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Is Riptide Postmodern








Polysemic readings - metaphorical readings, the splitting ice cream could be symbolic of a broken relationship. Therefore the cheery mise en scene presents a creepy and troubling binary opposition

Horror film conventions - stereotypically attractive 'horror film victim' breaks free from being tied to a tree. Connotative of kidnapping and a violent threat. Contrapuntal imagery compared to the chirpy pop song


  • Extremely postmodern video - use of distressing horror imagery deliberately positioning the audience in a confusing and distressing situation.
  • Extremely strong link between lyrical content and on screen visuals - an explicit description, perhaps a binary opposition between a conventional and subversive music video
  • On the word 'riptide' a L/S high angle establishing shot of the sea, connoting danger and death
  • A montage of C/Us of everyday items establishes to the audience themes of travel and solidify the overarching theme of escapism
  • Mixture of continuous and discontinuous editing - some shots lack cause cause and effect
  • Much imagery seems to be conventional of occult horror - Blair Witch Project, Ouija, The Conjuring, The Omen
  • Continual, reoccurring shots of female characters being dragged under beds etc. Gender emphasised through the connotations of costume, for example high heals, red lipstick and so on
  • Lacks the conventional element of performance, subversively omitting the metanarrative of celebrity
  • Lacks a coherent narrative
  • Unconventional master shot of middle aged women lip syncing to the track. Lip syncing gradually deteriorates and gets less professional. MES of blood and smeared makeup could connote abuse, violence. Additionally the use of incorrect lyrics, signposted with the on-screen subtitles, might suggest a code word, further emphasising the themes of abuse and escape
  • Fully polysemic, with absolutely meaning explicitly anchored by the producer. Is she drunk? Is she in danger?

U block

Mid/LS of feet being dragged under a bed, low angled shot, low key blue/purple lighting which connotes darkness, misery and threat
Voyeuristic M/S high-angled POV shot of young blonde woman removing a one-piece yellow swimsuit, slow zoom on to naked back, intertextual reference to early Bond films, even Baywatch!

  • General theme and narrative - montage of shots suggests themes of drowning, dying and death
  • Alternative theme and narrative - an unpredictable and deliberately misleading montage of shots
  • Deliberately invites polysemic interpretations 
  • Emotional response - cold, confusing
  • Montage consistently matches the themes of the lyrics, eg 'cowboy running' is matched with long shot, canted angle, symbolic of dual personalities, afraid of what he has become
  • Intertextuality - the mise-en-scene suggests the conventions of an Western film, and therefore functions as a referential code
  • Referential codes create audience appeal, as only certain audiences will understand the reference
  • Additionally, the mid shot of the seance and the mise en scene of the ouija board is referential of horror cinema, in particular 70's horror film
  • Mid shot of letter dated august 1974 anchors the audience in to a particular time period, because it's cool
  • Denies the audience a definitive reading
  • "techniques of photographing girls' heavily manicured female hand pushes red leather bound book in to frame in a manner which seems rehearsed, robotic and non-consensual 
  • Positions the audience in a voyeuristic, even perverted perspective, forcing the audience to consider Van Zoonen's notion of a predatory male gaze

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