The title of this song "Skinty fia" translates to "The damnation of the deer", referring to an Irish tale where an elk grew antlers so large it could no longer hold up its own head. The song itself discusses a complicated relationship with drugs and alcohol.
In the opening scene of this music video, there is a pov shot of someone following a glowing orb which leads the viewer to a party. Typically, parties involve alcohol and even drugs, the orb could represent the temptation to give into these things. Additionally, the fact the orb is glowing could represent how drugs are glamorized and the viewer themselves follow this belief. Within this scene, the orb is followed closely, only losing sight of it once but quickly found again. This demonstrates the addictiveness of drugs and how consumers become obsessive.
Then there is a sequence of jump cuts mixed with aggressive flashing lights. The viewer will automatically assume the setting is a party/club as they are the typical conventions of that environment, proving Stuart Hall's shared conceptual roadmap. We are introduced to a few characters, a deer introduced at a medium close up, which could be referencing the song title. The model is making direct contact with the camera, signifying they are important and confident.
Additionally, we are introduced to the lead singer in an overheard shot. This angle may demonstrate how they find the environment overwhelming, or, additionally, in film it is very common to use an overhead angle to show someone as not sober, possibly inferring the influence of drugs or alcohol. We are introduced to more of the setting through more quick jump cuts. There are scenes of people drinking, talking and dancing. However the only figures dancing will be perceived as weird and unusual to the external viewer as they are dressed in unique costumes. As the person we are seeing this through in the music video, it has been hinted that they're on drugs, therefore these strange characters, and arguably the only interesting thing in these scenes could only be visible to the drug taker as hallucination is a common symptom of drugs. Again this emphasizes the glamourization of drug taking by making these figures eye catching, embodying how drugs are tempting to many people. This sequence is accompanied by harsh flashing blue red and green lights. Red and blue lights are primary colours, which could represent how drugs and alcohol and become a primary part of this persons life, however there is still some hope to recover as green is a secondary colour.
Olivia Mckechnie
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