Music Videos - Burn the witch (intertextuality)

 Radiohead has consistent intertextuality throughout their content - leaving a trail of 'bread crumbs' - creating a community and fandom to decipher

What, why construct it?:

Trumpton (60's):

• adds a sense of innocence (kids show) which could heighten the sinister aspects in that it's the equivalent to a child doing it - burning the inspector
• Trumptonshire trilogy: camberwick green, trumpton, chigley - originally to show kids community values
• middle england, 1960's - traditional, quaint (virtually non-existent)
• post war, crime, social unrest - holds onto the past (creating a hyperreality)
• promoted by conservatives - opposed by radiohead

Wickerman (1973):

• punishing those who are different, cult-like, mob mentality
• seemingly 'perfect' town, gone sinister - falseness
• policeman goes to investigate a disappearance - burnt in pagan festival as a sacrifice to the gods for good crops 
• refusal to accept the truth - stubborn faith
• political divide - rejection to the other
• fear of the outside world

Lord of the flies:

• speared boar pub - islanders have to survive (very aggressive and animalistic)
• taught to compete in our society - survival of the fittest
• mob mentality
• fear can cause us to act badly - showing the dark things we're capable of

Job - Bible:

• 'jobes' on fruit boxes
• Job was a pious man - satan tested him with taking everything he loved but Job stayed faithful - no matter how badly it got
• hint of optimism?

Witch trials:

• water test (seesaw scene) sink or float
• stupidity behind it (always going to die)
• 'abandon all reason' - lyric - not being thought through properly
• red cross on doors, blood from pie, trials etc.
• 'witch hunt' is for blame not justice

Explain how media language in music videos incorporate viewpoints and ideologies. Refer to one of the music videos you have studied.

1. Xenophobia - wickerman reference (fear of the outside) - wickerman structure and burning
2. Nationalism - trumpton animation ('perfect', innocent)
3. Populism - witch trial scene (against the 'other') - seesaw, water trial, on chair

Viewpoints and ideologies are incorporated into music videos with media language. For example, Radiohead's 'Burn The Witch' featured elements of populism. This is seen in the scene of two people using a seesaw. However, looking closer, the girl is sat on a chair over a body of water. This references the witch trials which took place over various time periods including the 17th century. The trial itself decided whether the woman was a witch by seeing if she floated or sunk - either way she would've died. This reference supports populism as it shows how the 'other' in society is treated. It can seem innocent and sweet but looking closely, there is an attempt to harm her. Radiohead have done this to support their own, socially-conscious beliefs. The girl is seen later on lighting the fire, ultimately suggesting those in society who are different or not 'elite' will be seen poorly for their actions. Where as those who are dominant, no matter their actions, will be seen positively - this could reference the divide among representation of POC v white people, in  that protestors are labelled differently according to their race.