Ben Morgan

Mise-en-scene used in Pop Punk music videos

Pop punk is a hybrid music genre that combines elements of punk rock with
foundations of pop music. This genre typically includes fast punk rock tempos,
power chord changes and loud, distorted electric guitars with pop-influenced
melodies and lyrical themes.
Bands music videos in the genre of Pop Punk similar to Blink - 182:
Biffy Clyro Biblical
You Me At Six No One Does It Better
You Me At Six:
Location:
Very quiet
Isolated
Empty Road and hillside
Stranded road trip
Graffiti walls
Outskirts of City shown at end
Lighting:
Low Key realistic and empathising the emotion
Revealing hidden emotions
Props:
Old school car, rooftop open
Petrol Pumps
Random objects from a dump such as a sofa,
Horse
Alcohol
Skateboard
Empty Caravan
Guitars
Costume:
Bland colours
Casual clothing
Denim jackets
Sunglasses
Tattoos
Ripped jeans
Colours:
Bland
Subtle
Dull
Facial

Expressions and Body Language:

Emotion when singing
Big arm movements
Stressed facial expression
Concentration

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Biffy Clyro:
Location:
Street based
Very Quiet town
Dead End
Hotel room
Swimming Pool
Lighting:
Low Key realistic and empathising the emotion
Revealing hidden emotions from the characters
Props:
Old telephone
Water fountain
Old school cars
Baseball bats
Barbed wire
Guitars
Costume:
Bland colours
Casual clothing
Vest and open shirt
Tattoos
Sunglasses
Hats
Ripped jeans
Slicked back Hair
Colours:
Bland
Subtle
Dull
Facial

Expressions and Body Language:

Emotion when singing
Closed body language showing his inside feelings depressed
Stressed facial expression
Concentration due to no eye contact with camera

Mise-en-scene typically seen in Pop Punk music videos:

Lighting Within Pop Punk music videos, I can clearly tell that low key
lighting has been used within this genre throughout many songs. The
reason for this is that the lighting highlights the important subjects in the
frame and also reflects the main characters mental state throughout the
narrative. Low key lighting is effective because it makes the situation and
image look lifelike to the audience; as if they would come across this

Ben Morgan
themselves rather than be set up and unrealistic. Not only that but this
type of lighting empathises on the characters true emotion in the
narrative, quite often revealing hidden emotions as well.
Props From looking at several Pop Punk music videos I have noticed that
the props I have seen in the frame are very obscure yet relevant to the
narrative of the story which is quite effective because it is memorable. By
using these objects it clearly illustrates the narrative of the music video
and depending on what it is it links to the genre of music. Iconography is
an important aspect incorporated into these Pop Punk music videos. This is
when we expect to see certain objects in the frame and associate it with a
particular genre. In this instance, props such as electric guitars are used
which straight away gives us an indication of the genre of the song itself;
clearly linking to the rock genre of some sort. Due to the inclusion of the
more unusual objects like a skateboard, alcohol, an old telephone and
baseball bats the audience may struggle to put a name as to what genre
the song belongs to from looking at the music video. These type of objects
are predominantly used to tell the narrative and entertain the audience to
keep them interested in the music video.
Costume, Hair and Make Up After observing the costumes that are
used in the genre of Pop Punk in their music videos, it has become clear
that the band members wear casual clothing that are primarily bland, dull
colours. A stereotypical outfit for them to wear includes: ripped jeans,
black leather boot shoes, vest top with an open shirt and sunglasses. By
looking at the costume that they wear again uses the media term of
iconography because it represents the band and links to the genre and it
also relates to the bands personality that we are shown further in the
concept of the music video.
Location Throughout the genre of Pop Punk the majority of the music
videos that I have viewed are based in a similar location. This type of
setting is street based with a very quiet atmosphere making it have the
effect that the band is isolated. Empty roads are pictured in each shot with
monstrous hills in the background making the subject look even more
lonely and weak. The reason for these choices of locations in the music
videos that are in the genre of Pop Punk is because it relates to the
narrative making it realistic and has a big effect on the storyline because if
the setting didnt relate it wouldnt be as effective as wont relate to the
song.
Colours The main colours that are used within this genre in music
videos are subtle, bland and dull apart from the odd vibrant colour which
is in the surrounding like the graffiti. Black has been used a fair amount as
it connotes power and strength but it can also be interpreted as a colour
that relates to fear and evil. This is effective because depending on the
context of the song, the colour can mean one of the two meanings. For
example in the music video Biblical by Biffy Clyro, the gang who followed
the protagonist into a dead end with baseball bats in their hands all wore
clothes which contained the colour black which showed their power and
authority. These colours that are incorporated into these music videos
create a dramatic effect.

Ben Morgan
Facial Expressions and Body Language Within the genre of Pop Punk
the facial expressions and body language in music videos are very similar
after watching a few music videos. They all contain facial expressions that
have the look of a stressed person with a lot of emotion coming out when
singing the song. It is also clear that they are depressed at parts of the
songs due to their closed body language portraying their inside feelings.
The reason for this is so the audience can witness the artists expressing
themselves and their emotions throughout the songs.
How I will apply Mise-en-scene in my music videos?
Lighting In my music video for the song I Miss You by Blink-182, I will be
using low key lighting making it realistic and have an emotional feel to it
especially on the lyrics I miss you for example. I will ensure that I
highlight the subject when its necessary in the frame to reflect my artists
mental state. I will apply this type of lighting using subtle and natural
lighting without any additional equipment.
Props In order for our music video to be effective we will ensure we use
props and objects that are relevant to our genre Pop Punk. This means
iconography will be incorporated into our video in order to illustrate the
narrative and the genre of the music. We will apply iconography by making
our protagonist use the props that relate and associate themselves with
the genre.
Costume, Hair and Make Up In order to represent our band members
personality and image we will ensure that they wear outfits that link back
to the genre of Pop Punk which are similar to ripped jeans, black leather
boot shoes, vest top with an open shirt and sunglasses.
Location When we are deciding on our location for our music video, we
will factor in what is appropriate and relates back to the narrative of the
song and our genre. We will make sure that the setting has the
atmosphere that is needed to be effective and tell the narrative effectively.
Colours Again the colours for our music video will very much be the
same as they were in Biffy Clyros and You Me At Six. These colours will be
subtle, bland and dull with the odd vibrant colour in the surroundings
which will create a dramatic effect and by using these colours it will give
our music video a particular feel to it and set a certain mood.
Facial Expressions and Body Language I will ensure that in our
music video we include facial expressions and body language that will
show our audience our artists expressing themselves whether it is
negatively or positively and showing their emotions throughout the video.