relationships. We see
elements of both genres, especially through the lighting used in the video. The band shots where they are
performing are much darker highlighting the genre rock in comparison to the shots of the lead singer, which
are in daylight and brightness, highlighting the genre pop. This is important as it meets audiences expectations
for both genres whilst is still effective in telling the story of what has happened in their relationship.
Ideologies
The ideologies encoded into this music video are almost identical to those encoded into ‘Someone like you’ by
Adele. The only difference is that in this video, the character which is suffering is male, which is ironic because
the genre of his band are a hybrid with rock, and artists of this genre tend to be more powerful, rugged and
fierce. That is not the case in this video though as the lead singer is the one suffering the misery and regret after
breaking up with someone who he still loves. Many people will be able to relate this to a similar situation in
their own lives and for that reason, they share the same point of view with him and empathise with him.
Because of this, the audience decode the film the way the media makers intended for them to do so.