Textual analysis of Muse’s Dark Star

Music video by Muse performing Dead Star: Videowith John Cornfield [Producer], Muse [Producer](C) 2002 Motor Music/ Taste Media Ltd.

Media Forms and Conventions:

Muse are an alternative rock band who create a mix of electronic rock music to rock anthems and ballads. The song Dark star is a heavier darker rock song in which the video reflects by using certain techniques and conventions. The most notable reflection of this is the use of lighting. The director has chosen to shoot almost all of the video using back lighting to create an almost chiaroscuro effect that highlights and outlines the three band members as well as other focused points of interest in the mise en scene and props. The chiaroscuro effect is added to by the use of the bands costumes who all wearing either black or white clothing as well as Matt’s white guitar, Chris’ black bass guitar and Dom’s black drum kit. The Lighting that creates a sense of darkness and coldness that is unified with the ‘gritty’ and desolate location are both well combined with use of a blue filter either on the camera or post production that fits the cold and dark feeling of the song.

The quick cutaways and pace of the video reflects the pace of the song with each cut in sync with the song. Also the cutaways produce a feeling of disillusion and hostility that reflects the distorted song’s style and muse’s self image. Also the effects used with the camera and via post production reflect the sense of surrealism and adverse settings such as hand held cameras that are unsteady and with tracking movements and tilts create a feeling of surrealism as the audience may not know where they are being put in relation to the location. Also the use of quick zooms and stopmotion makes the audience uneasy. Also the use of blurred shots, short takes, focus pulls and other visual effects reflects the distorted guitar and heavy rock sound of the music.

The use of extreme close ups, close ups and zooms in and out produce a complex and confusing structure that lacks any narrative structure other than the band playing in a dark secluded basement. The use of the basement and hand held cameras as well as a chiaroscuro lighting and a blue filter may be a reference to the film ‘Blair Witch Project that’s soundtrack includes artist not to dissimilar to Muse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAiVszTl0vA