Bat for Lashes- What's a Girl To Do- Music video analysis-

The reason for choosing this specific music video to analyse was due to the connotations of the video and intertextual references shown throughout. The artist's stage name is 'Bat for Lashes' and is an English singer songwriter focusing predominately on the indie pop genre as well as aspects electronica and folk supposedly known as 'Folktronica'. First of all, in reference to Goodwin's theory this music video demonstrates the use of intertextual references to media texts. For example, after researching the importance of the masked men on the bikes in the background I have found the link between them and the horror film Donnie Darko. This film shows a troubled teenager who is plagued by a large threatening bunny rabbit who is believed to be a figment of his imagination. Therefore this is referenced in this video as the bunny is featured with the other masked creatures behind the girl until the chorus connoting that they are all part of her imagination and the different animals could reflect the range of emotions she could be feeling. For instance, the bunny rabbit representing her fear and angst and fact that her emotions may be torturing her which links to the feelings of manipulation of the protagonist in Donnie Darko.
                 In reference to Goodwin's media theory one could argue that there is actually a relationship between lyrics and visuals as in the lyrics of this music video she says "..and when your dreams are on the train to train wreck town..." the visuals being her on her bike travelling down a misty road and the dreams and imaginations of her are the masked creatures following her which pop out from behind her when the chorus begins. Another point of Andrew Goodwin's theory which is contradicted in this music video is the idea that 'There is frequent reference to notion of looking and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body'. This video first of all represents the artist in a different way, instead of her being provocatively dressed which is shown in videos of Beyonce- Single Ladies for example, she is instead shown looking rather girly and young instead of looking ahead of her years. Also, the camera focuses on her face rather than her body meaning that she may not be looked at in a sexual way like other artists. Another main factor of Goodwin's theory which is 'Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics' is made evident in this music video. For instance, the electronica/ dance genre is primarily represented through the bright lights shown in the distance in the forest as well as being on the bikes in the background. They represent the disco lights that would be expected to see at a club connoting the dance genre. Furthermore, close ups of the artist are shown in this video which is another point from Goodwin's theory, the artist is shown at the center of the mise-en-scene showing her importance to the video and to enable the audience to identify with her.


To some extent this video links to aspects of our idea for our own music video due to the fact that it highlights the dream like state that the girl is in conjuring up all of the creatures behind her who are literally and mentally following her which is also shown in our music video which connotes the imaginary world that the protagonist is trapped in- the 'wonderland'.

Also, in reference to the style of music for our music video this artist also uses a variety of instruments in her music meaning that the genre of this music is not completely defined like ours.