What can we learn from The Pretender?

Editing This shot is long and the edit is slow, which matches the pace of the song during the opening. The length of the shot could be amplifying the anticipation of the song as it starts off calm before the song and the edit get faster and more chaotic.

Mise en scene

Camera

The bright lights in contrast with the black underneath them could be symbolic, it could possibly be foreshadowing and anticipating the conflict, contrast and opposition of later parts of the music video. In addition, the singer's white shirt could be to contrast with the dark background and imply opposition, which relates to the song's lyrics and narrative in the video.

The singer is in the centre of the frame in this shot, which could represent his power and dominance in the shot, which is reinforced by the low angle and the symmetry.

In addition, the low angle and the large space created by a long shot here, makes it appear as if he is commanding the space.

Mise en scene The colours and costumes of this shot could present opposition and conflict, as the colour of the singer's shirt is white and the opposition's outfit is black, as well as the background surrounding him. The black and white could symbolise right and wrong, the black background surrounding the riot officer could also present the opposition as a threat.

Camera The singer is placed at the side of the shot in the foreground and the opposition (a riot officer) is placed in the background, slightly off centre. This shot could be creating a power imbalance as the singer is placed in the position of power with the rule of thirds and focus, whereas the opposition is placed far away in the background.

Editing After the chorus, the song slows down and is introduced into a new section with slower editing and a longer shot, the shots slow down to match the pace of the song.

Mise en scene Camera The camera places the band on one side of the frame and shows the right side blank, in addition to the placing of the black line on the floor in the middle, it anticipates opposition. Also, this shot is a whip pan, which creates excitement and energy, as well as chaos.

The floor in this shot has a black line in the middle, which could represent opposition, and the bright red wall behand the band is possibly for contrast and could also reinforce the anticipated opposition, as one side has a bright red colour that connotes anger and passion, which amplifies the chaotic whip pans and fast editing, as well as the music at this point, which is building up to the chorus.

Editing In the build up to the chaotic chorus, the cuts are frequent and the shots are short, cutting to the fast beat of the song as it builds up and anticipates the chorus. The fast pacing of the edit amplifies the pace of this part of the song, leading up to the chorus

Camerawork

Mise en scene

The use of a close-up amplifies the intensity of the song and connotes aggression.

This also fulfils one of the points in Andrew Goodwin’s music video theory, that most music videos include close-ups of the artist to promote their brand.

The bright red background creates connotations of passion and anger which amplify the tone of the song and suit the conventions of the rock genre.

Editing This shot begins out of focus, emphasising the ideas of chaos and disorder suggested by the lyrics, before he comes into focus which presents him as commanding.

Editing

Mise en scene

This close-up shot immediately follows a close-up of the Foo Fighters' front man, hence creating a sense of opposition that emphasises the confrontational tone of the lyrics.

The simplistic shadowy background effectively conveys a sense of threat from this opposition.

Editing

Mise en scene

Slow-motion is used at this climactic part of the song, heightening its intensity and creating a contrast with the music.

The red colour introduced in the final section of the song connotes anger and passion to amplify the intensity of the music.

Editing Fast-paced jump cuts in this section of the music video emphasise the pace of the song and suggest chaos.

Sound At the end of the music video, after the song has finished, there is a slightly longer shot of the frontman which suggests a concluding sense of finality. This is emphasised by the silence (which was cued by the frontman smashing his guitar on the floor, suggesting that he has control), which juxtaposes with the loud and chaotic music, suggesting a sense of significance.

Camera Shaky handheld camerawork is used, which contrasts with the steady shots at the beginning of the music video and creates a sense of disorientation as the song comes to an end at the aftermath of the conflict.

There is a focus pull in this part which reestablishes the singer's dominance.

Camera & Composition The final shot of the music video is a close-up of the frontman's face, which reinforces his dominance. He is positioned on one side of the frame but is looking forward, seeming to suggest a challenge and connote defiance, which amplifies the meaning of the lyrics.