3 Protest Songs

Analysis of 3 Protest Song Videos

Run The Jewels – Close Your Eyes (And Count to F**k)

-          The sound of a train passing very loudly at the start suggests that the neighbourhood they are in is not very nice as the train at the middle of the night would cause the prices of the houses to be reduced. This could highlight the fact that black people are not treated fairly in terms of jobs, therefore making less money and causing them to live in a house that is not very nice.

-          Uses a monochrome filter which connotes old (due to old cameras only being able to film in black and white. This could suggest that police brutality is a problem that has been ongoing for a long time.

-          The policeman spitting juxtaposes the usual view of a policeman. Spitting is seen as disrespectful and having a policeman do it suggests that the police are not as “good” as people see them as.

-          Both characters seem tired and drained from their sweaty look and heavy breathing. This could suggest literally that they have been fighting for a very long time. This could also represent how the argument about police targeting police brutality at black communities is tiring and just needs to stop.

-          The policeman seems angry and aggressive from the way he is postured and his facial expressions whereas the man seems afraid of the policeman from his facial expressions and how he is running away from him throughout the video.

-          The symbol on the policeman’s arm suggests he is a ‘sergeant II’ meaning he is quite highly ranked, symbolising how the police brutality could be committed by any police officer at any rank.

-          Transition from day to night suggests that it is a problem that is occurring all day and all night.

-          The pepper spray hitting both characters in the eyes could represent how the war between police and black people is affecting both sides. It effects the police as their numbers are reducing due to the case of the amount of police officers being part of police brutality and it effects black people as they have to continuously be afraid of police, even when they are innocent.

-          The policeman is the only one that damages the man’s house (causes the pictures to fall off the wall) and as the video is made from a black person’s perspective, it highlights how the artist believes that the police purposefully destroy homes.

-          The last scene of them both sitting on either side of the bed looks as though they are about to talk it out with each other which reflects the beliefs of the artist.

IDLES – SAMARITANS

-          Old footage is used to show how far back the masculine stereotypes are used.

-          It uses videos of boys and men doing sports and being active both at a very young age and also when they are older. It also presents boys as muscular and doesn’t have any men presented as overweight.

-          It also uses videos of boys and men hiding their emotions as well as being told so.

-          It uses a video of a boy not being tall enough for something.

-          All of these reflect the lyrics directly and are played at the same time.

-          Another way it shows a masculine stereotype is from the way it presents men as violent, with videos of fights as well as violent sports.

-          As well as this, it also shows men drinking alcohol, specifically beer, which is seen as a ‘man’s drink’.

-          Shows men joining the army/police which was often seen as something only a man can do in the 20^th century.

-          Cuts to modern videos of men fighting which expresses how stereotyping of men is still here in 2018 (when the video came out).

-          Shows a video of a man getting tied at a noose which could be a subtle hint at the high rate of male suicides compared to women.

-          Uses a video of an atomic bomb at the end (possible reflection of how living up to male stereotypes could cause war).

-          All videos used are used ironically to express how stupid these stereotypes of men are.

-          At the end of the video it uses the phrase “Tell your children” to raise awareness to children that boys do not have to live up to the male expectations.

K’naan – Immigrants (We Get the Job Done) feat. Residente, Riz MC & Snow Tha Product

-          Opening shot is tracking across train tracks with the sounds of a train symbolising travel and immigrants.

-          Introduces first group of immigrants in a carriage of a cargo train and presents the rough environment they are currently living in (small space with lots of people, dirty clothes and lack of warmth).

-          The immigrants listen to the radio that highlights how America is a country that is made from immigration (the British inhabiting the country), yet they have somehow turned ‘immigrant into a bad word’.

-          The radio cuts off and everyone looks disappointed which reinforces the idea of the horrible living conditions.

-          An alarm clock is shown hanging from a string which expresses how little space they have (they do not have anywhere to place an alarm clock).

-          The video shows the immigrants all going to work on the train making American flags which shows how they still have patriotism towards the country even though they were not actually born there.

-          The camera then moves to the next carriage where the next artist raps in front of a big American flag which further supports the idea of their patriotism.

-          Another carriage shows many immigrants from many backgrounds working in many different fields showing that they work hard and are key for many different industries.

-          Black bars across people’s eyes could represent how people are blind to immigrants and refuse to see that they do just as much for the country as they do, which is reflected by the lyrics that Riz MC raps after.

-          Rubble on top of kid is lifted by immigrants and he is rescued by immigrants expressing how they are just as human as anyone else.

-          The refugees are shown trying to escape through fences highlighting their necessity to leave as well as giving the audience an insight to their background.

-          Uses the child to build sympathy with the audience as children are seen as innocent.

-          During Residente’s verse, America’s ICE unit is seen aggressively moving towards the immigrants sleeping area and taking a man. This paints ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) as the villain in this perspective of the narrative.

-          Trains across the entire world could suggest we anybody should be able to go anywhere they want.