Foo Fighters - The Pretender; by Ben

Foo Fighter's "The Pretender" is definitely a performance and illustration video with the use of a loose narrative involving the control of authorities in society; with lip-syncing throughout. Fast cutting is used throughout in order to establish a connection between the pace of the video and the very fast tempo of the track. Therefore, the fast action occurring through the duration of the video is constructing an alignment with the fast tempo of the track. This is reinforced in the ending of the video because the tracks tempo increases dramatically which is aligned with the action when the red paint comes bursting from behind the band, following the charge; that overpowers the policemen. Although, to the audience, it is visually seen that the paint is what is overpowering the police, it is almost as if it is the bands music and powerful volume of the ending of the track that is what is attacking; creating the ideology that the band overpower through their music rather than by physical means. This helps to construct the star persona and meta-narrative of the band as it being their desire to construct meaning within their music to establish messages and address issues. This strongly provides and reinforces the ideological discourse that you don't need to get your message across through physical means. The director uses a series of close-ups on the lead vocalist in order to successfully construct the "meat" of the video and to show his facial expressions to the audience and the strong, powerful, emotions he is channeling into the song connoting that it is an issue on a personal level of which he cares strongly about. The video is in sync with the track and lyrics and, as such, it is almost like he is telling the police that he will "never surrender" and they can charge at them creating a sense of taunting them with his music, daring them to attack. By doing so, it represents the band as being in control and could be again interpreted as them being above the authorities and their way of telling everyone; the audience and society in general, that they can't be controlled and they are, essentially, their own men.

There is an authoritative theme running throughout the music video which sees the special unit police charge toward the band in an attempt to attack. This could be read as constructing the ideological discourse of there being corruption in authorities within society, and more specifically, the police. There isn't any real reason shown as to why they are being surrounded and attacked by the police which shows the police extremely negatively through their seemingly unnecessary force and over-reaction having not been shown as provoked. They are carrying batons and protection shields whilst the band members have nothing except for their musical equipment; therefore posing extremely minimal threat to the police. This further reinforces the ideology of the police taking advantage of situations and using an extremely heavy hand on society and the public and as such the harsh treatment of citizens. The band's meta-narrative is constructed as them having a dislike for authorities and being told what to do, therefore establishing them as rebellious. They are also positioned as being higher and above authorities in society because of their victory in the fight against the police. The lyrics establish the band as being defiant for their cause and mentally strong and that no matter what the police are going to do they won't give up what they're fighting for; "i will never surrender." Also, there is this idea that they will stop at nothing to be heard and they effectively can't be hurt presenting them with almost invincible status even though the police clearly outnumber them in large numbers; reinforced by the numbering on the police's uniforms. This outnumbering further reinforcing there being an unnecessary, over-reaction by the police establishing the band as the victims. Alternatively, the track on its own could provide the alternative, negotiated reading of the song being about a girl. It could be interpreted as him trying to convince the girl to trust him and that he isn't like the other men she has been with; "what if i say I'm not like the others?" The lyrics compliment this idea because when he says "i will never surrender" it could be his way of telling her that he won't give up on her and it is her that he is actually fighting for.

Mise-en-scene provides and reinforces the reading and representation of the video. At the beginning of the music video he is strapping up his tape in white tape which is commonly associated with street fighting as if he is mentally and physically preparing himself for the battle he is about to face; in this case a fight against the police. However, this alternative reading of the track being aimed at a girl could be reinforced by this strapping up his hand motion. Instead of preparation for his fight against society and corruption in authorities he could be preparing himself to fight for the girl of whom he loves and, as such, will stop at nothing to get her; even fight. The costume in the video establishes the band as the victims of a viscous attack from the police in the colours of their clothing. The lead vocalist is wearing white in comparison to the police wearing black uniform. White is commonly associated with the colour of peace and tranquility whilst black is more known as stereotypically representing evil; thus constructing the binary opposition of the evil police vs. the victimised band. This idea of good vs. evil is further reinforced by the line that separates the band from the police of which could be interpreted and signifying this divide of good and evil; almost like the white of heaven in contrast to the black of hell. This could also reinforce the ideological discourse that the band feel as if they are sometimes wrongly judged as always being in the wrong rather than fighting for a cause they believe in. Furthermore, white and black are the predominant colours in video which emphasises the the burst of red paint that overpowers the police, which could be read as washing away the corruption in society.

Foo Fighters - "The Pretender"


(Appendix 2b)