Dream

Question 1

What is the genre of this music video?

Answer 1

Grime/garage genre

Question 2

When was the single ‘Dream’ released?

Answer 2

2004

Question 3

The sing ‘Happy Talk’ is featured in the video, what year was it released and what musical was it from?

Answer 3

1982 & musical South Pacific

Question 4

Who was the song ‘Happy Talk’ produced by?

Answer 4

Captain Sensible

Question 5

Who was ‘Dream’ directed by?

Answer 5

Dougal Wilson for the Colonel Blimp production company

Question 6

Name one intertextual reference and say when it was aired:

Answer 6

Muffin the Mule aired on BBC from 1946 to 1955

Question 7

What is the significance of the woman playing the piano in the video?

Answer 7

She resembles Annette Mills (presenter of Muffin the Mule), a 1950s woman

Question 8

Why are intertextual references such as Muffin the Mule important and why do they create contrast in the video?

Answer 8

They create an innocent, child like backdrop to the video and contrast with the modern day issues also depicted

Question 9

How are 2 worlds constructed in this video?

Answer 9

A 1950s living room and the modern day city are established through set such as props and puppet on the piano

Question 10

What does the lady on the piano act as?

Answer 10

The presenter / narrator

Question 11

What is the pianists view on the rap music?

Answer 11

Typical of the older generations as she seems disturbed and uncomfortable

Question 12

As Dizzee performs what does he do that the pianist also does?

Answer 12

Directly addresses the audience and comments on the narrative/actions of puppets

Question 13

What structure does the narrative follow?

Answer 13

A linear one, with disruptions and a resolution

Question 14

What is the message of the video?

Answer 14

Triumph over adversity through commitment to a dream

Question 15

What are the nightclub and ‘off-licence’ examples of?

Answer 15

Contemporary iconography

Question 16

What is a binary opposition in this video? (Levi-Strauss)

Answer 16

Older female vs young male
White Woman vs black man
Youth vs authority
Anti-social behaviour vs hard work

Question 17

How is the period setting established?

Answer 17

Mis-en-scene of striped wallpaper, floral curtains and grand piano connoting to a middle class environment

Question 18

How is the stereotypically socially deprived city environment constructed?

Answer 18

Contemporary iconography on piano such as graffiti and off licence buildings

Question 19

Name 4 props that reference childhood:

Answer 19

Pastel coloured building blocks at end of video
Musical box that Dizzee appears from
Toy police car and helicopter
Puppets

Question 20

When Dizzee uses the microphone prop, what does the prop connotes to?

Answer 20

Power as his voice can now be heard

Question 21

How does the microphone giving Dizzee power also act as a signifier?

Answer 21

It signifies him moving away from deprivation and rebellion towards his dream and becoming a respected member of society

Question 22

How does the reference to 1950s children’s tv and direct address from the pianist affect the audience?

Answer 22

Positions them as children being told the story

Question 23

How is unease / a sense of surprise created?

Answer 23

Muffin the Mule operating the sound recording desk and Lord Charles puppet in the pram

Question 24

What can referring to Captain Sensible and Happy Talk do to the audience?

Answer 24

Give them as sense of nostalgia and pleasure as they may recognise the references

Question 25

How can Barthes theory of Semiotics be linked to Dream?

Answer 25

Images shown illustrate lyrics but also have deeper meaning linking to the idea of working to achieve a dream

Question 26

Still on Barthes, how can the ‘myth’ idea link to the Dream video?

Answer 26

The idea of myth relates to the use of iconography such as the hoodie which is a symbol of youthful rebellion

Question 27

What is post war context involved in this video?

Answer 27

Period when many people from the Caribbean, India and Pakistan moved to Britain to work

Question 28

What do the post war period enable Britain to become?

Answer 28

More ethnically diverse due to the immigration

Question 29

What context of the early 2000s can be associated with Dream?

Answer 29

Bluewater shopping centre in Kent banned hoodies in 2005 as they are put under the stereotype of being associated with violence and rebellion

Question 30

How is the pianist constructed to be a 1950s white,middle aged, middle class woman?

Answer 30

Mis-en-scene such as her upright posture, formal jacket with floral broach on and her hair style

Question 31

What is patronising about the pianists mode of address?

Answer 31

‘Hello boys and girls’

Question 32

What does the horror on the pianists face when the helicopter flies past connote to?

Answer 32

Her stereotypical British reserve - how she doesn’t like any invasion of her personal space

Question 33

What is Dizzee constructed to come across as, and how?

Answer 33

A rebellious young black male through the dress codes of red tracksuit, hoodie and trainers

Question 34

How does Dizzee transform into a role model as the video goes on?

Answer 34

He makes the puppets partake in more creative and less destructive activities

Question 35

How does Dizzee being represented as positive challenge stereotypes?

Answer 35

Because he is a black rapper who is usually associated with violence and danger

Question 36

How are youths constructed?

Answer 36

Irresponsible and having no purpose - spraying graffiti, stealing the TV

Question 37

How are the Scots characters constructed? (Red hair)

Answer 37

As drunks because they hold lager bottles

Question 38

How is the police office constructed?

Answer 38

Brutal, white male, beating youths

Question 39

What is the significance of the puppets being attached to strings?

Answer 39

Shows that the story is just a fable | Hierarchies of power and control

Question 40

How can Hall’s theory of representation be linked to Dream?

Answer 40

The video deliberate constructs the puppets as stereotypes of people in society to emphasise the way in which these groups are often viewed

Question 41

How can Gilroy’s theory of ethnicity and post colonialism be associated with Dream?

Answer 41

White and respectable children’s presenter alongside the young, black, male rascal Pianist’s shock at song and Dizzee’s actions