Alternative Rock Videos - Textual Analysis

I like the way 'I Am A Scientist' by Guided By Voices combines black and white filming with very colourful, abstract found footage. Rather than filming and leaving it unedited, I plan to shoot in black and white but add or enhance existing colours to certain aspects of my video, as shown in 'I Am A Scientist' and also 'Basket Case'.

Name of track:
I Am A Scientist

Artist:
Guided By Voices



Genre Characteristics:
Alternative/Indie Rock, black and white, performance, guitars, shaky cam, dark/abstract colours, etc.

Relationship between the lyrics and visuals:
The lyrics "I am a scientist, I seek to understand me" are expressed through the use of found footage, which in the simplest terms illustrate a number of different scientific happenings, such as the use of the satellite etc. Other than that, the video is simple and bears no relevance to the lyrics in the song.

Relationship between the music and visuals:
As with other videos, the editing and the performance element of 'I Am A Scientist' reflect the pace of the music used to accompany the video, and there are also shots of the vocalist as he is dancing to illustrate this further.

Are there any close-ups and star image motifs?
As before, no star image motifs.
Close-ups:

Is there reference to the notion of looking?
Generally, the band members, including the vocalist, are glancing away from the camera; either to convey a naturalistic style, for example as the band are playing their instruments, or to illustrate a sense of "losing sight", as the lyrics suggest.

Are there intertextual references?
Not that I know of.

Is the video performance, narrative or concept based?
Performance. The video begins with a close-up of a guitar, and focuses on the band as they play/hang out in different locations. However, the video is not solely a performance piece. The meaning of the song is conveyed through found footage; shots of nuclear explosions etc., and there are also a few shots that are completely irrelevant to the song and video, for example as the band play a game of basketball. There is no set concept or narrative element.