Analysis of Cinematography/Mise en Scene - Lighting & Colour (Pendulum's Witchcraft)

I have chosen to analyse this music video because I like the way that the strobe lighting effect has been used to bring drama and tension to the video. The lighting effect used when the woman is floating in the water creates an ‘eerie’ effect against the water background and implies the witchcraft theme to this woman; firstly being because she is a woman and that witchcraft was associated with women and also because the haze effect that is produced by the light hitting her at that angle from above. However, it contrasts to the idea that witchcraft is evil because bright lights have connotations towards the heavens.

Furthermore, the crystal ball shapes used in the mise en scene really amplifies the witchcraft theme because they are linked to ‘crystal gazing’ and foretelling the future. This progresses the narrative of the music video and helps to explain the distorted shots of the band singing. This is an example of the ‘Notion of Looking’ because it is as if the audience is looking through a crystal.

Another important factor that I think really enhances the witchcraft theme is the colours used for the water and how the lighting effects that. When the woman is in the water, the background is a purple colour and purple has connotations to poison; therefore linking back to the title and theme of witchcraft in the music video. Also, the black/darker shaded ribbons (or like an ink fluid) that shoots through the water towards her creates a narrative because the audience know that something is going to happen to her. At the end of the video, the ribbons wrap around her and she is pulled backwards away from the camera – as if she has been lost from the audience (direct address). 

The shards of rock that start to reassemble around the band involves them with the narrative because it suggests that they are involved with the witchcraft – also supported by the strobe lighting effect used (which matches with the beam of light on the woman at the beginning). A performance video aspect is introduced as well because the special effects may have been used in order to create a performance and entertainment element to the video – as this increases repeatability for the audience.

What I have learnt from this music video is that I should really think about colour combinations and effects that can be created by the use of colour in order to see if it could link to the narrative. Lighting is a very important aspect that I should consider when deciding my genre of music because I think that the strobe lighting used in this video fits well with the electronic genre.