COP task 1 – Moving Image Analysis

For this module we were set a group of different witting exercises.
This task goal was to write a short analysis and comparison of two pieces of film: Tony Kaye, Tested for Unexpected (1993) and Anton Corbijn, Atmosphere, song by Joy Division (1988).

The main differences between those two short films are the purpose of each one of them as well as the way they are made – Tony Kaye’s video is full of warm colours and strong light while the Anton Corbijn is simply black and white.

              When it comes to analysing the first piece is very important to point out that its main role was to serve as an advertisement piece for Dunlop tyres. It portrait a certain type of lifestyle; high class; which can be achieved by buying an advertised product. Nevertheless of the purpose of that video, it was made in a very artistic and sophisticated way, which is rare for the commercial video.  Moreover it is full of metaphors and deeper, hidden meanings. The use of warm colours and strong light as well as unusual settings made people interested in this advert even thought is very difficult to understand.

The music plays a very important part as it connects with what happens on the screen. Song used is psychedelic and powerful. Also lyrics of the song are very subtle and hard to understand.

Interesting is the fact that there are many connections between product itself and parts of the set and costumes, for example it can be assumed that the overweight guy is representing the soft tyres or link between rubbery costumes that characters are wearing and advertised product.

Although this advert was made 20 years ago still it remain powerful and doesn’t age quickly. It tries to portrait the tyres as a product that can make consumers lifestyle more sophisticated. However it seems to be hard to understand and follow which probably left many viewers very confused.

Anton Crobijn created Atmosphere video for Joy Division song. As mentioned before, it is a black and white video but memorial piece too. It was set on the beach, seaside. Moreover is full of long shots of landscapes. Figures are wearing a monk like costumes and take part in some sort of ritual march. They’re caring a picture of a man who had committed suicide. Use of black and white and very slow, not fluid movement of figures makes this piece gloomy and sad. Also contrast of this video is low, very grey and grainy.

The music is taking interest away from the video as well as it is quite disturbing. There was a controversy behind Joy Division name as it connects to World Wars and SS squat.

Opposite to the Tony Kaye’s video Anton Corbijn piece target audience are Joy Division fans. Also it is more personal. Moreover the second piece look very old.

Summarising, although those two videos were made for different purpose, use and target audience, both hold artistic values, multiple meanings and deep symbolism.  Soundtrack plays an important role in both of them.