Dream Analysis: Media Language

Question 1

1. What are the two ‘worlds’ constructed in this video?
2. What kind of response does the pianist reflect?
3. What kind of narrative is being created?
   - What does the video juxtapose?
4. Which lyrics does the video carry out a literal interpretation of?

Answer 1

1. Salubrious 1950s sitting room and contemporary city setting.
2. Typical response of someone older to rap music.
3. Linear.
   - 1950s children’s TV characters with familiar contemporary iconography e.g. a nightclub.
4. ‘off licence’, ‘young babymothers.’

Question 2

1. What does the mise-en-scene connote?
2. Give 2 examples of props that reference childhood.
   - It is clear that the narrative is _________ as there is little attempt to create a setting of ______.
3. What does the microphone connote?
   - Why?
4. How is the audience ironically positioned through the references to 1950s TV?
   - In which lyric does Dizzee Rascal ironically reference Captain Sensible?

Answer 2

1. A middle-class environment which contrasts dramatically with the city setting narrative.
2. Puppets, pastel coloured blocks, musical box, toy car and helicopter.
   - Constructed, reality.
3. Power.
   - His voice can be heard (literally and metaphorically).
4. As children being told a story.
   - ‘This is too sensible for me man.’

Question 3

1. Which 2 theorists/theories would you use for Dream?
2. Which theorist would say the images illustrate the lyrics, but connote a deeper meaning of working to achieve a dream?
   - What does Barthes say the idea of ‘myth’ relates to?
3. Which binary opposition is most evident in the video?
   - How is the pianist represented as more powerful than Dizzee? (2)
4. What are 2 other oppositions seen here?

Answer 3

1. Roland Barthes - Semitotics, and Levi Strauss - Structuralism.
2. Roland Barthes - Semitotics.
   - Iconography, such as the hoodie.
3. Young black male vs older white female.
   - He gets back in his box at the end & she is physically bigger.
4. Youth vs Police and Antisocial behaviour vs hard work.