Media Language and Representation: Music Video (Radiohead - Burn the Witch)

Radiahead are an alternative band and are not considered mainstream unlike Massive Attack.

Below is a link to their music video for their song, Burn the Witch.


Task 1 - Research

Watch some of their videos and post a selection on your blog. You need to do this to give yourselves an insight into the level of creativity that they exercise as artists.

Research the following:
  • Radiohead - the band
  1. How long have they been together?
  2. How would you categorise their music?
  3. How are they represented  in their promotional material (videos, photos etc)

Task 2 - Write an analysis comparing Unfinished Symphony to Burn the Witch
Answer the following questions:
  • What are the songs about?
  • What message or messages do they convey to the audience?
  • How have the artists been represented in their respective videos?
  • Why have they been represented in such a way?
  • Do the videos represent the artists successfully?
  • What styles of filmmaking have been used? Why utilise such styles?
  • Why does the Radiohead video reference Trumpton and The Wickerman?
  • How and why has 'the street' been used in the Massive Attack Video?
  • Do the visuals work well with the musical and lyrical content?
  • What 'pleasure' does the audience get from each video? Consider fans of the artists in question.

Lyrics
Stay in the shadows
Cheer at the gallows
This is a round up

This is a low flying panic attack
Sing a song on the jukebox that goes

Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live

Red crosses on wooden doors
And if you float you burn
Loose talk around tables
Abandon all reason
Avoid all eye contact
Do not react
Shoot the messengers

This is a low flying panic attack
Sing the song of sixpence that goes

Burn the witch
Burn the witch
We know where you live
We know where you live

Songwriters: Colin Greenwood / Jonny Greenwood / Edward O'Brien / Philip Selway / Thom Yorke
Burn the Witch lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc