Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California

The use of mes en scene and how it constructs genre

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Genre: Funk rock, rap rock, alternative rock, funk metal

Lighting and Colour

The beginning of the video is in black and white, with the band pretending to be of the Elvis Presley era. The lighting is very bright, and this helps to create a contrast between the whit of the lead singers suit and the black clothes the rest of the band are wearing. This helps to show the genre of the band, as it is typical of funk rock song to try to imitate another music era. The black and white colouring makes the video appear classy and formal, which is typical of the genre. The black and white colouring and the bright lighting continues to the next scene, and this further heps to prove it is a funk and alternative genre, as alternative music typically has no set rules, and therefore the changing of music through time in the video can be seen as showing this. It also stays true to the era, as typically TV in that time would be in black and white. In the third scene, colour is inroduced and the lighting is very bright, and this helps to show the genre as it shows funk progressing, particularly in the Prince era, with rock elements. The lights in the third scene are flashing and vibrant, and the colouring remains bright, and this is typical of the rock genre as it is eye catching and attractive. There is then again bright multicoloured lights in the next scene, and colourful costumes, which are typical of the progressing rock, David Bowie type era that this scene portrays. Next, the scene returns back to black and white, with changing lighting, and this helps to portray the next rock era, as the genre typically associated black and white with drama and edge.The lighting in the next scene is blue tinged with mostly black in the background and this helps to convey the heavy rock style which Red Hot Chili Pepper songs sometimes are. We return back to flashing lights and colours in the next scene, typical of the rock era at that time. Lighting in the next scene is low key, with candles, and dull colours, which we can associate with Nirvana, a prominent rock band. Colour and lighting return again in the next scene, with subtle flashing lights which we can link to alternative and rock bands.The video ends with cuts of all the different scenes, and this mixture of colour helps to connote the genre, as it represnts lots of things and cant be defined, like the alternative genre.

Positioning of objects in the scene

Throughout the whole video, the band stay centre stage and this helps to show the genre, as many funk artists are the main feature of their videos.

Costume, hair and make up

As the video starts, all the musicians are wearing suits, and this shows the genre of music as funk music is typically seen as stylish, therefore by them wearing suits it displays this. The slicked back hair is also typical of the genre as they are representing a certain era, as most funk does. They wear make up in the form of a fake beard, which would of been popular at the time that the genre represents. The bowl hair cut and glasses and the suits would be typical of the time that the band are trying to represnt (the beatles), and shows funk through time developing as a genre.The costumes are more vibrant and colourful in the third scene, as this represents Prince and this rock era. The hair and makeup are a lot more dramatic and this helps to show the genre as many rock artists have wild hairstyles. Mullets and afro hairstyles are prominent in the next scene, which are typical of early rock, and the laid back dramatic clothing is also typical of this time. Make up is seen in the next scene, which was popular in the old rock era, and outlandish colourful costumes and messy hairstyles also help to show the late 90s rock style. The next scene returns costumes back to black, with leather etc, and bare faces with spiked messy hair, which can be associated with the rock genre as this era wanted to be seen as differnet and edgy. The next scene features tattoos, mohawks, minimal clothing and make up which we can associate with heavy rock. Blonde hair, bulky boots and jazzy clothing with eyeliner feautures in the next scene, typical of the rock genre a few years ago. The clothing in the next scene is plain, with long hair and no make up, which used to feature a lot in Nirvana videos and performces. The costume in the next video is more personal, with wild hair and eyeliner, which we can associate with rock bands like Green Day and Foo Fighters.

Facial expressions and body language

The first scene shows a relaxed body, with dance movements from the lead singer that are typical of Elvis Presley, who he is trying to impersonate. The way that the bassist plays is very typical of the genre, as the relaxed playing can be connoted with funk. Their facial expressions are very relaxed and snigger like and this is typical of the genre as funk is a light hearted genre. The facial expressions in the next scene are very lighthearted and jolly, as would be typically of the time, and the playing techniques are typical also as they show the fun playing and attitude of the Beatle era. This all shows funk and the alternative genre, which the song catergorises as, as it shows funk developing through the years and cannot neccessarily be catergorised, like alternative music often cannot. In the third scene, the body language is more wooden in the singer, and the musicians play still very passioantely, with relaxed and passioante expressions, typical of the funk genre. The body language is very open and rock typical, and the facial expressions are relaxed and passionate in the next scene. The armsoutsretched and the rocking moves are also typical of the rock genre. The body language is very moody and dramatic in the next scene, with moody, harsh facial expressions typical of the rock genre this scene represents. The body language in the next scene is typical of the roc genre, as the harsh playing styles and playful expressions show the careless outlook that they possess. The body language and facial expressions in the next scene are intimidating and scary, typical of the heavy rock genre.The body language in the next scene is playful and fun, typical of the rock genre. The facial expressions and body language in the next scene is depressed and minimal, typical of bands like Nirvana.The body language and facial expressions in the next scene are careless and intense, which we see in many early 00s rock pop music videos of the rock genre.

Setting and props

The setting of the video to begin with is like a band performing for an audience, which would be typical of the genre, and the curtain and large vinyl on the wall also help to show that this is a funk band as they are impersonating the Elvis genre and using accurate props, something typical of the genre. The setting remains the same in the secound scene, and the instrumental props help to prove the funk genre and alternative as they are atypical of this. The large speakers and background decoration also help prove the genre, as it follows the music through time theme, and does not fit into a catergory, like alternative music does. The setting remains the same, but the use of instruments differs slightly in the third scene, as guitars are more prominent, typical of the era the song is representing. There is also a tambourine, and this would be typically alternative as it is random in the funk sense but fits in the era they are representing. Smoke machines and dramatic props feature in the next scene, and this is typical of the early rock genre. The classy curtain setting and the big focus on the instruments is also typical of the genre, as rock wanted to be connoted with class and extravagant lifestyles. The british flag in the background of the next scene shows the rock genre as it displays the time when british rock bands were on the rise. Speakers are prominent in the next scene and this helps to show the heavy relience on sound production, typical of the heavy rock genre. Funny shaped guitars feauture in the next scene, which are popular in many rock music videos. Stools and candles are feautured in the next scene, which we can associate with performaces live from rock bands. Speakers and microphone stands feauture in the next scene, and we can associate this with live performances from bands such as My Chemical Romance, a rock band. Also, the large hanging band emblem in the back ground helps to portray the genre, as we can associate it with the band, and with the dark black and red colours, the genre.