Foo Fighters are an alternative American Rock band that released a song called 'The Pretender' in 2009. This music video would be a type of Amplification according to Goodwin's Theory.
The beginning of this music video shows the vocalist walk up to the mic. and put on his guitar. The floor is white and the instruments have already been set up in front of a big red wall. This song could be interpreted to have many meanings but by looking at the music video, the meaning seems to be about sticking up for yourself and not giving in to pressure. This is represented through the different readings and meanings along with the codes and conventions of this song.
The codes of this video such as the white floor underneath the behind could represent purity and good. Although this could be a negotiated meaning because some may think that it doesn't represent good but is represents an opinion of what is 'good' because it is in front of the red wall which could signify danger or warning. This may be seen as going against the law in some respects. The instruments having being already set up could signify an implicit and subtextual meaning. By the instruments being already set up, it could suggest that this sort of conflict was bound to happen and was unavoidable. The black line shown in the music video is most probably a type of dominant reading as many people may realise that it is the line that separates the 2 different sides of the argument going on colour. The band members are dressed in their own clothes in this music video which relates to the lyrics in the song ''What if I say I'm not like the others...''. This shows that are expressing their rights to be different and not conform to be like everybody else. The red wall behind the band could represent the anger built up by the people against the 'pretenders'.
The conventions conform to the typical music video such as lipsynching and close-ups of the vocalist so you can see the expression on their face and almost experience what they feel when they give a direct mode of address. There are also shots of the band playing their instruments and there are frequent jump cuts to keep the audience entertained. The frequent jump cuts seem to decrease when the riot police are shown to give the audience realise the explicit meaning that they are opposing side to the Foo Fighters. The movement is kept to a minimum by the band because the music video is telling a story where the band needs to stand their ground against the riot police.
Eventually the riot police are shown crossing the black line which is separating the two sides and this causes a reaction from the Foo Fighters who are representing people who aren't giving in to the 'system'. The red wall or build-up of anger, shatters and red liquid fiercely gushes out in the direction of the riot police. The band still stand their ground as the riot police struggle to keep up with the pressure and retaliation of the band. The music dies down quickly and the vocalist is shown to smash his guitar on the wet floor. This ending could be give off a negotiated reading as some people may think that the band were able to hold their ground and they won the battle. Alternatively, some may think that the band lost and that the 'system' always wins no matter how much of a fight you put up.
To conclude, Rock has never really been about giving in to things and more about doing your own thing. I video represents that through the different meanings and readings given off from the codes and conventions.
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